| advanced159 31.10.2018 13:59 |
- Bruce Gowers directed Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody 'video promo' for the BBC's Top of the Pops in 1975 and was only paid $590 for his role - The 77-year-old said the British band has been using the footage ever since and he feels he deserves to be paid after four decades of its commercial exploitation - He told DailyMailTV: 'The only thing that upsets me is that they have been using my video for 40 years and they have never paid me a dime or said thank you' - Gowers added: 'The video was made for Top of the Pops and I [didn't think] it would go beyond that - certainly not be used live on stage for over 40 years' - Bohemian Rhapsody is seen as not only the launch for Queen's global fame, but also for modern music videos – and the first step to the creation of MTV - The British director says he is meeting with lawyers to fight Queen for millions in unpaid royalties for his role in creating the iconic video - Gowers added: 'It changed the way music was perceived; everyone was doing videos and bands were seeing their sales and chart positions rise' link |
| dudeofqueen 31.10.2018 14:38 |
Gold. |
| matt z 31.10.2018 14:52 |
*Point number for basically sums up his legal argument (which is likely none) He was paid a one time sum and likely the BBC if anybody owns the residuals. But of course I don't know British copyright law |
| Golden Salmon 31.10.2018 15:42 |
I suppose their legal team will have to look into it, but if the contract was properly executed back then he's most certainly SOL. They can always be nice to him and throw him a morsel or some recognition, but I'd say they have no legal requirement to do anything at all. The Witcher saga writer rejected a sales percentage and instead preferred a one time <10k amount for the book rights, explicitly expressing he didn't believe they'd be successful. In a few years, the videogame series made hundreds of millions. Only recently he decided to go full-asshole mode, demanding 14 million euros in royalties and claiming that he could never have foreseen the games' success, so the initial agreement was not valid. Laughing ensued. |
| Vocal harmony 31.10.2018 15:45 |
He was paid a directors fee. The content of the video is a song written and performed by the artist visually depicted. If he didn't sign a royalty agreement I don't think he can claim anything. Even then the band certainly own the audio content. He is looking at Bo Rhap, I wonder where all the other video directors who've worked on thousands of vids through the years stand. If it turns out he is owed (royalty payments) for his work then surely every director will end up being owed in the same way. |
| pittrek 31.10.2018 15:59 |
I don't know what the UK laws are, but I see no reason why anybody should be paid something else than the amount of money which was previously agreed on by both of the sides. |
| Vocal harmony 31.10.2018 16:09 |
pittrek wrote: I don't know what the UK laws are, but I see no reason why anybody should be paid something else than the amount of money which was previously agreed on by both of the sides.Absolutely agree |
| Fly away 31.10.2018 17:29 |
I'm sure he's made some good money being interviewed for documentaries about his work directing the video. There's your residuals. |
| aristide1 31.10.2018 17:31 |
It was predictable the movie will free some vengeful genies from the lamp. My bet was on Tim Staffell, "the original lead singer with pre-Queen trio Smile", as describes himself with an elaborate yet ambiguous formula, full of legal developments promises. The moral recognition craving has only one cure - a lot of money. |
| Holly2003 31.10.2018 18:08 |
aristide1 wrote: It was predictable the movie will free some vengeful genies from the lamp. My bet was on Tim Staffell, "the original lead singer with pre-Queen trio Smile", as describes himself with an elaborate yet ambiguous formula, full of legal developments promises. The moral recognition craving has only one cure - a lot of money.I thought the only cure for moral recognition craving was... moral recognition. Anyway, Gowers has been open and honest about this. He wants money. As the saying goes, "Wish in one hand, shit in the other. See which one gets filled first." |
| Holly2003 31.10.2018 18:10 |
Holly2003 wrote: "Wish in one hand, shit in the other. See which one gets filled first."And that phrase will be on my family Xmas cards this year. |
| dysan 31.10.2018 18:11 |
He made a few for Queen and many other artists. Like others have said it depends on the original agreement - although I doubt it says it is to be used ONLY for TOTP.He was paid for his work (I assume although that first post contradicts the payment info) It would be a great gesture for QPL to give him something, but then who else would stick their nose in? Mick Rock for the original picture? Josef von Sternberg for the original idea? Countless other video makers who don't get points for their inclusion on Queen DVDs? |
| mooghead 31.10.2018 18:56 |
"but also for modern music videos – and the first step to the creation of MTV " Hate this shit. |
| Golden Salmon 31.10.2018 22:49 |
Holly2003 wrote:"I'd rather shit in my hand and clap than getting another card for you. Merry Xmas!"Holly2003 wrote: "Wish in one hand, shit in the other. See which one gets filled first."And that phrase will be on my family Xmas cards this year. mooghead wrote: "but also for modern music videos – and the first step to the creation of MTV " Hate this shit.He's a criminal then! |
| oligneisti 01.11.2018 09:24 |
Funny reading his Wiki page where it says: "Gowers started his career in his native United Kingdom, where his music video for Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" brought him international recognition, leading to his relocation to the U.S. in the late 1970s." I don't doubt that this is true so he seems to have gotten quite a lot out of it. Music Videos aren't a form where the director is the main creative force (like they are often in the Film industry). They are hired hands who perform a role, get paid and then its done. I would, of course, be very happy in a world where everyone involved got paid more for their work but I don't see why the director should get millions while the assistant director, the camera man, or even the roadies don't get anything. |
| oligneisti 01.11.2018 09:41 |
I just did a bit of research. A couple of years ago he said he got 500 pounds which was a lot more than 590 dollars, more like 1000$. A site that does historical currency conversion says that 500 pounds from 1975 would be 3986 today. I don't know how accurate that is but I'd think it was, at least, a very nice paycheck for the time he spent working on the video. |
| KevoM 01.11.2018 13:26 |
Gowers added: '"The video was made for Top of the Pops and I [didn't think] it would go beyond that..." Well as a Director and 'visionary' he should have had a bit more forward thinking. I really don't know what he is moaning about! |
| cmsdrums 01.11.2018 17:49 |
I don’t agree with his claim at all, but I must admit I was surprised to see no mention of the the Bo Rhap promo video in the movie.....perhaps this explains why? |
| people on streets 01.11.2018 19:06 |
advanced159 wrote: - 'The only thing that upsets me is that they have been using my video for 40 years and they have never paid me a dime or said thank you' tmlIt was never his video to begin with. He was employed to make something. He never had ownership. He should accept it and move on. |
| Nathan H 01.11.2018 22:30 |
I think that he should be thankful for Queen because if it wasn't for them he might've not had such a successful career. Plus it's not like he came up with the video, Queen already came up with the legendary shot almost two years prior. OK perhaps Queen should give him some more recognition but to me this sounds like it was written for some publicity... |
| tomchristie22 01.11.2018 23:48 |
Tangential, but has anyone here seen the video he did for the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive in 1977? It's hilariously bad - done in exactly the same style, but somehow executed so much worse. They didn't use it at the time, but it's on their official YouTube now. |
| splicksplack 02.11.2018 00:23 |
tomchristie22 wrote: Tangential, but has anyone here seen the video he did for the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive in 1977? It's hilariously bad - done in exactly the same style, but somehow executed so much worse. They didn't use it at the time, but it's on their official YouTube now....or maybe Gowers could try suing Damien Hurst for his video of Blur's Country House with it's pastiche of BR at 2.19 link |
| dysan 02.11.2018 22:50 |
Blur are too shit to worry about in the grand scheme of things. |
| dysan 02.11.2018 22:51 |
tomchristie22 wrote: Tangential, but has anyone here seen the video he did for the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive in 1977? It's hilariously bad - done in exactly the same style, but somehow executed so much worse. They didn't use it at the time, but it's on their official YouTube now.Is that the train station one? |
| tomchristie22 04.11.2018 06:11 |
Nah, the train station one is the one they used at the time, and is much better. Here’s the one directed by the Bo Rhap guy: link |
| Holly2003 04.11.2018 09:16 |
Maybe *he* ripped off the Beach Boys' 1968 promotional video for Good Vibrations. link |
| dysan 04.11.2018 11:03 |
RE Beach Boys - I hope the BB fans Mike Love debate doesn't creep in here regarding Queen members. Oh. RE BeeGees - I wish Queen had made something as mad as this clip for Idea: link |
| darcy-wright 04.11.2018 22:27 |
other bands had music videos before bohemian rhapsody. bowies life on mars, the beatles rain and paperback writer. Bob Dylans Subterranean Homesick Blues with the cards in the alley. sure the middle part was unique at the time and still visually unique, but thats also reusing the queen 2 cover, so shouldnt the designer of that photo be credited too, then thats of marlena deitrich (spelt wrong i know but im riffing, so let the man riff) so should she and the photographer from 1930 something. basically it opens a can there.. |
| The Real Wizard 09.11.2018 00:05 |
darcy-wright wrote: other bands had music videos before bohemian rhapsody. bowies life on mars, the beatles rain and paperback writer. Bob Dylans Subterranean Homesick Blues with the cards in the alley.Yep, all true. So why does that myth about BoRhap keep getting told then? |