Filming Licence

[Andy_S]

I have been in touch with my local tourist office (in the UK) with the idea of making some "tourist/souvenir" type DVD films and they are quite keen to see if they would sell.

I have NEVER attempted anything like this before. Before I even consider starting this project I need to know if I need a filming licence for producing commercial DVDs. Is this the case? I am not really up to speed on the seeming endless list of questions I keep coming up with regarding what I can and can't do legally.

Cheers,

Andy S

 

[chilipie]

Welcome to IndieTalk!

Filming licence? Don't think there's any such thing

However, you're very likely to need location and actor release forms, which property owners (private and publically owned property) and actors/interviewees sign to give you permission to film them and reproduce that image etc. There are loads of these forms available for free on the net, but if you're going to be producing these commercially it may be worth having a solicitor either draft them or giving them a quick look over.

While a small crew shouldn't need a licence to take video in a public place in the UK, if you're working with the tourist office anyway it would make sense to get written permission from your local council. There are loads of stories of over-zealous policemen going well above the law and misinterpreting anti-terror legislation when encountering photographers and videographers, and having written acknowledgement from the relevant authorities should save you if anything like that happens.

So, to summarise: you don't need a licence to film, but you should get actors, interviewees and property owners to sign release forms before you start shooting (but not random members of the public who wander through a shot), and try and get council permission for shooting in the town centre for example (but it's likely you'll get away with it if you don't).