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Richard Shawn
Regular user
182 Posts
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Posted: Jul 13, 2011 9:02am
I got a request for a Bar Mitzvah where the theme will be Harry Potter. 50 kids will be wearing Harry Potter robes and there will be a total of 200 guests. The father wants something similar to Voldermort to perform. An evil serious wizard, not a "magic show" a majik show whatever that means. I thought of using a fog machine and lighting to make Voldemort appear and then have him vanish and re-appear behind the guest of honor. I could go through some spells like making things levitate, entering their minds with some mentalism and I have an idea for removing a wand from their hands.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to build a show around this who is familiar with Harry Potter. For a young kids show it would be easy, but this guy is Harry Potter crazy.
Thanks
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PCoreyB
Regular user
128 Posts
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Posted: Jul 13, 2011 10:24am
I'd probably play it as Voldemort's bumbling twin brother. Then you could do a lot of comedy magic that would "misfire" as you attempt to take over the bar mitzvah. It'll be nearly impossible to play that role seriously and powerfully enough to satisfy a true Harry Potter fan.
So...what would Voldemort's bumbling brothers name be? Any ideas anyone?
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SpellbinderEntertainment
Inner circle
West Coast
3244 Posts
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Posted: Jul 13, 2011 12:06pm
I am not stirring up trouble just stating pure fact:
Please realize that while you may play any generic or historical Wizard character, you may absolutely not recreate any actual Harry Potter character or situation from the books or films!
These fall under very tight copyright codes, and Warner Bros. especially is stringent and vicious about following up on infractions. The Magic Café posts are pubic and can be easily Googled, and they have a huge team of lawyers who do exactly that.
There are serious ramifications and penalties when they follow up with you and your client. Period.
There is also the moral issue of outright stealing intellectual property, it’s just dishonest as well as illegal and bad karma.
I have had extensive professional experience with the HP franchise since the first book, and have conversed with Warner’s legal department since they retained the movie rights.
Better to be safe and sorry, do a wonderful show, pay homage to the wonderful books, but please decide to refrain from any copying or referenced to anything in the books/movies.
If you want all the details on this feel free to call me.
My best advice,
Walt
“Tales of Enchantment: The Art of Magic”
by Walt Anthony
www.LeapingLizardsMagic.com
"spinning tales and weaving enchantment"
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Richard Shawn
Regular user
182 Posts
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Posted: Jul 13, 2011 12:28pm
Very good advice that I didn't realized or think about. Thanks
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Ray Pierce
Inner circle
Los Angeles, CA
1636 Posts
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Posted: Jul 13, 2011 5:01pm
I actually did a magical Wizard character for some Harry Potter event years ago that was supposed to be a character out of the film. Dumbledorf or something to that effect. After reading Walt's very good post I was thinking back as to why I would do that, then I remembered that it was on the Warner Bros. back lot for a Harry Potter event! lol... I guess it's ok if it's for them. Even then I'm not sure I was actually that character or maybe his older cousin or something, who knows?
As someone who works for a lot of entertainment companies... Walt's post is very valuable when it comes to copying licensed characters. Many companies are very proactive in going after knock offs, so best choose other characters to play!
Ray Pierce
www.HollywoodAerialArts.com
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0pus
Inner circle
New Jersey
1138 Posts
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Posted: Jul 13, 2011 5:47pm
Dumbledorf . . . that's funny.
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Richard Shawn
Regular user
182 Posts
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Posted: Jul 13, 2011 8:58pm
Yes I agree as well. It is important to remember these things. I told the client that I would not be able to do it and that if he wants it that bad he should find someone else. Besides I am more of a show up in a suit guy.
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Mike Maturen
Inner circle
building a horse pen and needs
2006 Posts
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Posted: Jul 14, 2011 12:07am
Good choice, Richard. There are more important things than cash...sleeping at night, and your eternal soul come to mind!
You did the right thing and, in the end, you will be rewarded for your ethics.
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment
The Magic of Mike Maturen
989-335-1661
mikematuren@gmail.com
AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life"
member: Fellowship of Christian Magicians, KIDabra International
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wizardpa
Special user
The New Orleans area
739 Posts
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Posted: Jul 17, 2011 9:20am
I just did 3 hours of magic at a local theater promoting the new Harry Potter film on IMAX 3-D. I did dress up in a wizard's costume and I had an Axtell Expressions owl puppet.
I was told 2-3 days before the show to make no references to the Harry Potter series, or do any tricks with Harry Potter characters or items. I did not even mention any Harry Potter trivia. I kind of figured before hand to be careful of copy-write infringement. I was just The Whimsical Wizard with my pet owl, Hoot, doing my own magic. Every great wizard has a pet owl.
There was a face painter, a table set up for kids to make wizards hats, and even a booth set up with 2 real owls. I'm happy to say, I had the most people of all ages watching me while I put a little magic into their lives. I had a fantastic time!
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wizardpa
Special user
The New Orleans area
739 Posts
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Posted: Jul 17, 2011 9:23am
Boy, I wish I lived close enough to do this show. I have the perfect magic show to play an evil wizard.
This is one of my favorite shows that I seldom do because I'm usually hired to do young kids.
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jerome96114
New user
70 Posts
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Posted: Jul 17, 2011 10:24am
@ SpellbinderEntertainment:
They don't hold the copyright for the books, do they ?
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Fábio DeRose
Inner circle
San Paolo, Brasile
1419 Posts
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Posted: Jul 17, 2011 12:36pm
A few years ago a friend of mine did a whole 30-minutes show with multiple acts, all based on Harry Potter stuff. The attention to detail was beyond belief. It was like watching a movie in 7-D.
He never had any problems ith copyright, though.
Fábio De'Rose - Ilusionista
www.ENIGMAGICO.com.br
Twitter @Enigmagico
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Oliver Ross
Inner circle
Europe
1463 Posts
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Posted: Jul 17, 2011 6:13pm
The Warner Bros don't hold any copyright on the books, but since Harry Potter got success with the first movie, J.K. Rowling (the writer) trademarked all character names, magic spells, the names of the different places etc, that appear in her books. So to me it means that we can't use anything out of the books to create a magic show around this theme without her written agreement.
She did the same thing in business, that once George Lucas did with Star Wars and both make a lot of business out of it, so we should be very careful.
Oliver.
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jerome96114
New user
70 Posts
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Posted: Jul 17, 2011 6:54pm
Ok ... but I still don't think they would sue you, as in the past have been quite tolerant about fan art. There are so many fan-short-stories out there, and even some fan-films, and game projects.
And I've read somewhere, that there will be a section for fanart at the pottermore website.
On the other hand they might of course react differently, if you make money out of it ...
But wait ... On etsy there are many people selling self made "potter-wands", "griffindor-scarfs", etc. .... and also don't get sued -_-
Hmmmm ....
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Neznarf
Inner circle
NY then AZ now
1206 Posts
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Posted: Jul 18, 2011 2:18pm
http://www.wildcolombini.com/cart/index.php?cPath=25
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain."
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JamesinLA
Inner circle
Los Angeles
3210 Posts
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Posted: Jul 18, 2011 5:57pm
I would be shocked if warner's doesn't own the copyright to the books. Maybe they don't because of the success of the books before the films, but it's fairly standard proceedure for studios to buy all the rights in whatever media now or invented in the future (I'm parapharsing) forever before they put millions into making and marketing a film.
Walt,
Forget Warners, Disney is the most agressive in protecting their copyrights.
Having said that, it's pretty common practice for party companies to rent characters who are obviously who they are, but with different names: like Ironman is called Metalic man, batman is called something else, etc. When the guys shows up, everyone calls him IronMan. Wink and a nod. I actually wouldn't worry about playing a given character at a small private function such as yours.
However, I would use it as an excuse not to play that character with the client. Then you could go as yourself and not have to reinvent the wheel.
Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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superpixel
Regular user
Knoxville, TN
125 Posts
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Posted: Feb 11, 2012 11:23am
There's licensed and then there's artistic license  I'm about to go on tour with a Harry Potter rap band (it's called nerdcore music and there is tons of it using properties like Star Wars, Trek, LOTR, etc.). They want me to open their show as a wizard. However, I'm not copying a specific character, nor am I even using terms like "floo powder" -- my character is a wizard in the style of Lupin or Sirius, and is very much predicated on my wand as a way to focus energy and actuate things.
Scholastic owns the books, Warner owns the movies and Rowling owns the intellectual property and trademarked names of stuff. I even nixed a zombie routine with a bludger just to play it safe
-- superpixel = Victor --
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Steve_Mollett
Inner circle
Eh, so I've made
2604 Posts
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Posted: Feb 12, 2012 11:28am
I performed a generic "Hogwarts-style-wizard" show as "Dr. Stephen Midnight."
If you want to do a Voldemort parody, how about "Lord Moldyshorts"?
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth.
- Albert Camus
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