Do we need permission to shoot in public places??

[Studio53]

Hi ya,

I just joined this website and this is my first post and hope all the experts will guide me through.

Iam new to filmmaking and recently become very passionate about it. And i haven't shot my film yet, but want to know whether we need to take any permission to shoot in public places like undergrounds, highstreets, airport lounge etc..,

Thanks,
Srik

 

[mlesemann]

Yes. And in order to get that permission, you will usually be required to show that you have insurance.

 

[Ewan]

Yes, sometimes they also charge so be prepared!

 

[Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC]

Look up your local film commission office associated with your local government to ask for details. They are generally who you have to visit to get your permits as well.

Google the film commission office for your area. You can find a web site with a lot of valuable information.

 

[IndieBudget]

Yes. And in order to get that permission, you will usually be required to show that you have insurance.

Are you knowledgeable about London laws concerning filming in public ? NO laws here in Texas...just curious

I film all the time in public and have been asked by authorities about a permit and I politely inform them that none are required. Shutting down a street is another matter entirely

 

[directorik]

Welcome to indietalk!

Here are a few links to your local film office that should help in answering your questions.

http://filmlondon.org.uk/
http://filmlondon.org.uk/filming_in_london/planning_your_shoot/permissions_and_boroughs

It is important that wherever you plan to film you get permission or notify the appropriate authority. You will also need to make sure you have Public Liability Insurance

http://www.filmoffice.co.uk/
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corp...nd_culture/Arts_and_entertainment/filming.htm

 

[Studio53]

Thanks a lot guys, much obliged

@directorik, Cheers for the links, useful stuff

 

[knightly]

The rules are different (at least from an enforcement stand point) if you're a student filmmaker rather than a for-profit filmmaker -- which is generally the other assumption.

I get away with signed permission to shoot for free where I live as there's a much smaller filmmaking community here that isn't large enough to warrant requiring permits for most projects. You can also call the city hall (local government office) and ask what their requirements are... often if you have the equipment on private property with permission, you can do quite a bit more than having to get permission to put the equipment on public property... so be sure to ask what you can and can't do in nauseating detail

We were going to be charged $100/hr (wedding photography rate) to shoot in the local flower park... but upon further questioning, the fee only applied to the photographer's physical presence... we put the tripod legs 6' outside the park edge (local public park) and used wireless relays to record audio of our actors who were walking through the park That was free and legal with signed permission forms from the city.

 

[8salacious9]

i just filmed in 3 different parks in london, no one ever came up to me, in london your unlikely to get approached so long as you dont draw attention and dont act like an idiot, and say its for your college coursework. and act dumb... "oh sorry officer i wasnt aware and my college never informed me"

and your let off scot free

 

[Techno]

I think this is a common sense issue and depends on what you are doing. If you are just filming scenery using a single camera on a tripod and no other crew, you are creating no more of a hazard than the tourists running around taking photos.

if you have actors, lights, sound gear, dollies and cables running everywhere, that is where you are going to need insurance and probably permission.

In short, the greater your impact, the more you will need to get it approved/insured.

 

[Studio53]

The rules are different (at least from an enforcement stand point) if you're a student filmmaker rather than a for-profit filmmaker -- which is generally the other assumption.

I am actually an IT consultant who recently developed a passion of filmmaking. I want to see how I can present what I normally want to see in a film as Iam a movie buff. And its totally for non-profit as I don't intend make money out of it(atleast not until I become a pro)

i just filmed in 3 different parks in london, no one ever came up to me, in london your unlikely to get approached so long as you dont draw attention and dont act like an idiot, and say its for your college coursework. and act dumb... "oh sorry officer i wasnt aware and my college never informed me"

and your let off scot free

That sounds perfect, but what if they ask for an ID..??

I think this is a common sense issue and depends on what you are doing. If you are just filming scenery using a single camera on a tripod and no other crew, you are creating no more of a hazard than the tourists running around taking photos.

if you have actors, lights, sound gear, dollies and cables running everywhere, that is where you are going to need insurance and probably permission.

In short, the greater your impact, the more you will need to get it approved/insured.

The equipment iam planning to use is pretty basic as iam still in the learning process. At present all I want to use is a DSLR and a tripod that's it and the actors in the film would be my friends. So based on your words I think it should be alright, no?


Thanks guys for your inputs

 

[knightly]

Welcome, I come at this from the IT world as well. I've always been a proponent of mitigating risk (I come from network security for an ID verification service for the banking industry... a slip meant tens of thousands of dollars in lost revenues for the company -- potentially higher if we lost contracts due to the problems). I always ask permission rather than forgiveness, because while it may be easier to ask forgiveness, the second someone decides to fine you $$$ you don't have, you're screwed and out of the filmmaking business as you pawn your equipment to pay it off. The project comes to a screeching halt and you let down everyone who donated time to your project -- because you (not specifically you) were to full of indie hubris to pick up the phone before hand and ask nicely for something.

Having the Mayor's wife call the police and being able to refer them to their chief (whom I had already cleared my shoot with) allowed us to keep shooting rather than packing it in and calling the production done.