Attended a couple of interesting panel discussions at the Full Frame Documentary Festival here in North Cackalacky. It was my first time seeing both the infamous Michael Moore and D.A. Pennebaker live and in the flesh. Needless to say it was worth the price of admission to hear their takes on the craft. I was particularly interested in hearing Moore’s take on appearance releases, as I must say the practice has always puzzled me. Why is it that as a television news reporter I could shoot whoever would talk to me or simply step out in public without a release, but for a documentary I have to get a signed sheet of paper or no one will show it? That makes no sense to me at all.
Someone once told me it had to do with the fact that if it is for profit the person can sue for use of their likeness, but everyone knows that news these days is as much about profit as anyone. Craziness. It got even crazier when another producer told the story where they had a shot in his film where the guy they were filming’s cell phone started ringing and it happened to have a certain artists ringtone on it (I want to say Mary J. Blige, but not totally sure if I’m recollecting that right). Being an honest guy, the producer called the publishers to try and clear the rights and they told him that it would cost $50,000 if they wanted to use it in their film. That’s completely ludicrous.
Oh, and in case I didn’t mention it, Michael Moore says that if he sticks a camera in your face, he assumes you know that your being filmed, and if you don’t say you don’t want to be…then hey you’re fair game. Of course, he also has very big pockets should he get sued.