How To: Organise Screening Licensing

doubleshiny · **Posts:** 16 **Signal Origin:** Runcorn, UK

But we can still screen Dr Horrible?

William Pace · **Posts:** 907 **Signal Origin:** Logan • Utah • Hera

michedian · **Posts:** 23

Wait, so what is the process of getting permission to screen Dr. Horrible, if we wanted to do that for start up money for our CSTS event? Do we need to get permission or can we screen it and just not charge admission? Can we screen it for free admission but ask for donations for start up money for our CSTS event?

Lioness · **Posts:** 2430 **Signal Origin:** Toronto

William Pace · **Posts:** 907 **Signal Origin:** Logan • Utah • Hera

You are correct. We have permission to show Dr. Horrible at our Affiliate and Screening events only, so actually you can run an Affiliate event in support of a larger screening event in the same area.

As long as your 'registered' affiliate is part of a process leading up to one large donation, you can use it to help raise money, but please advertise it as part of the greater whole.

JenskiJen · **Posts:** 2822 **Signal Origin:** Melbourne, Australia

There would be no reason why you couldn't organise an Affiliate Event featuring Dr Horrible ahead of your main CSTS event if you wanted to. As long as your pre-event is registered, you would be able to screen Dr Horrible.

For example, in Melbourne, we run a whole season of events. Each month, between June and September, we hold an event of some kind. For our pre-events, we try to find venues that are free or very cheap, and screen something like Done the Impossible, Dr Horrible or Browncoats: Redemption, with a few prizes to encourage attendance. The profits from each event are then pooled into our CSTS fund for that year (since they're generally free to run with no venue cost, no licencing cost and donated prizes, all entry ticket and raffle sales are profit). The main event has venue, licensing and merchandising costs, which is then paid for out of our CSTS fund. All of the profits from the main event go into the CSTS fund, and we then run a few post-events to finish off the season and add more money to the fund. Once we're all finished, we finalise our books and all money in the CSTS fund is donated to Equality Now.

You would have to make sure that each event runs at a profit, and that attendees know that the donation will be made based on the success of all events you're running (ie. multiple events but one donation).

For seed money though, it's generally a good idea to find someone who's willing to cover one or more of your significant costs (which they can donate or be reimbursed for). Events should not be run purely to raise seed money for later events - all events should be organised as charity fundraisers.

michedian · **Posts:** 23

Thank you for all the EXCELLENT info!! We have enough people willing to front the cost of the CSTS main event, but who expect reimbursement after the event takes place.

JenskiJen · **Posts:** 2822 **Signal Origin:** Melbourne, Australia

A timely reminder about why we can't screen any of the Whedon television shows:

So, please do not include any screenings of Buffy, Angel, Firefly or Dollhouse in your CSTS events.

michedian · **Posts:** 23

Agreement with Swank indicates they are the ones providing us with the only copy we're allowed to use.

Marcrm · **Posts:** 15

So please clarify: our Lincoln, R.I. CSTS event has permission to to do a shadowcast of Dr. Horrible on July 23, 2011, like we did last year? That would be awesome!

Lioness · **Posts:** 2430 **Signal Origin:** Toronto

Marcrm · **Posts:** 15

Ok, so I need to clarify: can we show Dr. Horrible before screening Serenity at our CSTS event, AND can we do it as a shadowcast, with players acting out the scenes in front of the screen at the same time? I know we CAN'T do the Commentary portion of Dr. Horrible.

Our alternative is to screen Browncoats: Redemption before Serenity.

Lioness · **Posts:** 2430 **Signal Origin:** Toronto

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How To: Organise Screening Licensing

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