Q: There’s a song on one of my favorite albums that I’ve always thought would be perfect in a movie. I’ve been making movies for a few years now and finally have a project that the song is perfect for. Who do I need to contact to get permission?

A: Let me guess. You want to use “Oops I Did It Again” in your sequel to Titanic. I’m glad you feel passionate about the song. Now comes the hard part. You’ve got to figure out what rights you need and from whom you need them. Continue reading the full story . . . »

Q: I have recently optioned the autobiography of a person that I’d like to use as the subject for a feature film. In the last quarter of the book, a historical figure whom my subject served with in the military is featured in a number of scenes. Do I have to get clearance from the person’s estate before using them in the script? I assume the author got permission to use her story in his book, but does this permission extend to a film?

A: Judging by your question, I think I can assume that your historical figure is truly historic (i.e., he or she is history). Either that or you are pondering getting clearance from someone’s large house. I’ll assume the former. The fact that your person of interest is an historic figure and is no longer with us makes your question much easier to answer. Continue reading the full story . . . »