Job Discussion Forums

[Iam]

Hi,

I've an aweful feeling this may be a somewhat naive question, but has anyone ever approached a movie company for permission to show excerpts from movies as part of a lesson?

If so, any luck?

My rather excitable teenagers are looking increasingly bored & getting more & more fractious, & I recall that in my first lesson with them they all but leapt from their seats at one stage, saying something about films being shown in another class.

Iam.

[Khrystene]

[Guy Courchesne]

I think most teachers don't bother contacting copyright holders and just show the movie.

But, if you are interested, you could try emailing or writing the studio or distributor. The usual process is a simple letter asking permission, stating your exact intent for using the movie, and and what parts. Stress the education part of it. You probably won't even get an anwer, but, you never know. The distributor may have some freebies they can send specifically geared towards education.

[gaijinalways]

As long as you aren't charging for showing the films, there really is not copyright issue as long as your copy is not a 'knockoff' copy!

As to showing them, I tend to show clips, ranging from 1 to 5 minutes, with worksheets, vocaulary, and/or discussion about the story driven off of the video. Most of the students like watching them (I find you usually can never please all of the students all of the time, I've had some students complain about using the required book for the class).

[Iam]

Gainjin, are you sure?

I mean, I'm sure that the copyright warnings at the front of my DVDs specifically forbid schools showing films without permission, along with prisons & oilrigs (now there's a strange col-location).

I don't think the warning messages discriminate between for profit & not for profit showings.

Iam.

[Khrystene]

[carnac]

I use films all the time, after the students have had three solid days of exams, as a relaxer and another way of getting some English into their heads. I vary the type of film (action, romantic, comedy), the only rules being dialogue comprehension for the level (no subtitles allowed) and cultural/political sensitivity. Depending on the level, I ask questions or ask for written analysis.
As for permissions, I follow some basic rules:
1. Show anything you want (within culturally acceptable parameters). It's for educational purposes.
2. Never ask for permission.
3. On the chance that someone may question you on the use of the films, I would say "Oh, it's ok, no problem." (never been asked)
4. If the film police ever say anything (approximately the chance of a snowflake in hell) I would say "Duh, sorry, I'll never, never do it again!"
5. See (1) Do it some more, whenever you need it.
I would never lose sleep on this subject.
Sometimes I will show an excerpt during a regular class if it is germaine to what we are learning.
Justification: I provide popcorn gratis, more cultural learning. My argument to possible film lawyers (and any possible court) is that I am doing a service to the Western film industry in addicting malleable students to the crap the Western film industry is generally putting out.
Then we have to define what is "crap" and I win. In theory. Am I stealing? Nope, I'm EXPOSING students to new, different cultural stimulation.
New ideas, etc. What have they learned?
That if they work like hell they will have a small reward. And maybe suck in a little more English.

[Not St Louis]

The school I work at is using photocopied books and illegal software. I think the least of my worries is showing a movie I bought legit to my students.