I've read a draft of the SCS report authored by Kristin Thompson that Henry

Jenkins mentioned.  He's got it right: the report cautiously advises that

the use of frame enlargements would be protected by the fair use provision

of the copyright act.  However, this does not hold for production stills,

since they are actually independent works, not "quotations" from another

larger work.  Some production stills, however, are in the public domain

because they were released for publication by the studios.  And once the

studio approves of the publication in magazines and newspapers without

copyright notice, the production still is in the public domain.

 

One's publisher may feel differently, however.  Not all publishers are

willing to accept the fair use argument (though many are).

 

I should make it clear, however, that this information is from a draft of

the report and not the final report itself.  This draft is essentially

complete, but needs a final check from the attorney that is working with the

SCS committee.

 

Regarding the equipment for making frame enlargements: there is a device

called a Duplikin that attaches to a 35mm camera that allows one to copy a

16mm frame.  It also comes in a version for copying 35mm frames.  The

problem with this device is that it crops the frame about 10% so that it

makes a nice looking slide, but one that is not exactly an accurate

reproduction of the original.  The alternative is to use a slide duplicating

attachment.  This is more accurate, but also more cumbersome to use.

 

As far as images from video: I don't do it that often, but I have good luck

just darkening the room and using a shutter speed of 1/25 second right off

the screen.

 

 

___________________________________________________________

James Peterson

University of Notre Dame

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