my friends and i wanted to produce a short video based on Alice's Restaurant and wanted to know if we needed permission to do this. we wouldn't be making a lot, if any money, its more just for the fun and experience.

Yeah, you need permission. The song is liscenced through ASCAP. You may want to check them out first. www.ascap.com .

I'll warn ya, though. Its usually expensive to lisence a song. Before making a film, you should bone up on media law.

Haven't you seen the original movie?

no i haven't seen it, is there any free way to do it for a non profit organization?

Dramatic or Grand Rights or Dramatic Performances
ASCAP members do not grant ASCAP the right to license dramatic performances of their works. While the line between dramatic and non dramatic is not clear and depends on the facts, a dramatic performance usually involves using the work to tell a story or as part of a story or plot. Dramatic performances, among others, include:

(i) performance of an entire "dramatico-musical work." For example a performance of the musical play Oklahoma would be a dramatic performance.

(ii) performance of one or more musical compositions from a "dramatico-musical work" accompanied by dialogue, pantomime, dance, stage action, or visual representation of the work from which the music is taken. For example a performance of "People Will Say We're In Love" from Oklahoma with costumes, sets or props or dialogue from the show would be dramatic.

(iii) performance of one or more musical compositions as part of a story or plot, whether accompanied or unaccompanied by dialogue, pantomime, dance, stage action or visual representation. For example, incorporating a performance of "If I Loved You" into a story or plot would be a dramatic performance of the song.

(iv) performance of a concert version of a "dramatico-musical work." For example, a performance of all the songs in Oklahoma even without costumes or sets would be a dramatic performances.

The term "dramatico-musical work" includes, but is not limited to, a musical comedy, oratorio, choral work, opera, play with music, revue or ballet.

ASCAP has the right to license "non-dramatic" public performances of its members' works - for example, recordings broadcast on radio, songs or background music performed as part of a movie or other television program, or live or recorded performances in a bar or restaurant.

Dramatic and grand rights are licensed by the composer or the publisher of the work.

so how do i go about getting a license by the composer or the publisher of the work?

...i think you gotta have your people call their people....don't know specifically about this kinda thing, but in photography and visual arts it's usually the best way...
....in other words, try calling rising son records and see what they have to say....

Usually, you have to get permission from the publisher and the song writer. You know who the song writer is. Check the ASCAP site to see who the publisher is. Rising Son was not around when the song was published, so they may not hold full publishing rights.

You have to have permission from both parties. Many times, its hard to even get a response from the publisher if you are an individual looking to use a work. This stuff usually goes through agents, etc.
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Ok, Ok... I was curious and did it for you.

ASCAP lists the publisher as:

APPLESEED MUSIC INC
250 WEST 57TH STREET
SUITE 1218
NEW YORK , NY, 10107
Tel. (212) 586-6553

You need to contact them.

But yes, there was a full length film titled "Alice's Restaurant." It starred Arlo!

You need to do some researching first.