Hosting Horror Films

[The Duchess]

One thing that I would like to do is host a series of horror fiilms: both classic and current.

I would love to do it as my character The Ugly Duchess.



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I did my first character for The Ghostly Galavant for the Historic Cabildo this year. I was the Marquis de Vaudriel, a French governor of Louisiana that brought the court at Versaiiles to New Orleans,, all decked out in green brocade and lace, powdered face, red lips and appropraiate haughtiness. It was a lot of fun.



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I am sure I could make the Duchess evil and aristocratic with a dark sence of humor and just the right amount of harsh femininity. I think I could do an evil female character well.

What do you think of this idea?

The Duchess

[Murfreesboro]

I think it is a brilliant idea!

[Pumpkin_Man]

Somehow I think being a horror movie host would be rather fun, but if you plan to start your own show through your public access cable system, which some have done, you have to be very careful not to show a movie that's copyrighted.

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

Is there such a thing as a non-copyrighted movie? Wouldn't you essentially be showing home movies, then?

[Pumpkin_Man]

There are a lot of very old movies that have entered into what is called "Public Domane," but again, you have to be really, REALLY careful that the version that you show isn't re issued by a new copyright owner. It's like music. Take, forinstance, the "1812 Overature" by Thyvosky. That piece of music is so old, that it's now public domain music, but the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's rendition of it is very much copywrighted. There are web sites where you can down load public domain films, but they are usualy very poor quality. The Hollywood movie studios will charge you through the nose for royalties for films that are still under copyright, especialy if you plan to exhibit them via television. And a lot of public domain films are found on sale at Walmart and other retailors, but the companies who re mastered those old films for DVD have copyrights on their particular remastering of the work.

Copyright law is a very slippery slope, and even if you don't make a dime from pirating music or movies, you can still get in very serious legal trouble. The best way to go about it would be to make your own movies or tell your own stories.

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

Oh, OK, I understand what you are saying.

Maybe the way to go about it would be to pitch the idea to a local TV station. Say that you have a character or characters you would like to portray, and show footage of yourself in those garbs. Then suggest how the time might be right for a revival of those Friday night or Saturday night horror movie-thons, like they used to do back in the day. Maybe someone would be interested. In that case, I suppose the TV stations would be dealing with the copyright issues.

[Pumpkin_Man]

That would probably be the best way to go about it. There are a lot of small town local tv stations that are looking for such programming ideas, and they often purchase copyright licenses in bulk, or are owned by a major network that already owns the copyrights to many films. The only problem with that is that if the show doesn't go well in the ratings, then it gets cancelled, and it is rather difficult to get your foot in the door in television.

An original idea, or character, would be a great way to make a possible impression on a program director.

Mike

[The Duchess]

I was thinking about doing it for a local tv or charitable organization.



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The Duchess

[Pumpkin_Man]

That all sounds great, and I wish you all the luck and success with it in the world, but just be careful that you don't exhibit a copyrighted film.

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

Or make sure you've gone through all the legal stuff you need to before you show one.

[Li H'Sen Chang]

Night of the Living Dead is public domain.

[scareviewzombies.com]

or you could start your own Youtube channel and use those videos to pitch your ideas to local stations

[The Duchess]

or you could start your own Youtube channel and use those videos to pitch your ideas to local stations

That was sort of what I was thinking of. Or possibly on a college campus.

Thanks.



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THE DUCHESS

[Li H'Sen Chang]

here is a list of public horror...

http://www.horrortheque.com/movie-index/

[The Duchess]

here is a list of public horror...

http://www.horrortheque.com/movie-index/

Thanks.



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THE DUCHESS