If it is not for profit and you cite the source, can you use music from major motion pictures?

Sure, if you don't mind being hackish. There are alot of student composers who would score your work for free so why nt take the extra time and effort and do it right? You wouldn't use visual clips from other movies so why would you use audio?

Using copyrighted music has it's benifits - it's a way to learn how to coordinate ready-made material with your visuals. But you'll ultimately want to move away from it (unless you can actually get the rights) because it just feels unprofessional. And REDking is right - there are PLENTY of composers who would be more than willing to score your films.

Although, stealing music from other movies is actually a practice in hollywood. I just realized the other day that the main theme for Gladiator is nearly note-for-note the same theme for Pirates of the Caribbean.

its okay...i personaly am not a fan of it.

Please though, whatever you do, do not use Lux Aeterna from Requiem for a Dream...It is the single most overused piece of music in recent memory.

quote:

Originally posted by Cinematical:
I just realized the other day that the main theme for Gladiator is nearly note-for-note the same theme for Pirates of the Caribbean.

I started humming the themes after reading this, and holy hell...I never realized that before. Good ear. But didn't Hans Zimmer score both of those? So, is it really stealing? I've seen a lot of similarities in works that John Williams has scored, too: there's some definite copying and pasting going on with parts of Indiana Jones and Star Wars compositions.

Edit: I was wrong; forgot Klaus Badelt originally scored the first POTC, although I seem to remember Zimmer still had a hand in it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cobra_commander,

Zimmer did have a hand in it, but the tunes are SO close that it goes beyond mere 'borrowing'. My guess, though, is that Gore Verbinski went "I want something like the main theme to Gladiator. Actually, you know what, just change a few notes and stick it in."

That's right - he pulled a Vanilla Ice.