Dear Rich: I don't see anything in your Getting Permission book on getting permission to quote dialog from films. I assume that the process is similar to getting permission to quote song lyrics, but it would be better if you covered this in detail. I want to quote with attribution some movie dialog in a novel I am writing. Any suggestions? Speaking of film dialogue, we were surprised recently when reading the French classic Pere Goriot to find a line about someone "making him an offer that he cannot refuse." Did Balzac travel to the 20th Century, watch the Godfather, return to the past and copy the movie dialogue for his novel? We guess we'll never know.
Right, you had a question. The rules for using film dialogue in a novel are the same as for all text uses (explained in Chapter 2 of the book). As you're probably aware, there is no fixed amount of words that you can use without permission, although some uses are so minimal as to be considered de minimis (scroll down). The difference with using film dialogue is that it's often difficult to figure who owns the rights and even harder to get permission for the use.
Why is it difficult to get permission for movie dialogue? Generally the studio (or a producer) owns all rights to the movie including the dialogue. But in some cases, screenwriters may retain rights. In other cases, if the movie were based upon a book, the author may retain certain rights. That's the challenge when using one layer from a multi-layered work -- determining who has the right to grant permission. Even if a studio does own the rights to the dialogue, you still have the practical problem of finding the person authorized to grant permission (and convincing that person not to hang up on you).
What's a novelist to do? If you're publishing the book yourself, you're probably less at risk because you won't be indemnifying against infringement. Publishers get uptight about stuff like that and insist on some security in the form of warranties and indemnity. On the other hand, a publisher may be able to assist you with getting rights and permissions from a studio. If you're on your own and you're still concerned about getting chased, consider whether you can make a realistic fair use claim. That is, can you demonstrate that your use of the dialog is transformative -- for example, Woody Allen's use of dialogue from Casablanca in Play It Again, Sam, was transformative (though Allen likely acquired permission for that and the film clips).
Speaking of great movie dialogue ... we're partial to Things Change (Don Ameche's swan song). It's got dialogue -- written by David Mamet and Shel Silverstein -- with some serious staying power.
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
A new documentary
Love, Etc. is a new documentary that follows five couples for one year in New York City: old, young, gay, straight, falling in love, getting married, having babies, breaking up. The film showed the complexities of romantic love--not just the happy stuff of Disney movies. I watched it this week and adored it. It was funny, heartbreaking and beautiful. Here's the trailer...
What do you think, my darlings? Would you want to see it? (Here are show times.)
P.S. 10 best documentaries.
(Via Glamour)
Two summer movies
This morning, I came across two amazing summer movie trailers: Our Idiot Brother (August 26th) and...
50/50 (September 30th). Don't they look great? Will you see them? xo
P.S. I have a secret crush on Seth Rogan.
New York City traffic

I've ridden my bike all over the city, but usually keep to the much quieter West Village. This video was jawdropping!
(Top photo of a Linus Bike)
Our first date




Another funny thing was, since we both really liked each other, we were searching for signs during the date that the other person was (or wasn't) into it. I got nervous when Alex offered me a bite of his steak, but then placed the piece of steak directly onto my plate; did he not want me to eat off his fork? And he later admitted that he thought the date was shot when I didn't lean on his armrest at the movie, but instead leaned toward the other side. So funny how nervous people can be when first dating!
Needless to say, it worked out, despite the armrest gaffe. And now he lets me eat off his fork:)
What about you guys? What did you do on your first dates with your main squeezes (or past boyfriends/girlfriends)? I'd love to hear...
Bill Cunningham documentary


P.S. Movie times around the country, if you'd like to see it on the big screen.
(Film still by Richard Press)
God of Love

God of Love is an amazing 18-minute comedy about a lounge-singing darts champ who receives a mysterious package of passion-inducing darts. Here's the trailer, below; you can download it (for $2!) on iTunes or watch it on the big screen at this New York theatre. Huge congratulations, Luke!
Rides a bike





P.S. How cute were Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman together?
P.P.S. I love how Ringo always looks like he's twelve.
(Via Design is Mine)
Redesigned movie posters




Moxy Creative House redesigned 10 classic movie posters, focusing on each film's signature style. (You can also buy them for $30.)
P.S. I secretly thought Dumb and Dumber was totally hilarious.
P.P.S. The Shining still gives me chills!
(Via DesignLoveFest)
My Dog Tulip
Have you seen this trailer? My Dog Tulip is a sixty-minute animated film about a curmudgeonly English man and his surprising friendship with a German Shepherd. I can't decide if it looks boring or not (is there an actual plot?), but the animation is beautiful.
Laughter yoga
Have you guys heard of laughter yoga? Indian physician Madan Lal Kataria encourages people to get together in small groups and start fake laughing; after a while, he says, the laughter will become genuine and euphoric. Dr. Kataria believes that laughter can cure physical and psychological ailments. It sounds nutty, but my friend Scott recently tried it with a group of friends and said it was surprisingly awesome. Would you give it a shot?
P.S. Also, marshmallows!
P.S. Also, marshmallows!
Wading into the ocean
We didn't make it to the beach this summer, so I'm living vicariously through this video of Mav wading into the ocean in Portland, Maine. I can almost feel that icy cold water on my feet and ankles!
(From 3191 Miles Apart, which I adore)
Til death do us part
Oh my goodness, this video is heartbreakingly beautiful: Brooklyn couple Danny and Annie tell the true story of their twenty-seven-year romance, from their first date to Danny's last days with terminal cancer. You have to watch it.
(Animated by StoryCorps, via Very Short List; thanks, Sarah)
madagascar2
so i'm finally back in the city, and first thing i did was had my nails done in blackish-plum (w/c actually looks a lot like brown) and window-shopped *yawn* nothing much i liked today... except for MADAGASCAR2, which i watched with my friends :) and it really was funny, better than the 1st one i guess...
(old clothes really make me feel comfortable... like this top i had from hk 3 yrs ago, overused h&m wedges, and uniqlo jeans. only the bag is "younger")
and also... i've been raiding my closet, separating the stuffs "i don't like" and "i don't wear", and hopefully add it on my ebay. and it's really weird cos i think i finally got tired of CLOTHES! *eeeks* that i thought, instead of helping, these (bunch of) stuffs actually don't make my life easier! then again, i think everyone goes through the phase - when we have to update our wardrobe!!
ps. it really sucks cos i haven't been sleeping for 3 F*ing days!!

and also... i've been raiding my closet, separating the stuffs "i don't like" and "i don't wear", and hopefully add it on my ebay. and it's really weird cos i think i finally got tired of CLOTHES! *eeeks* that i thought, instead of helping, these (bunch of) stuffs actually don't make my life easier! then again, i think everyone goes through the phase - when we have to update our wardrobe!!
ps. it really sucks cos i haven't been sleeping for 3 F*ing days!!
the curious case of benjamin button
just finished watching Body of Lies (starring Leo DiCaprio & Russell Crowe), and i found this particular trailer very interesting...
zohan.. and rolled up jeans

hence, i ended up watching "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" (feat. Adam Sandler) today after dinner :) and it was really funny! but kind of weird/gross in some way, for my taste. i also can't stand the the hairstyle and clothing... but the movie, overall, made me laugh soo hard i kept jumping on my seat, and spilled sour cream sauce over my clothes! yeah... "eat me?"
also today's outfit: i dug up this jeans i haven't worn since univ. days (which was 3yrs ago), and the belt i got from Dorothy Perkins a year back (that i haven't actually worn until today). i don't know why i look so short considering my heels is over 3"?? and in pink again, knowing its one of the colors i actually hate.

i'm also in need of "white tops" supplies since i messed/ stained / ruined most of them in my wardrobe :( i think its best to buy 2-3 pcs per style no?
(i know the jeans aren't really rolled-up, but they're super long!)
top: h&m. jeans: moto, topshop. shoes: h&m. belt: dorothy perkins.
ps. indoor, crappy pictures have to suffice for now.
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