The safest thing by far is any film made before 1923 and I would think the images from silent films would be lovely. While there are loads of PD films after that it is bit of a crap shoot to get accurate info and there are a small number of films like It's a Wonderful Life where rights holders have been able to "restore" the copyright to the film via an underlying right like story or score. I don't think any list or site is 100% reliable. In general films released by major studios are FAR less likely to go PD then those released by independents but that is pretty wide swath. For example for Keaton films made after 1923 , The General, Steamboat Bill and College are PD but the other like Sherlock Jr and the Cameraman are not.
Ironically the 1923 cut off only applies to American films because Australia's own copyright laws are much more rigid so say NOSFERATU which is PD in the US probably is not in Australia but Intolerance is PD everywhere. Again I would THINK silent films are her best shot for good visuals and lots of PD titles ( but by no means all) She could also hire a copyright researcher to confirm is certain titles she thinks PD are in fact PD. On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 4:28 PM, Carrie Russell <[email protected]>wrote: > Can the film/video experts provide Lucy any ideas about films in the PD? > See below! > Much appreciated. > -Carrie > Carrie Russell > Program Director, Public Access to Information > ALA Office for Information Technology Policy > 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW First Floor > Washington, DC 20009 > > 202.628.8410 > 800.941.8478 > crussell<at>alawash<dot>org > > -----Original Message----- > From: Lucy Guerin [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2014 2:11 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Films in the Public Domain > > Dear Carrie, > > I am an Australian choreographer wanting to work with a film as part of a > dance performance I am creating. I have had very little success with > obtaining rights to screen most films so want to work with a film in the > public domain, where no rights are required. Do you know of a reliable list > of films in the public domain in the US? As my works regularly tour to the > US I would need it to be rights free in the US. > > Many thanks for your help. > > Regards, > > Lucy Guerin > -- > Lucy Guerin > Artistic Director > Lucy Guerin Inc > > 28 (formerly 14) Batman St > West Melbourne VIC 3003 > Australia > > tel: +61 3 9329 4213 > fax: +61 3 9329 4217 > mob: +61 (0) 411 100 209 > email: [email protected] > web: www.lucyguerininc.com > > > > > > > > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as > an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video > producers and distributors. >
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
