Ok, so I'm going home this winter to shoot my first feature and it's essentially no budget. I want to use some locations like parks and streets, maybe even an outside cafe or such. However, I know I can't pay anyone anything for locations, and as far as permits for public property goes, I know I'm not going to be able to get them on my insurance. I've got student insurance through my school which covers all property damages and theft under my control, and that's plenty of insurance for me and my friends, but I doubt I'll be able to get a permit to shoot at parks without having more insurance.
So my question is, if I don't legally get permission to shoot at an outdoor cafe or a park (I will of course ask if anyone minds if I shoot there, but i'm saying if I don't get permits/releases) will I be able to use the footage if I make the actual setting out of focus? I mean, I just want my characters walking down a street, I can de-focus and not show the actual street. Or, I want my characters sitting at a table, I have no desire to show that they're actually sitting at a starbucks.
Is this gonna fly? I'd really like to use these locations, instead of just having the entire movie take place on my parents' porch.
Six is half of twelve.
Six is half of twelve.
The issue isn't someone seeing your film, seeing that you shot at a starbucks and then phoning the city to see if you had a permit to shoot on the sidewalk on some random day in the past couple months (unless you'll get in trouble from your school for shooting without a permit, I dunno). The issue is the cops showing up and asking to see your permit in the middle of your shoot. If you think you can get away with it, go for it, but know that you're taking a risk on the day.
thanks for the advice. as i understand it, most festivals, and certainly any distribution company (it's unlikely i'll get distributed, sure, but it's nice to dream) is going to immediately ask for signed releases from everyone, and if i don't have 'em i'm out.
is this not the case?
Six is half of twelve.
Six is half of twelve.
Releases from actors, definitely. I could be totally wrong but I don't think a film festival will ask to see your backdated permit to shoot in a park, or at a table at an anonymous coffee shop.
The difference between permits and releases is that permits are required for you to work on property. Once your work is done, you no longer need that permit. The release allows you to publicly exhibit a movie (or photograph) with image or likeness of somebody. Whenever you intend to exhibit your film, you will need to show release(s) if anyone challenges your right to show images therein.
Depending on your city, permits can be cheap, and even free. Obviously, in LA, you'll be competing to shoot on public property with James Cameron and the likes, so the city charges a lot for such privilege. In Topeka, you'll likely be allowed to shoot for free, as you movie may some day bring more movie business to the city and state.
Some claim that definition of guerilla filmmaking is "stealing" shots, i.e. shooting in a public place without a permit and getting away with it. The point is, you can go ahead and shoot in ANY public space without a permit. If your shoot wraps before cops come along, you were lucky. Your shots are in the can and nobody can do anything about it anymore. However, if cops ask questions and you don't have permits, your production is shutting down, and good luck getting a permit after that.
If your crew is small and you're a zero budget production, even in NYC, they'll probably ask for very little, depending on the location of your shoot and level of disruption to the city and its people (shooting on a small street in the industrial part of Queens on a weekend will likely be free, while stopping traffic in Times Square for four hours on a Tuesday morning will cost you some serious cash).
