I know this topic has been posted many times, i have viewed other answers but i am still unsure of some things.
I am currently in-production of a short film for my college porfolio, im only 16. I'm using mainly hans zimmer music and some popular rock music, i don't have the rights. Im planning on premiering this movie locally for free with no profit but "getting known."
Are the chances high that ill get sued? I live in Canada are they as strict here as they are in the states?
And anything else i should know will be greatly appreciated, thanks.
The chances are you won't get sued. But what you are doing is illegal. And beyond that, it's wrong. As someone who creates for a living, I don't want what I create used without my permission - it's not always about money, it's about respecting other creative people. The copyright laws are just as strict in Canada as in the States. If you are fine with "getting known" using other peoples music without permission, that's up to you.
Something else to think about: the admin's at the colleges know the laws of copyright. I wonder if they would be more impressed by a movie maker who respects those laws or one who doesn't. Again, you won't get sued - but think about if what you're doing is the right things to do.
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
That being said, including this video in your college portfolio is a different thing entirely from exhibiting it publicly. Fair use provides for use of copyrighted material without permission for non-commercial educational purposes. In other words, if you show colleges your video, they probably won't care that you're using copyrighted music. If they find out that you exhibited it at a public screening, that might raise some eyebrows.
Another way around this is if you show it in a festival. Many film festivals, especially for amateur or student filmmakers, acquire one-time music rights that cover all the films they show. While even this is of questionable validity, especially in regards to independent artists, it probably leaves you in the clear as far as colleges are concerned.
IF, on the other hand, you actually obtained permission for the music you used (tough to do with really popular music, but how about a local group?), that would allow you to show it anywhere and would also really impress the schools you apply to.
-----------------
Andrew Gingerich
Exploding Goldfish Films
Check out my vodcast on iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=96931870
and my blog at http://www.exgfilms.com
-----------------
Andrew Gingerich
Exploding Goldfish Films
Check out my blog at http://www.exgfilms.com
and my reel at http://portfolio.exgfilms.com
