Open Forum

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal? 

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

While you could probably get away with doing a direct reading from a screenplay in a school assembly or adapting that screenplay, a play or a novel for a public performance without the intent to publish, both of these things are not legal.  Its a slippery slope into copyright violation.
I haven't done it in a while, but a movie or novel parody play is not only fun, a good genre study and a great creative exploration for students, but it is also totally legal and protected under fair use because you are transforming the original work using humor to imitate, comment on, or criticize.  Weird Al and SNL can be great tools for teaching students about parody and its artistic and societal uses.

------------------------------
Elana Kepner
Theatre Instructor
The Oakwood School
Greenville NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2018 21:00
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Adaptation Q

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal?

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

Also, if you choose something in the public domain, you can do pretty much whatever you want with it. Adapt it, cut it, modernize it. That could be really fun for your students!

------------------------------
Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Fishersville VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2018 21:00
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Adaptation Q

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal?

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal? 

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

Performing an adaptation of a film isn't legal, though it's possible that if you wrote the production company, they might give you permission for a one-off performance of it at school.

You are welcome to write a stage adaptation of a novel...as long as it stays on your hard drive or in a drawer somewhere. ;-) But for any performance or public sharing of the material, you need permission. Again, it's possible that they may give you permission to do a one-off version of it at school, but you have to ask first.

Parody is indeed an exception, and, as was noted previously on the thread, if you use something in the public domain, you can do whatever you want with it.

Cheers,
Jonathan

------------------------------
Jonathan Dorf
Playwright/ Co-founder of YouthPLAYS/ Co-chair of The Alliance Of Los Angeles Playwrights
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2018 21:00
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Adaptation Q

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal?

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

Regarding adapting a novel or a play--

It all depends upon copyright. If the work is old enough, you may do what you want without asking anyone's permission.

Shakespeare and the Bible come to mind, as well as Dickens and other writers who are more recent. Ten minutes is a short time.

Then you can have the gender of character or actor that works for you and your group.

You can also update the public domain material in any other way that works for you.

------------------------------
Nathan Rosen
Baltimore MD
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-24-2018 19:11
From: Jonathan Dorf
Subject: Adaptation Q

Performing an adaptation of a film isn't legal, though it's possible that if you wrote the production company, they might give you permission for a one-off performance of it at school.

You are welcome to write a stage adaptation of a novel...as long as it stays on your hard drive or in a drawer somewhere. ;-) But for any performance or public sharing of the material, you need permission. Again, it's possible that they may give you permission to do a one-off version of it at school, but you have to ask first.

Parody is indeed an exception, and, as was noted previously on the thread, if you use something in the public domain, you can do whatever you want with it.

Cheers,
Jonathan

------------------------------
Jonathan Dorf
Playwright/ Co-founder of YouthPLAYS/ Co-chair of The Alliance Of Los Angeles Playwrights
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2018 21:00
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Adaptation Q

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal?

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal? 

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

I am in the same situation.

The past 2 years- I did an adaptation of The Gift of the Magi, and an adaptation of a children's book  Seven Spools of Thread  ( about Kwanzaa).  I would be happy to pass either along to you.  This year I'm adapting A Christmas Carol... it will be a comedy.


------------------------------
Gina Minyard
Theatre Magnet Director
Dayton, OH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2018 21:00
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Adaptation Q

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal?

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal? 

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

What about "scenes from..."? Can you ever do a presentation of student work (no admission/no profit) that's a compilation of scenes from various sources and/or excerpts from larger works?

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2018 21:00
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Adaptation Q

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal?

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

Not without permission/royalty.

I know it's 'done' all the time by groups that don't follow due diligence, and if there's no publicity it's hard to "get caught,' and school theater doing a free production isn't exactly a high priority target. 

All that said, it's still unethical/illegal, and I think it's important to set a strong example for the students.

------------------------------
Josh Kauffman
Teacher
Winfield AL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-25-2018 13:07
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Adaptation Q

What about "scenes from..."? Can you ever do a presentation of student work (no admission/no profit) that's a compilation of scenes from various sources and/or excerpts from larger works?

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2018 21:00
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Adaptation Q

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal?

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------

What Josh said. People do "scenes nights," but it's not legal, and it sends completely the wrong message to students, who should be taught respect for their fellow artists, the creators of the work.

Cheers,
Jonathan

------------------------------
Jonathan Dorf
Playwright/ Co-founder of YouthPLAYS/ Co-chair of The Alliance Of Los Angeles Playwrights
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-25-2018 13:20
From: Josh Kauffman
Subject: Adaptation Q

Not without permission/royalty.

I know it's 'done' all the time by groups that don't follow due diligence, and if there's no publicity it's hard to "get caught,' and school theater doing a free production isn't exactly a high priority target.

All that said, it's still unethical/illegal, and I think it's important to set a strong example for the students.

------------------------------
Josh Kauffman
Teacher
Winfield AL

Original Message:
Sent: 10-25-2018 13:07
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Adaptation Q

What about "scenes from..."? Can you ever do a presentation of student work (no admission/no profit) that's a compilation of scenes from various sources and/or excerpts from larger works?

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2018 21:00
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Adaptation Q

Hi everyone--our school has a Christmas-themed arts night in December which will involve all of the fine and performing arts departments. The drama department has about 10 minutes to perform. If we reenacted a shortened version of a movie script, is that illegal? There are play versions already in existence, but they're too long.

Also, in general, if you write an adaptation of a novel with no intention of publishing it (you're writing it to suit the cast you have because the published versions call for too many males, for example), is that also illegal?

Thanks! :\

------------------------------
Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
------------------------------