Will No Manifesto appear ever?

[Elizabeth M]

Thanks for your feedback, everyone! We're thinking about some revisions to the poster, and will post an updated version soon.

As for the rights issues, we weren't expecting to have to come up with the money to pay for the rights until after we'd released the film. The original plan was to put the film out and then pay for the music rights out of the film's income, but due to the current economic situation and the state of the music industry, Sony changed their minds on that deal and now they want money up front, which we don't have because we spent it all on production.

[Cassie]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth M

Thanks for your feedback, everyone! We're thinking about some revisions to the poster, and will post an updated version soon.

As for the rights issues, we weren't expecting to have to come up with the money to pay for the rights until after we'd released the film. The original plan was to put the film out and then pay for the music rights out of the film's income, but due to the current economic situation and the state of the music industry, Sony changed their minds on that deal and now they want money up front, which we don't have because we spent it all on production.

yeppiii!!! I can't wait to see those new posters =)

I hate it when people pay your way and then they steal a hand.
They should respect the deal that they had with you guys in the beggining.
It does not give a good impression when they keep changing their minds. It is not serious.

So, all of you sony gentlemen make notes on this =/

[Son of Stopped]

Elizabeth, I'm getting my fables mixed up a bit, but that one about the hen who goes to make some bread (or breakfast? Or a hutch?) and asks for helps from the animals and nobody gives her any? And then when the hen goes ahead and does it all the animals want a piece of it, even though they did fuck all to help?
That's how I see the troubles with the film!

[Tetsuo]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth M

Thanks for your feedback, everyone! We're thinking about some revisions to the poster, and will post an updated version soon.

As for the rights issues, we weren't expecting to have to come up with the money to pay for the rights until after we'd released the film. The original plan was to put the film out and then pay for the music rights out of the film's income, but due to the current economic situation and the state of the music industry, Sony changed their minds on that deal and now they want money up front, which we don't have because we spent it all on production.

Have the band not shown any interest in helping out with the financials? I take it you aren't doing this for a profit ie. it's a project of love so breaking even and getting it out to as many people as you can would be numebr 1 I'd assume....


What about letting the fans ie. people here chip in toward the cost and you can repay them with cheap tickets/DVDs/screening with the band including interview session? I take it it will be shown in Cardiff yes?

[everlasting]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth M

Thanks for your feedback, everyone! We're thinking about some revisions to the poster, and will post an updated version soon.

As for the rights issues, we weren't expecting to have to come up with the money to pay for the rights until after we'd released the film. The original plan was to put the film out and then pay for the music rights out of the film's income, but due to the current economic situation and the state of the music industry, Sony changed their minds on that deal and now they want money up front, which we don't have because we spent it all on production.

Bloody Sony, that's shocking. I say we all go through eggs at their executives whilst singing Manics songs at them!
I really hope they're not asking for an arm and a leg. Goddamn mercenaries.

[Takk]

Originally Posted by Tetsuo

Have the band not shown any interest in helping out with the financials? I take it you aren't doing this for a profit ie. it's a project of love so breaking even and getting it out to as many people as you can would be numebr 1 I'd assume....


What about letting the fans ie. people here chip in toward the cost and you can repay them with cheap tickets/DVDs/screening with the band including interview session? I take it it will be shown in Cardiff yes?

Really though, why would the band want to pay? Whilst it seems like it might work, asking fans to contribute opens up a lot of potential problems.

[relic]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

Elizabeth, I'm getting my fables mixed up a bit, but that one about the hen who goes to make some bread (or breakfast? Or a hutch?) and asks for helps from the animals and nobody gives her any? And then when the hen goes ahead and does it all the animals want a piece of it, even though they did fuck all to help?
That's how I see the troubles with the film!

The Little Red Hen (I read it for the first time last month, loved it) and yes, it does apply, very much so.

[Cofi Bach]

Originally Posted by franny

Sorry, I was a little harsh I agree, you weren't to know. I hope you continue to enjoy your time here and you did get us some more info so cheers muchly for that.

Don't sweat it, it's o.k.

[UEF]

Let's finance it!

But don't give anyone a discount in return. We're the same people that will end up buying it, so that's robbing peter to pay paul.

[tzb]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

Elizabeth, I'm getting my fables mixed up a bit, but that one about the hen who goes to make some bread (or breakfast? Or a hutch?) and asks for helps from the animals and nobody gives her any? And then when the hen goes ahead and does it all the animals want a piece of it, even though they did fuck all to help?
That's how I see the troubles with the film!

I think it's more Jack and the Beanstalk. The magic has happened and a doco about the Manics has been made, but now the vine's been laboriously climbed there's a big ugly giant at the top that needs killing.

[UEF]

Replace it with covers. You don't need to pay the same royalty on non-originals. I'm sure the forum could knock up some decent soundalikes?

[Tetsuo]

Originally Posted by Takk

Really though, why would the band want to pay? Whilst it seems like it might work, asking fans to contribute opens up a lot of potential problems.

I'm just throwing out some suggestions.
Plenty of bands have funded their own documentaries and projects and people paying in advance for a product not yet finished isn't reinventing the wheel. I think Nine Inch Nails did something similar where fan club members paid in advance for the album he was still working on. The album came out and then you got your copy you paid for before it was finished.

Originally Posted by UEF

Replace it with covers. You don't need to pay the same royalty on non-originals. I'm sure the forum could knock up some decent soundalikes?

I reckon the Manics could do cover versions of their own songs ie. live and they might escape paying the full royalties. They'd still have to pay some I'd say depending on how much of the song is used and if the full published lyrics are sung but if the song is different to the recorded album version then there's a difference in royalty amounts due I think. Probably wrong.

[UEF]

Or those soundalikes like in Family Guy or The Simpsons when they're taking the mick out of a real song

See my vest, see my vest

[Elizabeth M]

Originally Posted by UEF

Replace it with covers. You don't need to pay the same royalty on non-originals. I'm sure the forum could knock up some decent soundalikes?

Aside from the fact that soundalikes wouldn't suit the film we've made, that wouldn't solve the problem. There are various rights to be paid on music used in films, and soundalikes would only address performance rights and ownership of the recordings. The publishing rights have to be paid for regardless of who performs the song or owns the recordings used.

We have 38 songs in the film that have to be licenced from the publishing company, Sony ATV. We don't have to pay performance rights because the band have donated those, and we don't have to pay for the rights for most of the recordings used in the film because most of the recordings used in the film are ones we made at gigs and in the studio during the course of filming that we own ourselves. We do have some official recordings and footage in the film, and these rights need to be paid for separately from the publishing rights, and paid to a different Sony company, Sony BMG.

As to why "Sony," as in, the Manics' record label, can't or won't market the film themselves, it's because Sony Music, the part of Sony concerned with marketing and distribution of product, is yet a third separate company, and they cannot market or distribute the product until rights have been paid to the other two Sony companies. Basically, no one is cooperating with anyone on this and we are left holding the bag.

We did apply for a grant from the Wales Film Fund, but though they will give a grant to a Welsh director making a film in Hollywood, they will not give a grant to an American director making a film in Wales, about a Welsh subject using Welsh crew and facilities. Such is life.

As for the band paying for the rights, the project was conceived, envisioned and initiated solely by us. When we started working with the band, their stated interest was to be objectively documented and NOT to take an active role in the filmmaking itself. They made it clear that they did not want to be involved in the film on the editorial or the business end. Our deal with them was that they would contribute their cooperation along with some personal materials, and the donation of all personal royalties on Manics material used in the film. We consider this to be fair, and have never asked them for any money.

Although we very much appreciate any willingness on the part of fans to contribute money, for various reasons, that is simply not practical at this time. However, please be assured that we are not sitting idly by waiting for someone to help us but rather working in every channel available to us to find a solution. Believe us when we say that no one wants to see this film released more than we do!

Thanks as always for your interest and support!

[StandAndStare]

thanks for explaining everything so clearly Elizabeth! I understand we wouldn't be any help then So we're all keeping our fingers crossed and sending you all the patience and energy you need to find the funds.