If I appear in a movie, don't they have to pay me?

[scottyb]

I just watched Fahrenheit 9/11, and then FahrenHYPE 9/11 back to back. Most of those interviewed on Hype stated that they were never interviewed by Moore, and that they did not know they would appear in a movie at all. All were very upset that their video was jacked for use in this film.

Normal movie producers pay actors in their movies. Isn't it illegal to use someones picture, video, or likeness for financial gain without their permission?

Hell, I've even seen guys on car website s go after other site owners for unauthorized use of their car pictures.

 

[bruce]

Originally posted by scottyb

Normal movie producers pay actors in their movies. Isn't it illegal to use someones picture, video, or likeness for financial gain without their permission?

Nope, if your just background, and not working for them, there's no reason for them to pay you. If your role was *important* to the developement of the movie, then you'd be hired as an extra.
Things in public view, are just that, if they happen to be captured on film, then that's just the way it is.

As fair as someone demanding their pic be removed, I'd wager it's just a courtesy. I'm sure there is someone with a lawyer on retainer to rattle someone's cage, but there's a difference between a threat, and actually taking action.

I had a guy try to tell me he had the sole *rights* to being able to reverse engineer GM code, and was going to sic his lawyers on me. I just public domained my version, case closed.


Now, as for the guys that were misquoted, and statements taken out of context, I sure wish they'd file a class action suit against MM. And that the Feds would make him remove the word documentary from anything related to that nonsense of his.