Remember when it was cool to use a relevant movie clip in your sermon? Wait, it still is. No really, a lot of churches develop entire series around this premise nowadays.
And people really love it!
The only thing is, it is not actually legal to just play a clip and it is especially frowned upon to rip the clip and insert it into ProPresenter. Sorry, but it’s true.
I mean, it is easy to ignore the FBI warning, especially when it is for Jesus.
But if that logic doesn’t work for you (it doesn’t work for me), there is another option.
Enter WingClips.com, free movie clips that are already licensed for use in your church services.
With movies like Avatar, Robin Hood, and Secretariat, the selection is pretty mainstream and up-to-date.
You can also pay for a subscription plan which includes perks like better resolution videos (select titles available in HD). If you are interested in the breakdown of the plans, read this.
Of course, there are some limitations if you use the clips such as:
- You cannot distribute your message online or via DVD (even if you don’t charge for the message)
However, you can embed the clips in any page but I am not sure how that helps. When we did an “At The Movies” series at our church, we advertised that it was live-run only (no podcasts and no on-demand streaming).
Several other churches have done this as well when they have done a similar series (presumably to save money), such as Church of the Highlands.
For us, it worked. We just released a message from our archive that hadn’t been published online and people seemed to respond pretty well.
Tim Owens says
This kind of stuff strikes me as everything that is wrong about copyright. I think this site is a great and I love how they tie specific themes and messages to the clips to help you find the good ones for what you’re trying to do. But it just blows my mind that the MPAA sees showing hundreds of people a 30 second clip of a movie as an example of “Here’s a great message from a movie you should all check out” is a bad thing. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
Tim Owens says
Of course our church also happens to meet in a movie theater, so talk about blurring the lines. Haha π
Blane Young says
I think it is all about how you use it.
There are lines but for us in our context, we leverage blockbuster movies to engage about the Gospel.
It’s like, why talk about a funny movie when we could play it.
But I totally get your point too, thanks for the input!
Eric Frisch says
Wow… this is quite a resource! Our church has a CVLI license, but actually getting the clips into an easy format for worship isn’t simple. This will definitely help. I’m impressed that they actually have some bigger, current films here.
Blane Young says
CVLI is cool but costly.
We don’t have it so we rely solely on WingClips.
Hope you find it useful!
Brandon Rowe says
If you have a Mac and a DVD of the movie you should check out Handbrake. It’s great app for ripping DVD clips on the fly π It definitely helps when you get that last minute announcement and it has a DVD clip π
Blane Young says
Handbrake is a great tool in functionality but the issue with that method is that even with CVLI (the license needed to play movie clips at churches), you are not allowed to rip/burn a copy of the DVD (as far as I understand).
Brandon Rowe says
Even if they are just clips?
Blane Young says
Yes because DVDs are created for “personal use only” (the annoying blue FBI warning) and a church is not considered “personal use”.
Do churches have movie events?
Are they illegal, I am pretty darn sure.
Do they get caught, no.
Do churches use clips without proper licensing from studios (or go-betweens like CVLI)?
Yeah. We used to for Sunday Morning.
We are in the middle of transition our Children’s Department this way as well and have already transition our Youth Department.
I hope I am wrong, it would be easier and cheaper.
Brandon Rowe says
Hmm, Thanks for the info π
Blane Young says
No worries man!
Randy Kinnick says
Great review, Blane. I’ve used Wing Clips in my sermons. It’s a great way to incorporate the up-to-date media that catches attention while having a peace of mind that you’re remaining within the guidelines of the law…as well as just doing what’s right.
Blane Young says
Thanks Randy!
Yeah, the up-to-date clips plus the peace of mind that I am now going to jail after services makes this a home run!