I am producing Woody Allen's Play It Again Sam, and need to know how groups have managed to show Allan watching a Bogart movie at the beginning of the play. Is it possible to use actual film footage, or has a still photo been used? Presumably we need to apply for rights from MGM - any ideas how much this would cost and how long to organise? I'd be glad to hear from anyone who has been involved in doing the play and can give me advice.

Our group did the play with the central character lounging on a sofa with a television in front of him (with its back to the audience). It was a very old TV that we gutted and put a flickering lamp in (please don't ask me technical details, I don't know them!), and played a little bit of the soundtrack from the movie ...

We did much the same as cha003 lays out. TV facing Allan Felix with its back to the audience and a flickering light for effect. We also had the film projected onto the back wall so the audience could see and hear it. After reading stuff from other threads on this forum, I'm not sure whether or not this was actually legal. If it wasn't, then my real name is Joe Bloggs and I have nothing to do with the group on my signature, honest officer!

Usually if it's written into a play or musical, the required "clips" are available through the publishers.

For example the Black and White film in Mack and Mabel...

Check with the publishers, they will have been asked this before.

Does he have to be watching the movie on a big screen as opposed to on TV?

How about hiring/buying a video of the film and using a TV projector (you can hire them, or your IT dept at work may have one) to project it onto a screen. The film will probably be out of royalty anyway, so you shouldn't encounter any probs there...

Thanks for all these replies. I want him to be watching on a big screen as my whole theme for the set is a cinema. I have read the copyright law info on the Patents Office site (very useful site by the way) and it says for movies, it has to be 70 years after the death of the director/producer/other tech people to be out of copyright, so copyright would apply. The film is MGM/UA and the home video distributor is Warner. I have been on the MGM website where they have a tab about licensing, but I am worried about the costs and the time it will take to process the application, however I will pursue that. I will contact French's and ask them too. Any info out there about the rights concerning using a still from the film, which I could project onto the screen (which is to be an integral part of the set)?

Thanks for all these replies. I want him to be watching on a big screen as my whole theme for the set is a cinema. I have read the copyright law info on the Patents Office site (very useful site by the way) and it says for movies, it has to be 70 years after the death of the director/producer/other tech people to be out of copyright, so copyright would apply. The film is MGM/UA and the home video distributor is Warner. I have been on the MGM website where they have a tab about licensing, but I am worried about the costs and the time it will take to process the application, however I will pursue that. I will contact French's and ask them too. Any info out there about the rights concerning using a still from the film, which I could project onto the screen (which is to be an integral part of the set)?

sorry folks, I entered my name in that box above, so I have replied as a guest, but actually I am the member who asked the question above!

Worst case situation.... If they all say no...

I don't know the show btw, but would it be possible to video your own "film" and instead of copying the film, use a "spoof" version of it (for lack of a better word) something a long the lines of "play it again sam" but made up differently...

Of course taking great care not to upset copyright issues.

Just a though... Not sure how serious it is for the plot... If it's that serious I'd go for a spoof rather than pay for the real thing...

If the actual film isn't that important make up your own one.

I can give advice on Digital Video and Editing for a more "polished" end product.