Film Licensing

Obtaining movie licensing to show films

Licensing film can be a tricky process, but it is a legal requirement if you want to show any movie in your place of business. It is possible to get licensing for one film at a time or for a group of films depending on your needs.

The fees for licensing movies will vary based on the movies you want to show, where and when they will be played and how many times a film will be screened. Some film studios provide free licensing for companies that will benefit their movie with widespread publicity

Film licensing companies help your business get the rights to show any film you are interested in. When you work with these companies, you will be able to:

1. Purchase the film licensing rights to show a particular movie one time;

2. Get a blanket movie license agreement that will allow you to show a variety of films as often as you want;

3. Request movies before they are commercially available;

4. Receive promotional materials for the film you will be showing.

 

Get an umbrella film license

Companies that intend to show several movies would benefit from an umbrella license deal. This will give them the rights to a large library of films instead of one particular movie. There will be an annual fee to maintain the umbrella license, but it will allow them to show any movie that is part of the agreement as many times as they want.
Try: Talk to the people at Motion Picture Licensing or Criterion Pictures about an umbrella license.

Obtain film licensing for public performances

Venues that are known as non-theatrical markets include any public or non-profit business that may wish to show a movie to the public without charging an entry fee. The non-theatrical term simply implies that they are not a licensed cinema or theater group. These venues include schools, libraries hospitals and even transportation-related businesses such as public transit trains, airlines and cruise ships.
Try: Movie Licensing USA, which is a division of Swank Motion Pictures,  provides public performance licensing for K-12 schools as well as public libraries. Exhibitor Licensing USA, also a division of Swank, offers performance licenses for trade shows, conventions and corporate events. On-Board Movies, another Swank division,  works with cruise ships that are in need of public performance film licensing.

Receive film copyright licensing for video clips

Video clips are short pieces of film that can be used as promotional materials or as a part of a commercial advertisement created by a small production company. The clips are available in most any style or category imaginable and can be purchased singularly or in bulk.
Try: Find the video clip licensing you need from Hollywood Licensing and Benchmark Rich Media.

 

• When your business is ready to start licensing movies, work with a company that represents a large number of motion picture studios to save both time and money.
• Work with a film licensing agency that will allow you to edit a film for content if it is to be shown to people of all ages. The editing allowances will include nudity, violence, language and sexual content.

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