Let me start with the following disclaimer. I am not an attorney;
I have never played one on TV. All information provided is to the best of my
knowledge from working with outdoor movies with FunFlicks, my clients and
licensing companies for many years.
Do I need to Obtain a License to show a Movie?
Unless you are hosting a private party at your own house you
require a license. Little Tommy's birthday party is fine. However, if that
party was in a public park you would be required to license your movie.
The Movie night is at our school, we are covered, right?
Unless strictly for education purposes in a classroom environment
you are required to obtain licensing.
If your school plans on doing events indoors they can apply for an
individual films or a site license. A site license allows multiple showings
within a calendar year.
Outdoor Movies require a different license, these are more
expensive. Yearly site license is not available for outdoor movies.
Where do I get licensing from?
However, some movies get removed from public viewing. Some
examples currently would be the original Star Wars trilogy and the Harry Potter
movies.
Disney movies have windows when they are not available for public
viewing (usually during the release of one of their movies in traditional movie
theaters). If you are planning a movie series showing Disney/Marvel/Pixar
movies call Swank Motion Pictures and ask about the Disney window.
If it's in the Disney Vault its probably not available for
licensing.
Criterion USA does not carry Disney but has a great selection of
animated and live action movies, both can give you great suggestions on what to
show and help you develop compelling schedule.
I want to watch something new, it’s not out on DVD yet, is
that possible?
There is a brief window where the movie is no longer playing in
the Theater but is not available on DVD. Sometimes these movies are available
through the licensing companies (restrictions apply, sometimes only available
to Universities).
Neither Swank or Criterion carry the movie, what now?
You may have selected
a movie that is independent or is looking for distribution, try contacting the
studio who made the film.
Just because the large companies do not have it in their catalog
does not mean that licensing is not required.
So, all movies require licensing?
Some old movies have fallen out of copyright or may have been
subject to mistakes when the film was made making the copyright invalid. Night
of the Living Dead may be the most famous (maybe not the best choice for a
family movie night).
How much is licensing?
That depends on crowd
size, location and movie. For events outside for under 200 guests be prepared
to spend anywhere from $225 to $500. Larger crowds are more expensive.
It's expensive, can I get a discount?
FunFlicks customers
save $100 on select titles through Criterion by contacting Cary at 800-890-9494
x 224 (FunFlicks Licensing page).
If you are planning a movie series, you can sometimes get a
discount if you do all\most of your licensing with one of the licensing
companies (but you never heard that from me).
Can I charge admission?
If you are looking to
charge admission it changes the licensing model, there is often a gate split
required with the licensing company. Please call them, they are the experts (Criterion
USA or Swank Motion
Pictures).
There are also very specific rules about how you can advertise
your event (so not to directly compete with traditional movie theaters).
Both Criterion and Swank Motion Pictures provide images you can use to
publicize your event.
Outdoor movie nights are a great way of building community, many
cities run free events every summer.
Thanks
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy
