Event | Fair Use for Documentary Filmmakers

Event | Fair Use for Documentary Filmmakers

Documentarian David Van Taylor will present on the topic on Thursday, March 21 at NYFA’s  office in Brooklyn.

Fair use is a provision of the Copyright Act that allows certain uses of copyrighted works, such as making and distributing copies of protected material, without permission. Though it’s a very old concept, and was written into law in 1976, the right of “fair use” lay fallow for decades, as large copyright holders created a culture of insinuating that artists must ask for permission. David Van Taylor, who played an important part in the revitalization of the aspect of fair use copyright in the mid-2000′s, will join The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) to present on the topic, help determine if it is right for your film, and navigate what steps you will need to take if you do choose to make use of it.

This conversation will include case studies of proposed uses of fair use by filmmakers in the audience. To submit a description of your proposed use, please register at least one week in advance. You’ll receive instructions on how to participate once you complete your registration.

Program Title: Fair Use for Documentary Filmmakers
Date and Time: Thursday, March 21, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: The New York Foundation for the Arts, 20 Jay Street, Suite 740, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Cost: $15 for NYFA-affiliated artists (Fiscally Sponsored, NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellows, Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program Artists) and $20 for the general public
Register: RSVP here through Eventbrite 

About David Van Taylor
David Van Taylor’s documentaries have been shown around the world, from the Berlin International Film Festival and Film Forum to PBS, HBO, and the BBC. His work has been recognized by the International Documentary Association, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the Guggenheim Foundation.

His feature docs include A Perfect Candidate, which recently topped IndieWire’s list of the “best political films of the past 25 years;” Ghosts of Attica, honored with a duPont-Columbia University Award; and Good Ol’ Charles Schulz, which the San Francisco Chronicle wrote is “like Peanuts, a great example of minimalist art.” He co-created the Religious Right history series With God on Our Side; the media “docu-soap” Local News; and To Tell the Truth, a National Endowment for the Humanities-funded history of documentary film.

Van Taylor has also helped spearhead two important changes in the field: the revitalization of fair use in copyright and the unionization of nonfiction TV producers.

Getting to NYFA
Closest Subway to 20 Jay Street:
*F to York Street station
Next Closest Subway:
*A to High Street/Brooklyn Bridge station

Event Accessibility
The New York Foundation for the Arts is committed to making events held at the NYFA office at 20 Jay Street in Brooklyn accessible. If you are mobility-impaired and need help getting to NYFA’s office for events held on premises, we are pleased to offer complimentary car service from the wheelchair accessible Jay Street-MetroTech subway station courtesy of transportation sponsor Legends Limousine. Please email [email protected] or call 212.366.6900 ext. 243 between 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM at least three business days in advance of the event to coordinate. The elevator access point for pickup is at 370 Jay Street, on the NE corner of Jay and Willoughby Streets.

Are you an artist or new organization, and interested in increasing your fundraising opportunities through NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship? No-fee applications are accepted on a quarterly basis and the next deadline to apply is March 31. Click here to learn more NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship and to apply.

Are you a filmmaker interested in finding, growing, and engaging with your audience? Click here for insights from three early-career filmmakers on audience-building. Sign up for our free bi-weekly newsletter, NYFA News, for the latest updates and news about Sponsored Projects and Emerging Organizations.

Image: Dream Deceivers, Courtesy: 3-D Documentaries

Amy Aronoff
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