I am in a similar situation, is there a good way to approach store owners about something like this? Right now I want to get the script done and some graphics together so that when I pitch it to say a store owner etc I will look more professional rather than just some dude that wants to shoot a movie.

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I would suggest talking to the owner of the story early in the process. Asking them questions about how things work at the store. Tell them you are making a movie about a store like 'this one' and you want the details right. Ask them for any funny annecdotes that you might use. They offer the use of their store, if not you've built up a relationship for when the time comes to start asking for permission.

Have a short list of stores to talk to. A bookstore may work better than the planed hardware store visually, or the owner might be easier to deal with and the story might be flexible enough.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

i worked at a coffee shop up here in canada. we often had people comming to ask us to use a portion of the store to film and we always granted them permission. i think most stores will let you film but wont close down for you guys. your best bet might be to find out when they are the least busy, and ask someone working there. officially you should ask the owner but in the case of small stores often an employee will be more willing to let you guys in for half a day.

"your a child" "i'm not a child" "well your an idiot" "i'm not an idiot" ...."then give me the gun"