[NEohioPAL] COPYRIGHT??-is it obsolete??

[Ensemble Theatre]

Hello Neopalers, 
   
  This subject of copyright has to be one of the most germane issues 'outed' on NEOPAL, with some of the responses uninformed, some are positively brilliant, and then all the grey spectrum in between. 
   
  Ensemble Theatre is a small professional theatre and since 2005, we had considered as a policy to videotape all productions as a matter of archival record. ONE copy only of each of our five (5) mainstage productions  annually to be kept by us for educational purposes. Every script publishing company we talked with, Dramatists Play Service, Samuel French, Music Theatre International(an exception here) told us LEGALLY speaking that it was prohibited. Period. Stop. End of Story. 
   
  On top of that, there is the Actors' Equity Association issue, 
  mentioned by many of you here, concerning the 'reproduction of an actor's performance,' by any means. . . . .". 
   
  We have videotaped SEVERAL of our productions, and have had several slices of 10 min. 5 min., or 15 min., made in order to satisfy the promotional requirements of marketing, along with requests from foundations, granting government agencies, and other individuals- even actors and designers who want a record and  who send segments out for job applications and auditions. 
   
  The electronic age and its infinite copying capacities are upon us. It is not going to go away anytime soon, and will probably get worse. One of the account reps at DPS told us that the frequencies seen in a show's production will determine their (DPS) vigilance and security concerning ANY sort of recording of the performances. Still cameras are going to be largely ignored as they still constitute the workhorses for archival, publicity and marketing. But ANYTHING that records continous motion will be scrutinized like a hawk and we have heard pretty much the same story from all the publishing houses.    
   
   I did mention above that MTI (Music Theatre International) told us point blank - QUOTE:  ' If we have ANY reason to believe that the rights of the author are being infringed, musically, dramatic presentation, or otherwise, we will send a rep UNANNOUNCED to the offending theatre and take whatever action accordingly from there.' UNQUOTE. We told MTI when we produced "The Fantasticks" that we did not need the musical scores, as we already had the music (which we did) and they told us -' We will send you the music, and you WILL pay the MUSICAL royalty, whether you have the score or not - or you will not produce the 
  play.'  It turned out to be the most expensive play royalty-wise we have ever produced. The theater is a constant learning experience, even when you have been doing it for many years. 

  MOST of the folks who download whatever material there is available on the Internet, have been led to believe that the Internet  is a giant candy store, and they can have as many free samples as they like. Likewise, everyone knows that everyone records performances. Eventually, all the 'sharing' software will become illegal for copyright material, and digital security signatures will prevent ANY illegal copying without paying a royalty or fee. 
   
  Just remember the 'good ole days' when there was NO internet, no videotapes, and 
  bootleg film recordings and tapings were rampant. NO more. And if you are going to have ANY ethical base for your actions, PAYING for the artists work is the common sense way that will prevail. Read some of Michelangelo's voluminous correspondence to and from his patrons and you will get a 500 year old idea of what copyright was then, is now, and will continue into the future. Break your legs - and not your video camera!!
   
  Martin Cosentino
        General Manager
  Ensemble Theatre of Cleveland
  ****************************************
  Performing at the Cleveland Play House
  8500 Euclid Avenue
  Cleveland, Ohio  44106
  ****************************************
  Offices:
  2490 Lee Blvd., Suite 205
  Cleveland Heights, OH  44118
  (T) 216-321-2930
  (F)216-397-5740
  (M) 216-509-2411
  (E) ensemble-theatre at sbcglobal.net
  *****************************************
  Visit Ensemble at our website:
  www.ensemble-theatre.com
  *****************************************



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.neohiopal.org/pipermail/neohiopal-neohiopal.org/attachments/20080619/8f3b2ed7/attachment-0003.htm>