Title?

[PeteRodgersuk]

I have decided on title for my current screenplay.

According to IMDB this title has been used just once for a Canadian documentry a few years ago.

Can i go ahead and use the title again or is there a procedure i need to follow.

Thanks.

[roget]

There is no copyright on titles. Copyright only pertains to a body of work. You can us any title you'd like. -roget

[Deus Ex Machine]

while titles can't be copyrighted I wouldn't recommend calling your script Heaven's Gate, Water World or Ishtar nor would I suggest you call it The God Father or Star Wars.

Try to use a title that is not synonymous with a well known film. Lesser known films that have slipped from the main stream (several or dozens of years older or more) with the same title as the one you want to use shouldn't be problematic.

[scripter1]

and a few little details so we can all chime in about what we think of it.

[PeteRodgersuk]

Title is "The Burning Times".

A phrase used to describe the hunting and execution of suspected Witches in Medieval times.

Story starts in 17th Century England and moves to modern day England.

A healing lady is executed for performing Witchcraft after being wrongly accused of causing the death of a small boy.

A curse is placed on the Village and she seeks her revenge 350 years later on the Villagers that were responsible for the wrong doing.


Scripter1 -- is that you Anne?

[roget]

Great title and interesting story line. I hope you'll post some pages. good luck-roget

[ComicBent]

No problem with using "The Burning Times."

[ComicBent]

Seems like there was a Vincent Price movie very similar to this. A witch had been burned and then took revenge generations later.

But it does not matter. The idea is very broad, and your script could be vastly different.

[talesfromthehood]

I wouldn’t worry too much about the title. There’s no guarantee the producer or distributor won’t change it if and when the movie gets made.

[kojled]

pete

you may use the same title as a produced movie unless the title has (i believe this is the correct term) 'secondary meaning' -- like star wars, say. in that case you can't - they'll sue the @#%$ out of you - and win.

if you mention the title of your script to 100 people and nobody (or only a few people) recognize the title then you're safe - there is no secondary meaning to the title.

bottom line though: it's not your problem. the producers/studio etc will decide what to call the movie. you won't have jack to say about any changes they make to the script or title or anything (once script is their property, i mean)

zilla

[ShadowFormer]

PeteRodgersuk

I am assuming from your post that your story might be influenced by The Witch Finder General - Matthew Hopkins, who scoured England in the early part of the seventeenth century to root out those poor creatures he suspected were in league with the Devil. Of course, most, if not all of Hopkins' victims were innocent, but this didn't stop his zeal and enthusiasm for their blood. A good book for research would be RICHARD DEACON'S - MATTHEW HOPKINS - WITCH FINDER GENERAL ISBN: 0 584 10164 3

I am certain you will find inspiration for a title somewhere in this book, one which I purchased in order to dramatise but never got round to doing.

I hope this helps. Good luck

Shadow

[ShadowFormer]

I worked on post-production of Witch Finder General at Elstree. A Hammer Film if I recall.

Some quick reading through WFG came up with:

THE LEGACY
THE BLOOD CURSE
THE BURNING
THE BLOOD LAW

and may others. Probably all been used before.

Shadow

[cassg]

Pete -

I think someone gave a bit of not-so-great advice stating that the title is not of great importance...

I once read on this site "your script's title is like the grill of a car. It may be the deciding factor as to whether or not you buy it." Ugly grill, no sale.

Good "grills" -- The Exorcist - Jaws - The Wizard of Oz - Armageddon - these titles make you think...

Bad "grills" -- Ghost Dog, the Way of the Samurai - Northfork - The Man Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain(or something like that) - these titles make you think...NO

You want your title to "hook" as much as a logline. When it all boils down, it's preference. The better the title, the less possibility it will be changed. The not-so-great titles may not be read past the title page.

Cass

[Postal Pictures]

Ghost Dog was great.

[cassg]

Postal,

I think Forrest Whitaker(? spelling) is a fastastic actor, but the title doesn't make someone say - "I really want to see that!" or "What's that about?!" (just my opinion)

Cass

[Postal Pictures]

I love Jim Jarmusch but I suppose it was one of his weaker titles, but then again does Dead Man or Coffee & Cigarettes get you pumped? It does for me, but I'm a weirdo.

[cassg]

Postal,

I'm more the Armageddon, Jaws, The Exorcist title type. But am working on a script with 8 words in the title.

Cass

[Winter in New York]

Bad "grills" -- Ghost Dog, the Way of the Samurai - Northfork - The Man Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain(or something like that) - these titles make you think...NO

'The Man Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain' is a great title. And if you'd bothered to see the film, one that made total sense.

And guess what. The script got bought. The film got made. The title stayed the same.

Not all great titles have to fit into your simplistic view. A title should resonate with the material, not just be something that is easy to put on a poster.

Winter in New York

[pantalone]

I think the title: Goat on Fire and Smiling Fish is the absolute worst title. Ever. A friend of mine saw the film (she was late for another and this was about to start) and she said it was pretty good flick. Dumb title, though.