I got interviewed!

[Buck-Beaver]

That didn't work for me, and it's not going to work for you either.

BTW everyone, I'm running a little poll here to get some feedback for "Bear Town". As some of you know, while I always plan to have the most recent episode of Bear Town available for free I'm also going to use Bitpass to charge a small "micropayment" for viewing older episodes and special "premium" content like outtakes or other special videos to help pay for the cost of producing episodes and maintaining the web site.

If anyone wants to take a moment to look at the poll and vote it would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Awesome work, Buck! VERY proud of you!!

 

[Muppetsdownunder]

Buck, have you thought about releasing a DVD for sale on the website? I'm sure it would sell!

 

[Buck-Beaver]

Yup, once the first season is done (mid-2005) there will be a "remix" on DVD. The scripts for the first season of the series were culled from a feature length screenplay so for the DVD I'm basically going to be re-editing the season so it's one long movie (any episodes/footage from the series that gets cuts will be included as an extra on the DVD). I may also submit it to film festivals too - it depends on how well it turns out.

 

[scarylarrywolf]

I voted! Do I get a sticker?

I wondered since you're planning to sell the BT series eventually, are you putting any music in it? If you are, how are you creating your own and how? Some friends of mine from high school made a short film with LOADS of copyrighted stuff in it, so as proud as we are of it, we can never sell it anywhere without getting the living daylights sued out of us. I'm hoping to use my own music in future projects, but the last time I checked I don't have an orchestra around my place, and I'm kinda personally close-minded toward keyboards.

 

[Iokitek]

Music

I heard once someone got second prize in a movie contest while he made all the music himself and payed for using other peoples music, he put alot of money in it to make sure everything was legal. Eventually some guy who got first prize did have a great movie but he used popular music wich he hadn't payed for. He tried to explain to the judges that such a thing was illegal but they didn't even seem to care. So you might even wonder if it's worth going through all that trouble if it doesn't even matter when push comes to shove.

 

[Jinx]

And once again we plunge into the murky depths of copyright!

Even if a film using "illegally used" music won a festival, it does not make it OK to do such things. I applaud the person who used original and licensed music and win or lose, he did the RIGHT thing.

Personal integrity becomes the benchmark. If we hope to have our work respected, we must make sure that we are "above board" in all of our dealings. If others choose to compromise their own integrity, well then they are much to be pitied.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

Something worth noting is that Io is in the Netherlands and the restrictions on copyright may be different there - I'm not sure but you always have to check the laws of whatever country you're in because they're all different. It's often surprisingly easy to get clearance for independent films and web sites, subject to certain restrictions.

For example, the license Philip uses for MC Radio only costs a few hundred dollars and lets you legally use thousands of songs. I'm using certain songs in "Bear Town" and licensing the music for a relatively low fee, although I have to get additional licenses to use that music in a DVD eventually and that will be more expensive.

 

[Iokitek]

Exactly!

You are right Jinx. The RIGHT thing to do is always better than the WRONG thing. Even if it seems to work out better for you atfirst. Eventually the wrong thing never works out for anyone. And in the process you might have hurt others aswell as yourself. I should've made clear that I also see it your way. I just tried to show that it can be depressing.

In the Netherlands the issues on copyright aren't much different. I think it's even more restricted.