In a message dated 2/24/09 5:13:17 PM, [email protected] writes:
> But wouldn't you be happy if one of your plays got pirated in Eastern > Europe > -- you didn't make a dime -- but somewhere in the world, your characters > came > to life on stage ? > In truth I wouldn't mind that at all. But I can imagine a playwright of meager means grinding his teeth at the sight. For that matter, if a school came to me and said, "Look, we want to put your play on. We'll use funds provided by the school. We've done calculations that predict the revenues will just about equal the direct disbursements, and, though the school isn't looking to make money, they don't want to lose it either. But those calculations don't provide anything for royalties. What do you say -- can we put on your play, even though we can't pay royalties?" I'd probably say yes. (Chances are the Dramatists Guild -- of which I'm a member -- would soon come jumping on me, but I'm not sure.) As for your question, "Do low-profile playwrights ever get pirated?" I'd say it's a sure thing. Go look at the catalog of Samuel French or The Dramatists Play Service. You've never heard of the vast majority of the playwrights these places publish. Yet someone must be putting the shows on and paying for the privilege. So I'd bet there are lots of pirates in the non-West who are putting them on and not paying. ************** You're invited to Hollywood's biggest party: Get Oscars updates, red carpet pics and more at Moviefone. (http://movies.aol.com/oscars-academy-awards?ncid=emlcntusmovi00000001)
