talkmagic.co.uk

Hi all,

A group of my friends are professional film makers and would like to put together a showreel for me free of charge, so they can use it in their portfolio, which is nice!!

What i would like to know is, if I'm using David Stone's Tool or Jesse Feinberg's Spellochange or even the Masuda Wow card sleeve on a showreel and uploading it to Youtube, am i allowed to use these on film?

Basically what im asking is, if i buy the effect does that give me permission to use it for potential financial gain?

Sorry if this sounds a bit stupid or convoluted, but i don't want to "rip off" somebody else by using their gimmick/effect in my own routine.

Much love

Aza

It's interesting you should ask that because until recently I'd always assumed that owning a product would allow one to use it in whatever way the owner wished. However recently I was watching some back episodes of the Wizard Product Review and they mentioned a couple of effects which actually had legal stipulation on them that owning it allowed you to add it to your routine but didn't give you the right to share or transmit video of you performing the routine nor perform the effect in a strictly magical venue, such as the magic circle, magic castle, at conventions or competitions.

I got the impression it wasn't a very common thing to see, which was why they remarked on it, but it might be worth just reading the small print on the cover.

- Stacy

As the good lady above has said, for the most part owning the effect will also grant you full performance rights. There is however the rare (and they are rare) occasion whereby the creator withholds broadcasting rights. This is however usually stipulated within the copyright information at the beginning of the DVD or the front few pages of a book.

Indeed, sometimes we withhold rights but many effects do not have any restrictions.

I noticed when I bought some of Mesika's Loops that rights for video performance were withheld.

Further to this, if something is in a book, such as Mark Wilson's or Royal Road etc. is there any performance restrictions on these, in relation to video?

I'm just trying to stay on the right side here

Appreciate any input anybody can give and thank you all for your comments so far

Much love

Aza

Given that these are sold to be performed, anyone not granting permission to perform under certain circumstances (such as when being videoed) would be sure to make it very clear that they were doing so, as it is not the norm.

So, any trick or book purchased legit should have the creator's stipulations set out clearly and unambiguously. If you haven't seen a warning, there almost definitely isn't one and you can go ahead and be filmed.

I suppose a worst case scenario would be that i would be contacted and asked to not use their material, which i would obviously remove from the showreel and then never buy that persons product again and slate them on every public forum i could find! (kidding on the second part!)

Much love

Aza

Even further to this, i was thinking about the credits and obviously would put a www.talkmagic.co.uk link and a few others, but if there are any requests to be included in the credits, such as the shops here, i would of course consider it, doesn't hurt me!!

Just drop me a PM if you want to discuss

Much love

Aza

I don't think you should put too many (if any) shout outs to other websites on your showreel. If you stick an advert for a magic shop or forum on the end, people will assume the whole showreel is for that and immediately forget about the performer.

-Stacy

The4thCircle wrote:I don't think you should put too many (if any) shout outs to other websites on your showreel. If you stick an advert for a magic shop or forum on the end, people will assume the whole showreel is for that and immediately forget about the performer.

-Stacy

But you were going to get a mention Stacy!

I just think it's nice to give something back to the community that has helped me!

Much love

Aza

I really agree with Stacy

Stephen Ward wrote:I really agree with Stacy

Me too.
Another thought is that if you have links to this site and people follow then there is a risk of over-exposure of methods etc.
Another thought, if the idea of the showreel is to get business then linking to a forum full of magicians is a bit counterproductive

It's okay to thank people here and not on the reel. Seriously - it's supposed to be about you, with extra you and some additional you. Thank the people filming it, but only give your website address.

I don't think a little shout out hurt but I'd avoid mentioning actual book names or shops. All you'll be doing then is telling people where they can go to find your methods.