Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you making this movie?
Since I have been a Russophile and Kremlin watcher for over 20 years, I feel that it is time for someone to create a movie about one of the most powerful people on earth (love him or hate him). He is still influential and so is Russia. It is important for people to understand the situation what has taken place over the last 15 years under Putin's reign.
Why are you making this movie now?
Vladimir Putin became acting President of the Russian Federation in December of 1999 and elected as the legitimate president in March of the following year. His first inauguration was in May of 2000. In May of 2015, he will have lead Russia for 15 years as either the President or Prime Minister.
You won't be successful in this movie if you don't partner with someone who is a well known Russia expert.
This week I spoke with Mark Galeotti, professor at NYU and he tentatively agreed to collaborate on this project. Additionally, I recently had a discussion with Brigadier General Zwak (retired) who was the most recent U.S. defense Attache to Moscow, and proposed interviewing him for this project. More to follow. Lastly, I am engaging with many of the authors mentioned in the challenges section to determine level of interest. As details develop, I will post them here.
It seems that you are on a pretty aggressive timeline, how do you think you can pull it off.
Well, I am intent on launching at the end of May so that it coincides with the 15 years of Putin being in power. Most of the footage is already available and will be edited upon funding. As for interviews, these will be done over the course of several weeks and incorporated into the overall movie to give a detailed American perspective and analysis for the future.
Are you allowed to take footage from copyrighted works?
Yes, under the fair use doctrine...
Section 107 of the U.S. copyright act depicts the limitations to copyright holders. This is known as the "fair use" doctrine, allowing documentarians to use copyrighted works in certain circumstances.
"§ 107 . Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include—
(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;
(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors."
More information can be found here: http://copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html and http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html
Regardless, I will make every effort to gain permission from the copyright holders to use the material.
