In terms of crime, people tend to think of fraud, murder, extortion, and other misdeeds. However, one that is often overlooked but still a nuisance is intellectual property theft. In the world of entertainment, ideas are a valuable currency. Stealing someone else’s idea without credit occurs far too often, and, sadly, without consequence. Other People's Footage 2.0: Fair Use in Scripted Films takes a deep dive into this phenomenon.
Analyses of copyright law, fair use in nonfiction/fiction films, and intellectual property rights may not seem like the most interesting fanfare. However, filmmakers Diane Carson and Robert Johnson, Jr. do an excellent job during the 50-minute runtime of incorporating graphics, footage, and factoids to keep viewers engaged. They also interview a wide variety of directors involved with projects like LBJ and Moonlight. Carson and Johnson, Jr. clearly went all in here.
Hollywood bigwigs aside, the most impressive guests in the documentary are more inclined to read case law than catch a flick. Two of the most notable legal minds on the issue of fair use, Andrew Berger and Michael Donaldson, also appear here, giving the documentary an even larger aura of authenticity. The film is very educational, and an eye-opening look into an issue that is often overlooked.