Dialogue from Movies... - Writers Forum

S1E9A8N5 · 09-20-2006, 06:56 AM

Does using dialogue from movies the same as using quotes from other people in terms of copying? I know it' called plagiarism when you copy other people's quotes, phrases and work etc. But does the same hold for using the same phrase of dialogue from a movie?

I was watching a movie and a character happen to say something that would like to use for my story. But I dont know how to rephrase it without taking away the "feeling?" so to speak and it's pretty straight forward.

Dialogue:

"Remember what happened to Galileo? They threw him in jail because he said the earth was not the center of the universe. It could happen to us. Our ideas are unpopular. If you have any records or notes that could be used against you, destroy them. Keep them up here".

Sean

aspiring · 09-20-2006, 07:51 AM

Yes, it is still plagiarism. Somebody wrote it before the actor said it. Why can't you think up your own version? Lots of inventors/innovators have been persecuted for their ideas. Do some research.

S1E9A8N5 · 09-20-2006, 08:00 AM

You sound like your attacking me. lol. Your probably not but I was just wondering. Thanks

Galileo just seems to be the most logical and remembered (If someone were to see his name, they would know who he was by his inventions) person to use. His belief/opinion that the earth was the center of the universe got him persecuted. I can't think of anyone else that would be as important. That's why I wanted to use him. But thats me. I tried search online for others like him, about persecution etc...

FrankBlissett · 09-20-2006, 09:17 AM

IMHO (and this is a personal opinion, not a legal one), the bolded part of the quote you gave would not cause any trouble, though the whole quote would.

That said, I agree with Aspiring. Just write your work and I'm sure when you get to that point in the story it'll come out in your own words - especially after editing. You may also want to flag that quote as one to have the agent/publisher check out later, just in case you accidentally write it word-for-word like in the quote.

-Frank

S1E9A8N5 · 09-20-2006, 09:24 AM

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the advice.

Mike C · 09-20-2006, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S1E9A8N5

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the advice.

If you know someone else wrote it, but put it in your book as dialogue one of your characters speaks, it's plagiarism. Paraphrase it. Rewrite it.

mammamaia · 09-20-2006, 09:49 AM

a movie script is a copyrighted piece of WRITING... and it contains all the dialog the actors speak on screen, just like a book contains all the dialog you hear only in your head, as you read... so, every single word in a movie is protected by the same copyright laws that protect every single word you are writing... would you want someone to use lines of your dialog in their own writings, without making it clear that you wrote them first?

doing so is illegal, immoral, and unethical... even a single line could get you in trouble... when in doubt, don't rely on advice from anyone but an attorney who specializes in literary/film industry law...

S1E9A8N5 · 09-20-2006, 10:25 AM

lol...Okay, why do people have to keep replying the same thing? I get it, I understand. Thanks

mammamaia · 09-20-2006, 10:34 AM

the same people are not 'replying the same thing'... different people are giving their own opinions here... if we happen to agree, that should just give you the idea that we're probably right... often, we don't agree, and some may be right, while others are wrong... regardless, why should you complain about several folks being willing to help you?...

S1E9A8N5 · 09-20-2006, 11:41 AM

Okay, sorry. I take it back then.

Reply away. Just didn't want people reading the same basic stuff to a simple question that's already been answered.

mwd · 09-20-2006, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S1E9A8N5

"Remember what happened to Galileo? They threw him in jail because he said the earth was not the center of the universe. It could happen to us. Our ideas are unpopular. If you have any records or notes that could be used against you, destroy them. Keep them up here".

Plagiarism or not, I'd still rewrite it simply because it's important that all your dialogue sounds in character. Does your character talk exactly like this? If not, it would sound better reworded. How your dialogue sounds on its own isn't as important as how well it fits into the rest of your story, IMO.

Kimba · 09-23-2006, 06:40 PM

Maybe you could have a character says it's a quote from the movie. That way you're acknowledging where the quote came from. I'm not sure if that's still categorised it as plagiarism though.

S1E9A8N5 · 09-24-2006, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Plagiarism or not, I'd still rewrite it simply because it's important that all your dialogue sounds in character. Does your character talk exactly like this? If not, it would sound better reworded. How your dialogue sounds on its own isn't as important as how well it fits into the rest of your story, IMO.

Yea, I'll have to think about that.

mammamaia · 09-24-2006, 11:05 AM

bottom line is you can't use words from anyone else's work in your own, as if they're your own original dialog... which is what you seem to want to do...

mwd's comment on that is a valid one...

S1E9A8N5 · 09-24-2006, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamaia

bottom line is you can't use words from anyone else's work in your own, as if they're your own original dialog...

lol. I think that was justified on the first page. It's not what I wanted to do. I wanted to know if it would be the same. Esp such a straight forward quote as that, that anyone could say really. But It wouldn't be my characters words so I will rephrase it.

Thanks