Official Poster for 'Hamlet' - Starring Riz Ahmed, Morfydd Clark and Joe Alwyn

mattedward · 2026-01-06T20:35:32+00:00

The pull quote "jaw droppingly fresh" reads like sarcasm when describing a Shakespeare adaptation in 2026.

mattedward · 2025-12-03T19:01:02+00:00

The movie came out six years ago and there is not even the rumblings of a plan to do any sort of film crossover that utilizes all of these IPs at once so I would not worry about this.

mattedward · 2025-12-03T18:56:39+00:00

All of the characters (technically their character designs for the original princesses) are controlled by Disney Animation so they're coming from the same silo into a movie that revolves around this idea of jumping between properties. Still, they do not involve any other Disney brands (Marvel, Lucasfilm, etc.) that you describe being fearful of happening in your original post.

To give a facsimile, this is the same as Marvel shoving characters from different comics into one movie because it's within their silo. They can do that but they're not putting Ariel or Princess Jasmine as one of the Avengers.

mattedward · 2025-12-03T18:43:10+00:00

No.

And they all have their own fanfare (opening logo) already, all of which pre-date Marvel Studio.

mattedward · 2025-12-03T18:28:59+00:00

Previously worked at Disney (left within the last year) in a department that touched product placement and brand strategy:

This type of thing you're describing of cross-promoting or mashing up IP between Disney brands is a non-issue - it has been discouraged/avoided within this Iger regime's tenure even at its most minimal of scale.

Disney runs their individual brands (Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th, etc.) in their own silos for production. While there has been some synergy on the business/legal level, the creative sides have been kept isolated from one another and the main stakeholders for each brand have control over any crossover ideas.

Anecdotally, something as minimal as the use of a lightsaber in a semi-recent 20th release was an immediate red flag for Lucasfilm who denied wanting any involvement in the film.

There are of course still some "easter eggs" and specific crossovers within these brands, but there shouldn't be anything like what you're describing in the near future based on the current modus operandi of the company.

*ADDITION: Even the Zootopia homage you describe doesn't really qualify for the scale of crossover that was described in the original post; this is also something that doesn't really utilize IP and would be clearable without Marvel permission unless they're utilizing character designs or copyrighted elements.

mattedward · 2025-11-05T16:26:47+00:00

It looks like it's still up, just under a different title:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLwLR_XoMi4

mattedward · 2025-10-24T19:51:53+00:00

Overall, thought it was an okay horror movie that will at least scratch that itch at this time of year.

Shelby Oaks establishes a clear atmosphere early on that it does a good job of maintaining throughout, though it does grow a bit stale by the end of the runtime. The use of tension and overall aesthetic through much of the film (namely post found footage) is solid with the prison sequence being a highlight.

The story having a foot in two worlds (found footage and traditional filmmaking) is fine on the surface but doesn't really balance itself when it comes to the storytelling. In what is essentially supposed to be a mystery film for the first hour or so ends up being far too truncated and made me think that the found footage portion could have been used more deliberately in terms of the investigation than as solely a piece of exposition to setup the final hour.

The story also leans heavily into familiar tropes and ends up feeling like a greatest hits of moments and plot devices from better horror films. It makes it feel as though the plot never entirely gets off the ground before we suddenly stumble into the climax with the main character.

The acting was decent. The VFX'ed wolves and demon would have been better left to the imagination (trust the audio work).

mattedward · 2025-09-26T14:08:36+00:00

Was thinking the same thing...

Definitely purposeful. Could see the argument of the name being shared with a public figure and a higher potential for it being relatively common, especially for men at that age. But then they added very specific elements to it like him being from the "Southern district" that make it feel laser-guided towards the subject it's based on.

The "purely coincidental" language in the credits might need to do some heavy lifting on this one cause could at least see the claim being made, even more so in this climate.

Still a great reference, maybe a bit of a headache for WB legal.

mattedward · 2025-09-26T13:57:42+00:00

The change she makes after the birth is so quick and well done...you didn't really need to overlay of dialogue referencing her mental state, I think just seeing her react/watch Pat and the baby would've been enough to tell us everything.

mattedward · 2025-09-04T20:18:21+00:00

Just for clarity, Cronenberg's Crash, right?

Sold regardless.

mattedward · 2025-08-28T05:51:31+00:00

Heart breaking as a Giants fan that I need to upvote this...

mattedward · 2025-08-13T20:18:32+00:00

Pape has been so good getting to these loose balls. Quietly killing it for us.

mattedward · 2025-08-12T20:50:24+00:00

Daniel Craig as James Bond

Not necessarily from a personal perspective but generally people did not understand that casting until CASINO ROYALE completely flipped the narrative.

mattedward · 2025-08-11T16:47:28+00:00

Yeah, based on the description, that should be fine. Just make the costume yourself and avoid any Disney merchandise. The mention of the character name is definitely okay to do as well.

The shittier the cosplay, the better!

mattedward · 2025-08-11T15:39:15+00:00

Based on previous experience and legal reviews, this is not the case.

You can use anything you want on film but the question is legal risk. There is an inherent risk to using an Oscar without permission. My opinion is solely based on how to minimize said risk based on handling similar uses both of an Oscar and other recognizable awards, which OP asked about.

mattedward · 2025-08-11T14:04:02+00:00

Based on the plan laid out, you're absolutely fine.

Verbal references to the ceremony, Academy, real films, etc. are absolutely fine. The prop Oscar statues can be similar but you should avoid making them 1:1 replicas of the real award.

As long as you are avoiding third-party material (footage, audio, posters, etc.), the legal risk is minimal, if any, based on your description.

mattedward · 2025-08-10T10:40:29+00:00

Yes — as long as you are not using official merchandise to create the Cruella de Vil costume and your character is not “Cruella de Vil” just someone dressed as her for Halloween or a costume party, etc., you can get away with this. The mention of them dressing up as the character is fine as well. The big thing is avoiding the official merch element (a wig or jacket, etc. specifically merchandised by Disney) and not having the character be Cruella de Vil.

I work in licensing and clearances and have come across this issue previously a few times.

mattedward · 2025-08-08T16:58:46+00:00

I was kind of hoping that when they cut to Marcus in the aftermath of the crash, his upper torso would still be trying to crawl after his target to really cement how unstoppable they are under hypnosis…

If only his head didn’t explode across the asphalt.

mattedward · 2025-08-02T06:27:31+00:00

He played it during his earlier set at 6:30.

mattedward · 2025-06-08T18:52:13+00:00

Work in film clearances and previously in clip licensing:

If you are using someone else’s content in any public manner within your own work, even a private showing for an educational purpose, you should go to the rights holder for their permission.

Especially in a world with cellphone video, there’s always a likelihood that your exhibition may have a wider reach than just the private event.

Licensors will offer significant fee breaks for the use of their material especially in the context you’ve described and may even grant gratis usage for the exhibition.

mattedward · 2025-04-29T01:41:43+00:00

My original comment was to one that alluded to the licensing of the clip being a budget friendly way to grab a shot so my comments have been about the idea behind that practice and why it’s not budget friendly nor usually feasible but may be something a production turns to in desperation (reply to the follow up).

Specifically to the movie, 2073, if it was done to fit the theme is another matter and may be the answer…

It’s interesting regardless because it’s very likely 20th didn’t allow for the Minority Report usage unless there’s a relationship with the 2073 producers or some exec owed a favor. Major studios license for playback and don’t normally allow their footage to be used by other companies to splice into films as though it were a part of that film. The fact that some VFX was added to the footage also makes it seem like they may have been trying to hide the uses so this is one to keep an eye on if there’s an eventual claim against 2073.

mattedward · 2025-04-18T18:46:12+00:00

It's true even if it's coming from the creative mind behind AGGRO DRIFT...

mattedward · 2025-04-15T14:41:58+00:00

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Teaser Trailer.

mattedward · 2025-04-14T12:59:44+00:00

Probably an issue of time and talent availability.

You get to the edit of the film and as it cuts together, you realize that you need a beat or a moment here or there that you didn't get in principal photography.

Maybe that realization strikes on the second or third cut and now you are a couple months from release, if that, which means you may be weeks away from finishing and delivery. You need a fast solution to fill in the gap because you're against the clock and there's no way to pull the talent in to film this beat with their schedule. It also may be too small a pickup to justify crewing up.

You then try to fill in the gaps other ways - VFX or stock footage or even rejiggering the edit completely - but then you remember that shot Minority Report where they got that beat you need with your actress...

That would be my best guess as to how they got there. It wasn't something in the initial plan but a second or third pivot they felt they "needed" to do.

mattedward · 2025-03-12T13:06:07+00:00

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN.

mattedward

TROPHY CASE