[Richard P-W]

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this.

For an amateur production I'm working on next month, the director has an idea about projecting a film trailer during a scene change. This is to "set the scene" for what happens next and is relative to the production in question.

I've done some searching on the web and found the license requirements for showing films to an audience but no mention about showing trailers!

My reasoning would be it is promotional material advertising a film rather than a public showing of it, hence no restrictions. Suitable trailers are freely available on Youtube etc.

Has anyone ever done this?

[revbobuk]

I'd contact the distributors - for a number of reasons.

1. They may be able to supply you with a better source file.

2. I suspect that the licence arrangements for a trailer probably don't cover you for a paid production, amateur or not. But I think the distributors can answer the question definitively.

3. Just because it's on YouTube doesn't make it legal to use it! And even if the implied consent covers the use of the images, the music may or may not be included. After all, you still need a PRS licence to cover the music in a film.

[jonathanhill]

As a minimum, you should get written permission from the copyright holder.

[kerry davies]

Unless it is on this site; My link or a similar one which has copyright expired or copyright relinquished trailers it will be difficult to get permission. If there is a music soundtrack involved it is very near impossible.

The clearance of music for film is a big-money business and the restrictions are usually severe. Just like the publishers of musicals they take a pro-active approach to squeezing the last dime out of the rights and will hunt people down. Just about every film or TV company that puts stuff out into the public domain has a licensing department. 99.9% of them are "Licensing and Litigation."

I know 'cos sorta-dorta was responsible for Man On Wire.

[Jivemaster]

More worrying is the possibility that using someone elses film as part of your production may be seen as a connection or co-operation or even an endorsement.

I think that you may need an original piece of film making for your use with specific intent to use it as a part of the drama.

This post has been edited by Jivemaster: 15 February 2012 - 01:24 PM

[JazzAV]

Well no one here is ever going to say you can do it, as in theory you need permission to publicly use anyone else's copyrighted work. Perhaps think a bit differently, find some poetry or prose that sets up the next scene as required and have a chocolate toned cast member record it. If you find the right piece it could work beautifully and no worries about copyright..as long the work you choose is old enough.

[dbuckley]

Using a film trailer in this manner would fall under "non-theatrical exhibition", the normal showing of film to a general public audience is considered "theatrical exhibition".

Start by calling The Independent Cinema Office who are big in non-theatrical exhibition licencing in the UK, and if they can't sort you out, they'll know who can.

[kerry davies]

Good thinking Mr Buckley. My link has a list of film distributors by alphabetical index and some further general info on screening of film is at My link

The BFFS info is based on screening the film rather than snippets or trailers but it might be handy for someone. The one thing they remind everyone of is the need for suitably licensed premises.