'Officially Limited' Trailer: In-Production Documentary Focuses On Controversies Of Poster Collecting

Every single day, we look at movie posters. Maybe in our bedrooms, at the theater or plastered on a billboard. More and more though, we see movie posters online, both in an official capacity from a studio, or in a more unofficial capacity, through art created by fans. Any while many of these fans go through the proper channels to create this art legally, many others do not. In fact, most others do not.

So where's the line between making money off a property you don't own or just paying tribute to it? That's the main subject of Officially Limited, an in-production poster documentary directed by John Otterbacher. He's been traveling the country not only documenting the current limited edition pop culture art explosion, but asking some of its most prominent names – Mondo, Spoke Art, Gallery 1988, and several artists – about the industry's complicated issues such as intellectual property, copyright, licensing, fair use and more.

It's a fascinating and controversial look at a cool subject and, after the jump, you can see the first trailer.

Here's the first trailer for Officially Limited.

The film is nearing completion and, to do so, has an IndieGoGo page up which you can access at that link.

There they give a little more background on what's been done, here's Otterbacher:

Am I making this film because I'm personally interested in pop art? Absolutely. It wouldn't be any good if I weren't. There's more to it though as this culture is rich in different approaches to business and this gray area where art, marketing, and merchandising collide.  I think it is an important discussion to be had and I am trying to cover all the angles.  Most people I have interviewed have either had strong beliefs and approaches to this or they are not sure.  I do not pretend that Officially Limited is going to have all the answers but I think it will spark discussion and maybe some clarity can com out of that.

Having been an educator for the better part of a decade, I'm hoping this film can be an accessible introduction for students to the delicate world of intellectual property, copyright, licensing, fair use, and appropriational art.  Nothing would make me happier then to know that this film was being shown in classes and that it might spark in interest in this area.

For more information on Officially Limited, visit the IndieGoGo page or the official website.