Two puzzuling legal questions involved in making a documentary type of film such as the ‘Quiz Show’?
Question by Andreas: Two puzzuling legal questions involved in making a documentary type of film such as the ‘Quiz Show’?
I just watched the ‘Quiz Show’ movie on DVD. For those who haven’t seen the movie, it is about the 1950 the quiz show scandal. Some contestants subsequently confessed in a public inquiry including Charles Van Doren. However, I didn’t understand how the producer of this movie could get away with implicating NBC was the mastermind behind the whole show. In several places in the movie, NBC was portrayed as having the full knowledge of the affairs. In reality, NBC never admited this. Can NBC sue the producer of the movie?
My questions are:
For those movies holding out to be based on ‘real events’, do the movies producers have to obtain consent or approval from the relevant people on whom the movie is based on? Do people have a right not to be portrayed on TV? Right to one’s image? How about defamation law and the privacy law? Can movie companies rely on public interest arguments?I have genuine concerns with movie producers making movies propagating defamatory materials without restraint
Best answer:
Answer by Ken K
NBC could sue, but then the truth may come out and you would find out just how accurate the film was. Did you see Fahrenheit 911? Originally that was supposed to be funny, but a lot of politicians were red faced on its accuracy! Or how about Blue Thunder? The U.S. military did sue because there were too many things in that movie that were not only true, but were supposed to be Top Secret. (I was working for the state dept. at the time that one came out).
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