Dude, if you have to shoot a jail - shoot a jail. Call around. A lot of Sheriff deparments have empty jails. Don't count on shooting a weekend, because those jails are filled with people that got DUI.

Myfilm"Shadow of Crime"
Trailer:
http://www.vimeo.com/4103913
Where to buy:Shadow of crime
https://www.createspace.com/288191

quote:

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Originally posted by jumi1174
I'm only 18, so I highly doubt an actual prison would let me film there.

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So without even asking, you have already decided
that it is highly unlikely that an actual prison will
allow you to shoot there based only on your age.

My advice is to ask first. First have some faith in
yourself and then have faith in others.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

It just seemed odd to me that an actual prison would allow an 18 year old with little to no legal paperwork film a scene for a movie.

I'll call around and see what comes up.

However, what if I can't film there? Then, what are some options?

The only reason why they might not be open to a movie
shoot is if you seem unprepared. Be prepared.

I guess the other options are to build a jail set in a garage,
school room or warehouse.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Thanks for the reply.

So what should I have (paperwork wise, I'm assuming) to be prepared? I really have no idea... Some insurance paperwork, maybe?

Thanks in advance.

THey probably won't care about insurance, but you will need a release, and you will need to tell them about your film.

STANDARD LOCATION RELEASE
SERIES / PROGRAM TITLE:
PRODUCTION DATE:

Permission is hereby granted to ?YOUR COMPANY NAME? to use the property located at_____________consisting of____________

for the purpose of photographing and recording scenes for the above program produced by ?YOUR COMPANY NAME?.

Permission includes the right to bring personnel and equipment onto the property and to remove them after completion of the work. The permission herein granted shall include the right, but not the obligation, to photograph the actual name connected with the premises and to use such name in the program(s).

The undersigned hereby gives to ?YOUR COMPANY NAME?, its assigns, agents, licensees, affiliates, clients, principals, and representatives the absolute right and permission to copyright, use, exhibit, display, print, reproduce, televise, broadcast and distribute, for any lawful purpose, in whole or in part, through any means without limitation, any scenes containing the above described premises, all without inspection or further consent or approval by the undersigned of the finished product or of the use to which it may be applied.

?YOUR COMPANY NAME? hereby agrees to hold the undersigned harmless of and free from any and all liability and loss which ?YOUR COMPANY NAME?, and/or its agents, may suffer for any reason, except that directly caused by the negligent acts or deliberate misconduct of the owner of the premises or its agents.

The undersigned hereby warrants and represents that the undersigned has full right and authority to solely enter into this agreement concerning the above described premises, and that the undersigned hereby indemnifies and holds ?YOUR COMPANY NAME?, and/or its agents, harmless from and against any and all loss, liability, costs, damages or claims of any nature arising from, growing out of, or concerning the use of the above described premises except those directly caused by the negligent acts or deliberate misconduct of ?YOUR COMPANY NAME?, or its agents.

By:_________________________________________________
Signature of Authorized Property Representative

Date:______________________________________________

This will at least make you seem serious. CALL SHERIFF departments, or local police stations. Tell them you are a film production company, and you would like to shoot a scene in their jail. Compliment the police on how great a job they do in your area. Don't lie, tell them the truth. Your 18 years old trying to make a serious film, and need a jail. You will be surprised at the reaction. Also your age won't be a negative as much as you think. They may be more likely to help out a student than a proffessional.

Myfilm"Shadow of Crime"
Trailer:
http://www.vimeo.com/4103913
Where to buy:Shadow of crime
https://www.createspace.com/288191

They may expect to see a screenplay as well.

RJSchwarz

They will definitely care about insurance.

They will want to know how many people will be in their location.
They will want to know exactly how many days you will need the
location.
They will want to know how many hours per day you will need the
location.
They will want to know exactly what you will be shooting.
They will want to know what equipment you will be carrying into
the location.
They will want to know about your power needs, where you hope to
park cast and crew vehicles, if people will be entering and
exiting the building often.

It wont be your age that is an issue, it will be how prepared you are
to answer their questions. A 40 year old who is unprepared will have
more trouble getting a location than a prepared 18 year old.

One more thing; if you live in the L.A. area, it is more than likely that any jail you approach will already have a standard contract with the fee schedule for this purpose (in L.A., it is more than likely that someone has already shot a jail scene there before). If you live in any other city in the US (perhaps other than large metropolitan police precincts, which are busy with criminals, prostitutes and other 'clients'), the sheriff and his team might be quite excited to see a film crew work in their offices (and jail). In L.A., they'll likely ask for money and a lot of other things; elsewhere, they'll surely be glad to get different kind of excitement at their workplace, and will let you do it just for a screen credit and a 'thank you'.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I live in New Orleans, so the scene would be done around here or surrounding areas (possibly across the lake (Lake Pontchartrain), if necessary).

What type of insurance would I need? (Sorry if that is a dumb question, this is the first film I'm doing "legit"-ly, and I want to make sure everything is to standard protocol.)

Also, when I tell the location all of the information certified instigator posted, should this be done in person at the location or over the phone?

Thanks in advance.

Film is also theatre, you may do yourself a favor by trying a new theme and learning something from it. Here is something you can do. find an empty warehouse or a disused factory building. beg borrow or buy some lamp covers, those heavy wire covered oval lamps that sit flush against the wall will be fine. Get yourself a gray metal box with a lock, an electrical cabinet would be fine, get one from a torn down building site or a junk shop or borrow a new one from an electrical wholesaler. Getting your hands on a set of used security bars would be perfect, but if not, build a wooden set, consisting of a large square frame of 2" x 1 1/2" pine painted mat black, run a 2" x 3/4" strip through the middle and a row of 1" dowels vertically to look like bars, paint them hammer glaze green (whatever colour) or mat black. get a square of panel steel or lining board, even card will do and have an artistic person paint "C block" or "D section" on it. Search around inside the building you have found for a wall that will look like a corridor, place the set about six to eight feet from the wall and stick your lamps and gray metal box to the plasterwork or bare concrete block wall, place your sign either to the right or left of the box, or just half in view at the edge of frame. Place the camera and the actor playing the inmate behind the set of bars and keep it tight enough to hide the frame. for the inside you can match a shot anywhere that will read, using either a real toilet bowl (if one can be found with enough room space around it) or a borrowed one sitting on the floor with a bed or the corner of a bed visible in the background stick pin ups and such like on the walls and shoot through the set bars in reverse. This is just an idea to set your mind working outside the square, a thing that you may rely upon as the years stack up.

I hope I was helpful. I intended to be.

Regards,
Dracher

Does not the sandalwood impart its fragrance even unto the axe that hews it

When in pre-production, and as a producer, you want to be open to possibilities..you want to come from a stand point of how passionate you are as a filmmaker, and you will make this film no matter what..with or without them..no matter how prepaired you are...it doesnt matter if your 18....if you believe in your work, others will too...no matter how prepaired you are. You NEED CONTRACTS with locations to prove they allowed you to shoot on their location..but, honestly, the only people that ask for insurance are the ones trying to make money off your production and those are probably not the locations you will obtain. There are a lot of people that will support independant productions, and if they trust you and you show your integridy and professionalism they wont ask. The indiviuals that focus on "HOW PREPAIRED YOU ARE" are those out to do filmmaking for the money..or make money teaching other filmmakers how to create films...filmmakers are artists first....and yes, its wise to be prepaired but a worthy production will attract the dedicated actors and obtain you locations....you never know who will help you, a lot of times, if you obtain a network of people, those actors or someone in your network, may know someone that can also help with obscure locations. Location Releases are for your protection!!! You will need this to assure possible distributors that no one will come back and sue you or request money for you shooting on their location... But, alot of times now, when you try to get a distributer, you will land a "SALES AGENT" instead. They basicly wave all the liabilitys on your lap, and get your film out there the best they can..so they are hands free of liablitys that may occur. IF you walked on a location with a hundred crew memebers and a million dollars with equipment you BETTER HAVE INSURANCE...but as a small production 1-5 guys crew, 2-3 actors..and are worried about insurance just get a rider on your home owners or rental insurance that covers your equipment if you feel the need...but on such a small level..you will find in most cases, people will not request it..an example of obtaining insurance for such a small production/short would be using a semi truck to cart your hand-held camera around for the small production...INSURANCE IS A MUST on any production where money is involved to obtain a location..but if you call around and find someone willing to let you use their empty cell, and its no money..i would only worry about a location release...or if you pay a minimal fee to the city like 35$ then it would be more like a work permit and none of the business's or police can kick you out..and that would be your location release...they gave you permission...and you paid for that permisson. Maybe you can find a small holding cell, or a drunk tank that sheriff's use...or small local police station..you never know! If you try and can not find one, then you have to create one...and then you dont need to worry about any of it!! With that said, G'LUCK!

Myfilm"Shadow of Crime"
Trailer:
http://www.vimeo.com/4103913
Where to buy:Shadow of crime
https://www.createspace.com/288191

If you can't find a real jail cell, you can make your own fairly easily.

I suggest propping up an 8 X 8 foot wall section for the scene of the outdoor cell window. This can be made out of 2 plywood sheets or 1/8" thick flat boards with brick designs already on them. You can also paint or stucco the boards. Cut a square opening for the barred window. For this exterior shot, you don't need inner cell detail, so use a black cloth for a back drop and just light for your actor. For the bars, buy some cheap PVC pipes and paint them flat black. Cut them to size for the window. Use 6 or 8 foot pipes for the main cell bars.

For the full cell, use the longer bars and put a small bed in there. If you really want detail, buy a sink and a toilet.

EDIT:

I wanted to add that if you have any compositing skills (as in After Effects), you can just make the barred window and composite it onto the wall of any building, at least for an establishing shot, prior to going for closeups.

www.midnightsunent.com

I'm not quite sure how it works in America as I'm British but here it is. Instead of going to an actual real prison why not ask a local police station? Most police stations have some holding cells, a lot of which won't be filled on a Wednesday morning or whatever. It might be easier to get in there than somewhere with stronger security.