Using real GLO names in TV/movies?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by sherbertlemons

Elle is a DG, the finess instructor accused of the murder is a Theta, and the real murdurer is a KKG. :-D

Aren't Elle and the fitness instructor sorority sisters in the movie?

[sherbertlemons]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Aren't Elle and the fitness instructor sorority sisters in the movie?

Yes, they are. They are both sisters of the fictitious sorority Delta Nu in the movie. I was talking about the book the movie is based on, where Elle is a DG and the fitness instructor is a Theta.

[33girl]

Anne Rivers Siddons did use real names in her books, but when it came to the main characters (who sometimes did non-honorable things) the sorority names were fake or nicknames only.

I honestly think it's a case by case basis...in the case of Legally Blonde, SATC and the OC, even if it isn't the most flattering portrayal, they are shows college age women like and it gets their name recognized. On the other hand, if it was something like a crime show where the woman is a murderer, I think the producers just change it to avoid offending anyone. Witness the many "Hudson University" students on Law & Order.

[PGD-GRAD]

On the show Coach, the main character had a Beta Theta Pi paddle hanging on his office wall in the opening credits. I can't remember if it was mentioned often in the show, or if he was a Beta in real life.

In Designing Women, the Julia character several times mentioned being a Tri Delt, which she was in real life. The Suzanne character, Delta Burke, was supposed to be a Pi Phi from a school in Mississippi. In reality, she was not Greek.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Witness the many "Hudson University" students on Law & Order.

LMAO..... Don't go to Hudson unless you want to get raped, murdered, or both!

[Senusret I]

For my current project, an internet-based novel, one of the main characters is in my fictitious, stand-by fraternity Beta Chi Phi. Another character will be in an unnamed fraternity.

As novelist, I find it important to use real names of organizations, schools, and institutions to make a fictitious work seem more realistic. I just don't think it works to make a fake school, fake org, etc.... you want people to believe in the work.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I honestly think it's a case by case basis...in the case of Legally Blonde, SATC and the OC, even if it isn't the most flattering portrayal, they are shows college age women like and it gets their name recognized. On the other hand, if it was something like a crime show where the woman is a murderer, I think the producers just change it to avoid offending anyone. Witness the many "Hudson University" students on Law & Order.

Yes - many of the ADAs mention that they went to Columbia, Abby went to Texas, but the crimes always occur at fictional Hudson.

[WVU alpha phi]

In "Brokeback Mountain" they refer to two of the women as a Kappa Phi and Tri-Delt.

Paris Geller attended a Sigma Chi party last night on the Gilmore Girls.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by OTW

Paris Geller attended a Sigma Chi party last night on the Gilmore Girls.

I saw that and thought of this thread

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Witness the many "Hudson University" students on Law & Order.

They had the TW episode on the other night.

My mom said "Aren't they missing a letter? Greeks are supposed to have 3 letters".

No, mom.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by sherbertlemons

Yes, they are. They are both sisters of the fictitious sorority Delta Nu in the movie. I was talking about the book the movie is based on, where Elle is a DG and the fitness instructor is a Theta.

Okay so the movie IS better than the book.

[IvySpice]

it could always be claimed that they didn't mean "Alpha Tau Omega" if any copyright infringement issues ever came to a head.

It wouldn't be copyright infringement. Putting a real institution, whether a GLO, a university, or a chain restaurant, into a fictional story the way we've discussed on the thread is fair use. They are famous parts of our world, and you're allowed to talk about them in your fiction.

In contexts where using the real name is not OK (like labeling a product), using a nickname won't help you. You can't call your publishing company "The UCLA Press" and then argue that it stands for the University of Candles at Los Alamos. We know what you meant.

Re Anne Rivers Siddons and main characters...the best friend in "Heartbreak Hotel" is called a Pi Beta Phi by name, even though she was certainly breaking all kinds of standards that would have been in place in Alabama in the 1950's.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by IvySpice

Re Anne Rivers Siddons and main characters...the best friend in "Heartbreak Hotel" is called a Pi Beta Phi by name, even though she was certainly breaking all kinds of standards that would have been in place in Alabama in the 1950's.

Yeah, but ultimately she's presented in a positive light. I'm thinking of the nutjob from Outer Banks who tried to kill the other girls, LOL.