Format - Movies are commonly in NTSC
DVD format which is common in the USA. This format will play on most
modern DVD players sold in Australia. An alternative is to play them
on a personal computer and screen using a data-projector.
Permission - There is no general exemption
allowing non-profit organisations to screen DVDs in public without permission,
even if no charge is made for admission. Some film-makers encourage
free use, other may request a licence fee to run a ‘public screening’.
While our format - showing movies in a home – does constitute
a 'domestic setting', this does not specifically exempt one from the
need for permission. Information on copyright can be found here.
That said, Amalgamated Movies Non-Theatrical Film
Distributors, who manage distribution for Sony, Columbia, TriStar
Pictures and Madman Entertainment, said when we asked permission, "We
only cover films when they are played outside the home.This (our
format) still comes under home entertainment. Only if the group
of 15 viewed a film outside the private residence would you need to
license it with us."
And Roadshow Public Performance Licencing said "Private
viewings at home are obviously fine, for people to borrow your DVDs,
but if anyone organises a public screening in a public place, they must
get permission from us first and pay the licence fee."
We have sought permission from distributors to screen
movies in this way (in a home to a small group of between 5 and 15 people),
and have noted where permission has been granted, and the responses
to our request.
We encourage you to seek clarity on permission from the
distributor if you think it is warranted.
Some distributors have requested a screening fee, indentified
with the "$" logo, with details on amounts in the dropdown.
We appreciate you supporting the film makers in this way. If borrowing
these movies, we suggest you charge a small amount per head to cover
this.
An alternative to borrowing the movie is to download
the u-tube trailer (see links below) or the full movie as a flash file.
Many are available at Top
Documentary Films, Free
Documentaries or Movie
Watch List. They’re pretty poor quality but worthwhile none-the-less.
Resources and study guides - there are
links to some resources below and lots more at the Film
Education UK database.
How to borrow a movie:
-
Become an
ECG
Member. There is a $40 annual membership fee. This will be used
as a movie deposit. If the movie is not returned, your membership
will be cancelled and the $40 used to replace the movie. Fill in
the
online
form with your details.
-
Contact
Nick
to order a movie. Payment of $5 for postage is required before the
movie can be sent out (plus any
screening fee
requested by the distributors). This can be deposited into our Bendigo
Bank account BSB:
633-000; Account Number:
139
528 517; Account Name: Ethical Consumer Group. Please place
the VID number plus your name or organisation name in the 'to account'
description so we can match receipt of payment with your order.
Included will be a pre-paid return envelope for returning of the
movie.
There is no limit on the number of movies that can be borrowed in a
year, however only one movie can be borrowed at a time. Duration of
loan is 3 weeks. Movies need to be returned no later than 3 weeks after
borrowing.
