Say i was to write a script on two famous people, who feature. Would i need permission to put them in my script?..

You don't need their permission to put them in the script but, depending how you use them (and who they are) you may not be able to sell it.


Phil

ok thats cool. Was just wanting to know if say 2 of my main characters who are famous actors could be used without being sewed or somethin..

If you're talking about historical figures, you can get away with it.  OIf you're writing a script that shows Tom Cruise and John Travolta planning to ressurect L. Ron Hubbard (or something), you'd need permission.


Phil

Ok that's kl thanks a lot Phil. So i would need permission even if i wasnt intending 2 publish?

You can write anything you want.  But if you INTEND to PROFIT from it, then you MIGHT need certain permissions, DEPENDING on VARIOUS VARIABLES.

Quoted from RobertSpence Ok that's kl thanks a lot Phil. So i would need permission even if i wasnt intending 2 publish?

If you're writing just for fun then you can use whatever the hell you want.  If you plan on sending it to an agent, competition or anything that can turn a profit, you need to seek copyright permission for the 2 people that you're using(see what Phil said).  

There was a very low budget movie made last year called Bubba Ho-Tep, which focused on Elvis Presley and JFK. (This movie couldn't even afford, rights to Elvis Presley songs)

So my guess is that if you want to use a "famous" person, you need to use someone from the 1900-1980. Like you could have Charlie Chaplain and Bela Logusia stalking Steve McQueen (for example)

This is what i am assuming

I recently reviewed Bubba Ho-Tep....

The trick in writing your Chaplin/Lagosi/McQueen story is that you either have to be as non-offensive to the estates of said actors or you can be so over-the-top that it would clearly be accepted as a parody.

If you were to write that Steve McQueen was a cross-dressing defendere against the Martian invaders, you wouldn't have a problem with it.  If you were to write that he was homosexual, then you better contact your lawyers....


Phil