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Culture

by Mike Masnick

Wed, May 19th 2004 2:46am





$218 Movie Costs $400,000 For Music Rights

from the hmm.... dept

John submits this fascinating article about a movie that's winning rave reviews at the Cannes film festival. It was made by one guy, basically over the past twenty years of his life just documenting his troubled life. It really sounds quite fascinating - but that has little to do with what we post about here. What's interesting in this story is that the cost of all the video tape used to make the movie was a whopping $218. However, in order to get the rights to the music he wants for the film, the cost of making the film is shooting up to $400,000. Seems just a bit out of proportion.

6 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    Why?

    identicon
    Ryan, May 19th, 2004 @ 5:23am

    You get the licenses to use music and video clips because they're going to add a lot of value to the movie and allow you to make money.
    Let's say I make a film of a bunch of music set to animation. If I use Rolling Stones music, my odds of getting something watchable are a lot higher, because the Stones tracks add value, and therefore, you gotta pay.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    $218 movie

    identicon
    David A. Kearns, May 19th, 2004 @ 8:49am

    If music were a commodity, or creating a blank tape an excersize in creativity, then there might be some amusement in the price disparity. There is commodity music, which would be much cheaper to license, but evidently the filmmaker chose not to go that route. His choice, but his choice determines the price he'll have to pay.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    not a first

    identicon
    eeyore, May 19th, 2004 @ 8:50am

    Kevin Smith made "Clerks" for less than what the music rights cost, though it was a difference of $27,000 for the music vs. $26,800 for filming. Also "Clerks" was shot on film. Had high-definition video cameras been available then he probably could have made it for considerably less.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Interesting...

    identicon
    Chomper, May 19th, 2004 @ 9:40am

    how they don't tell you WHICH piece of music is going to cost $400,000.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    check pricing

    identicon
    John Dowdell, May 19th, 2004 @ 2:15pm

    If he wanted to wear certain clothes, or drive in a certain car, or eat in a certain restaurant, it could cost more than the tape, too.

    Fortunately it's easier to make your own music without buying the stuff they want to sell you, than it is to make your own fashion, automobiles, penthouse hotel rooms, and what-all....

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    Thanks RIAA

    identicon
    AMetamorphosis, May 20th, 2004 @ 7:19am



    and we wonder why people download music for free ...

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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