Belive me you need to value them with your life.

Scenario: you use Joe nobody in your next film, a film that your not concerned about getting a distribution deal for. You make the film and it all goes fantastically well in termsof production.

You put that production down when its finished thinking that its the end of the subject and you go on making more films and getting better at what you do.

Joe Nobody gets his/her big break and become famouse.

You happen tomention that you have a film/movie with this famouse person in it, they have a look at it and decide that its good enough to get released and distributed.

Joe Nobody hears about it but dosent want you to release the film, because he/she feels that he/she is above the role that they played and that it dosent represent their acting skills in a good light which will end his/her career in the industry.

The only thing that you would have to state that you have both the moral and legal right to distribute that film/movie with that stars image, is the legaly binding contract which states that you hold the rights to use that persons image.

Its a long story/scenario but I dont doubt that it helps to highlight the importance of keeping your contracts safe, as with out the contract you wouldnt legally have a leg to stand on. Cleary.

www.myspace.com/b31_film_productions

Cleary. I am not talking about a release. I am talking about a permit. To film a documentary or something else. Instead of going through the system and paying for a permit. Do you need one, if you don't get caught by police?

If thats what you plan on doing then its only a crime if you get caught. Its some thing that I'm thinging about resorting to my self, if so its just a case of pushing your luck. Cleary.

www.myspace.com/b31_film_productions

Well thats too easy no? I don't think its a crime to video tape something... you see tourists doing it all the time. I'm speaking more on the lines of a doc. You never really know where its going to take you, so how can you plan. you know what i mean?

Ye but its yor intentions that make it a crime, they might film stuff but thats because msot tourists film tuff in public and dont intend to creen it to paying audince. Cleary.

www.myspace.com/b31_film_productions

I think his question is, what if he shoots guerrilla style and nobody catches him, but later will that cause issues with distribution, not having the permits to have gotten that footage of the city hall or whatever.

I don't think so if they are public buildings but I'd like to here a more informed source on this one.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

yes, "guerilla". that's the word i was looking for. say i was to do a doc on gangs. how am i going to goto the state and say i need a permit for so and so ave. because some drug dealing will be going down and i need it on video, lol. would hbo or showtime really ask for permits?

In San Diego when you get a film permit you have a meeting with different services, cops and fire representatives to find out if roads need to be closed or fire hazards or whatever. I think in a lot of cases it's probably a formality. The permit I believe covers the entire city, not specific streets, but you would have to tell them the streets if you created any kind of traffic issues or even disrupted sidewalk traffic.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Now you have switched from the legalities of shooting without a
permit to what distributors are looking for when they buy your
movie.

If you are taping criminal activity having a permit is the least
of your worries. But yes, HBO and Showtime will need to see all
the legal paperwork - including all releases and permits - before
they will consider releasing a documentary.

As rj pointed out, it isn't a crime to videotape something. But if
your intentions are commercial then you need all the paperwork in
order.

I can see you are trying your best to get away with shooting
without a permit. There is no reason at all you can't just shoot
your doc without one. Just do so knowing the consequences.

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

you guys say its a crime only if its a "commercial use" ? What if you say you are shooting a movie, or documentary for yourself, or for school when stoped by cops? Is it legal for them to take away your tapes or equipment? What about the wedding videomakers? They dont get city permits to shoot a wedding do they? And a lot of them do shoot for commercial use(private).. So how does this work? I?m kind of confused... So when shooting a movie for sundance or other type of competisions you require to show permits or not? And when is a person required to have a permit? Anytime i?m outside? kind of confusing...

I'm sure this differs from state to state but in Alabama, if you are filming a movie/doc that is intended to make a profit, you need a permit.
"What constitutes making a profit?" Movies/docs that; are made for a production company and will be mass distributed; you are paid to produce that will be used for profit(tv commercials); will be submitted to any form of contest that has a cash prize or equivilent.(that includes festivals)

Wedding videograghers do not need to have a permit. Even though they are being paid to film, the movie being made will be for private use. all rights to that movie are exclusive to the happy couple. In this case the couple act as a production company hiring a cameraman. If they choose to distribute, the legalities fall on their shoulders.

Seems to me that you're asking if you can simply "not get caught". Yes, you can make your movie without a permit. If you don't intend to do anything with it and nobody but you and your friends will see it, then go for it. You can even use copyrighted music. Just so long as it never leaves you circle of friends.
You can get away with not using a permit for movies you intend on submitting to a film festival but be warned, if you get caught you could be escorted out off properties(best case), have you equipment confiscated, or be arrested. Plus each of these can be accompanied by a fine and a cease and desist order that could end the entire production.

I asked this once and I was linked to this page:
http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

Regardless of if you get permits or not, you can't be detained or have equipment confiscated. But permits should only require a phone call and a meeting, not money. (unless you're trying to stop traffic or get police to close a set for you)