Quoting a Movie

[WannabeWriter]

For those of you wondering how far I am in my first draft of my novel, I just started Chapter 9. I feel good accomplishing this much so far. :)

So here's my latest question. I know that using song lyrics requires permission, but not song titles only. What about movies? I see no problem with mentioning a movie by title, but what if you're briefly referencing a short movie scene and even quoting two or three lines from it? What's the copyright/permission rule with doing this?

Some of you may wonder why I'm even considering putting such a thing in my story. Well, I COULD try not to do that, but the movie I'm referencing makes my character think of the main problem he's facing in the story. I want to have something remind my character of the problem, just as he thinks he can forget about it. Even so, are there other techniques that can accomplish this?

[megan_d]

I don't see that you have to quote any specific lines. The way I see it, you can do it like this:

Bob, heir to the Earthen throne was watching The Lion King on tv.

"Oh gosh, I can't wait until I am king!" said the kid lion, Simba.

Wow, thought Bob, this really reminds of my own problems!


Or like this:

Bob was watching The Lion King on tv. Gosh, he thought, Simba's problems really remind me of my own!


Both really awful examples, I know, but it gets my point across. I think the second way is more effective than the first. Of course, the movie has to be pretty well known for it to work.

[donut]

Not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure you'd be covered by Fair Use (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use).

[Gillhoughly]

It's a fair use thing, as stated.

Some works are clearly inspired by movies, like Play It Again, Sam.

And there's plenty of South Park episodes with film references in 'em. I lost count of all the ones in their 3-part Imagination Land arc.

Good lord, just check any Simpson's Treehouse of Horror episode. Their take on "24" had me gasping for air, I was laughing so hard.

Lawrence Block's The Burglar who Thought He Was Bogart (http://www.twbooks.co.uk/authors/lblock3.html) comes to mind for fun.

Along with Stuart M. Kaminsky's Toby Peters mystery series (http://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Glass-Beer-Stuart-Kaminsky/dp/0892966300/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195924560&sr=1-14)with his PI who takes cases from every famous star from the 40s. My favorite was A Fatal Glass of Beer with W.C. Fields.

Go thou, do likewise. Have fun.

[WannabeWriter]

So it sounds like I won't much of a problem. And if you're wondering, the quote I'm using is, "Open the pod bay doors, Hal." :)

[arodriguez]

I f i could i write a book based on Shallow Hal's MC, jack black. When he was about to do her and she came into view with those big panies he said "Daddy Like"
i love that.

[underthecity]

In the first draft of my novel, I had a character quote from Star Trek the Motion Picture: The human adventure is just beginning. I deleted the line for the second draft, but now I'm kind of having second thoughts.

allen

[Gillhoughly]

Jim Butcher's wizard, Harry Dresden (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/105-2625133-1822008?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Jim+butcher), quotes from movies all the time.

Usually just before he's about to open a can of whup-ass on some deserving bad guy.

The cornier the the line the better.