Creative Portfolio/Copyright questions

KeyBrosCo

New Member
I'm planning on applying to multiple grad programs for production and they of course require visual portfolios. A lot of my "good" material is music videos to copyright, big-name songs. I believe that they show off my production/editing skills, which is what I'm assuming film schools are looking for, I just don't know if the copyrighted music is a deal-breaker. I would of course credit the music/band at the end/in the notes.

Also another video I have is a project my current film professor assigned where we used a scene from a movie script we've never seen (in my case it's a Coen Brothers film) and shot and edited our own take to it. If I still credit the Coen Brothers as the screenwriters and have everything else as my credit, is that acceptable too?
 
I'm not positive but I think for an application submission it's fine. However different schools may have different policies. I'd call and double check each one too be sure.

Let us know what they say! Good question. :)
 
I have the same question about using copyrighted songs in my short film for my application...
Hi Pippy, I would think this is fine. I think using a song you don't have the rights to in a short film for film school application is totally OK. It shows your creative intent, and that's what matters, right?

If you want to make absolutely sure, you could contact one or two admissions offices at schools you're applying to and confirm it with them.

I think using an unofficial music video for a song you don't have the right to is iffier, not because of the song's copyright, but because it might not show your best story-telling potential. Not sure. And using the script of a well-known film (or any professional film) but doing your own footage and cut is likely an even less compelling sample to send in. Film schools say they are most interested in story-telling instincts, not technical skills or production value, so borrowing someone else's story...I have the feeling that won't land well. That's my personal guess.
 
Film schools say they are most interested in story-telling instincts, not technical skills or production value, so borrowing someone else's story...I have the feeling that won't land well. That's my personal guess.
This 10000% 👍
 
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