My book's chapters

[ER]

So happy for you!!!

Thanks 😊

I have thrown out one of my chapters called SUCH IDIOTS ARE NOT ARTISTS - about foreign filmmakers who made anti SA films - because I really don't want to get sued. 😳😳

Phrase it all as questions:

"After seeing his film, did I think it was a piece of garbage and he a total moron?"

"Does the depth of his talentless excess scream egotistical hack?"

Remember different countries will have different libel laws.

Does that mean those countries are stupid places full of utter idiots? 

[Alex]

So happy for you!!!

Thanks 😊

I have thrown out one of my chapters called SUCH IDIOTS ARE NOT ARTISTS - about foreign filmmakers who made anti SA films - because I really don't want to get sued. 😳😳

Phrase it all as questions:

"After seeing his film, did I think it was a piece of garbage and he a total moron?"

"Does the depth of his talentless excess scream egotistical hack?"

Remember different countries will have different libel laws.

Does that mean those countries are stupid places full of utter idiots? 

I've visited a lot of countries and I am yet to find one that isn't.

[Rev. Powell]

So happy for you!!!

Thanks 😊

I have thrown out one of my chapters called SUCH IDIOTS ARE NOT ARTISTS - about foreign filmmakers who made anti SA films - because I really don't want to get sued. 😳😳

Phrase it all as questions:

"After seeing his film, did I think it was a piece of garbage and he a total moron?"

"Does the depth of his talentless excess scream egotistical hack?"

Remember different countries will have different libel laws.

Your avatar violates Russian libel laws, but I bet you aren't too concerned.

[Alex]

So happy for you!!!

Thanks 😊

I have thrown out one of my chapters called SUCH IDIOTS ARE NOT ARTISTS - about foreign filmmakers who made anti SA films - because I really don't want to get sued. 😳😳

Phrase it all as questions:

"After seeing his film, did I think it was a piece of garbage and he a total moron?"

"Does the depth of his talentless excess scream egotistical hack?"

Remember different countries will have different libel laws.

Your avatar violates Russian libel laws, but I bet you aren't too concerned.

Heh. It may have been specifically chosen for that reason. Then again I am not looking to sell anything there so no, not exactly worried. In the unlikely event, I was to be going to Russia or involved in some business there, that might have to change (slight shame because it is a country I would have liked to have visited). If I was selling a book there, that violated their laws it is something I'd have to think about.

[Trevor]

Your avatar violates Russian libel laws, but I bet you aren't too concerned.

My avatar violates film making rules as that was at film school in 2011 and that was my first time behind a motion picture camera 

[Trevor]

Well, hit me over the head with a 100 year old dildo, I got threatened with legal action on Tuesday! 

[Newt]

 

On what basis?  Intimidation is often all they have.

[Rev. Powell]

By who for what (if you can talk about it?)

[Trevor]

On what basis?  Intimidation is often all they have.

You know me well enough to know that people won't make threats like that to my face 

[Trevor]

By who for what (if you can talk about it?)

Sure.

The company which bought up the film library are the persons of interest here but our copyright act is very clear with regard to public domain and copyright: after 50 years, a movie is public domain and it cannot be renewed, unlike in the USA.

I informed them that all 10 of the stills I wanted for my book are older than 50 years and therefore PD: I said I would credit them, submit a letter of indemnity etc and they chose to ignore the act, stating that although the films were in public domain, they would not release the stills (which they do not even have) to me for publishing.

I told them that I would be going to the archives and requesting the stills - I am well within my rights to do so with a letter of indemnity - and that is when the proverbial hit the fan.

I haven't slept for the last two nights but this morning, I reduced the number of stills I wanted and will pay a nominal fee (total $300) which is a lot less than the almost ZAR22 000 they quoted me first.

All of this s*** p**ses me off: there should be no rights and no charge. 

[Rev. Powell]

By who for what (if you can talk about it?)

Sure.

The company which bought up the film library are the persons of interest here but our copyright act is very clear with regard to public domain and copyright: after 50 years, a movie is public domain and it cannot be renewed, unlike in the USA.

I informed them that all 10 of the stills I wanted for my book are older than 50 years and therefore PD: I said I would credit them, submit a letter of indemnity etc and they chose to ignore the act, stating that although the films were in public domain, they would not release the stills (which they do not even have) to me for publishing.

I told them that I would be going to the archives and requesting the stills - I am well within my rights to do so with a letter of indemnity - and that is when the proverbial hit the fan.

I haven't slept for the last two nights but this morning, I reduced the number of stills I wanted and will pay a nominal fee (total $300) which is a lot less than the almost ZAR22 000 they quoted me first.

All of this s*** p**ses me off: there should be no rights and no charge. 

I see. That sucks. It would probably cost you more to hire a lawyer to defend a suit than what they are charging you, which is what they are counting on. 

[Trevor]

I see. That sucks. It would probably cost you more to hire a lawyer to defend a suit than what they are charging you, which is what they are counting on. 

Exactly. I have been working with this company since 1997, I took hundreds of reels of film to the lab for them, hosted screenings, wrote DVD slip sheets and promoted them if people needed movies that weren't available.

F*** them: as soon as I pay them tomorrow, I am done with them permanently even if they offer me employment.

[Alex]

If you are going to pay them, then make sure you make it a pain in the arsenal for them. Use only small denomination coins, or write a cheque on the side of an elephant.

[Trevor]

If you are going to pay them, then make sure you make it a pain in the arsenal for them. Use only small denomination coins, or write a cheque on the side of an elephant.

That cheered me up a bit, thanks.

I have to pay them around 220 pounds so that will be a hell of a lot of small denomination coins. 

I'm wondering now: it's 8:22, where am I going to get an elephant this time of night?  

[Alex]

If you are going to pay them, then make sure you make it a pain in the arsenal for them. Use only small denomination coins, or write a cheque on the side of an elephant.

I'm wondering now: it's 8:22, where am I going to get an elephant this time of night?  

The first answer that sprung to my mind was "Africa". Based on pretty much every film set in Africa I have ever seen (with the exception of Zulu and Zulu Dawn), I assume elephants are found on every street corner, aren't they?