shooting in a cemetary?

arhartman

arhartman

Well-known member
ok, i get it, sounds cliche?

no no. I've got a short (dark comedy) and I need to film in a cemetery.

I e-mailed (and called) the place, and i thought about shooting guerilla style, but they never responded and I want to take my time with each shot to achieve the best product.

My question:

1) How do i go about shooting there? (do i get permits from the city or them)
2) Is it even possible to shoot at a cemetery? (as in a heard rumor to that fact that it is not ok to film in cemetery's because its an issue with the people buried there).

thanks.
 
arhartman said:
ok, i get it, sounds cliche?

no no. I've got a short (dark comedy) and I need to film in a cemetery.

I e-mailed (and called) the place, and i thought about shooting guerilla style, but they never responded and I want to take my time with each shot to achieve the best product.

My question:

1) How do i go about shooting there? (do i get permits from the city or them)
2) Is it even possible to shoot at a cemetery? (as in a heard rumor to that fact that it is not ok to film in cemetery's because its an issue with the people buried there).

thanks.
Click to expand...
Hey,

I have to shoot a couple scene in a cemetery too. I think you do need to get your city's permission. Treat this like any other location and get a release signed that way you'll be safe.

Don't forget to feed the dead corpses well. Stale donuts and moldy coffee works best! They'll thank you for it...

Chris
 
we shot in a cemetary for about an hour for my short "Bone Hand" (linked under Other Films in my sig)

we told them we were from a geneoligical research society that helped families track their lineage ... they helped us find the area we were looking for (which we had already scouted beforhand) and waited 10 minutes after the cemetery closed for us to finish.
 
Jack Daniel Stanley said:
we told them we were from a geneoligical research society that helped families track their lineage ... they helped us find the area we were looking for (which we had already scouted beforhand) and waited 10 minutes after the cemetery closed for us to finish.
Click to expand...

Nice!:thumbsup: That's awesome.
 
Cemetary's are usually private so you need to get a release from them.

When we shot in one they even had a funeral going so we had to park all together in one area and shuttle equipment and crew to the actual spot we shot.

Also, we avoided showing any names....just in case, but that's not much of an issue unless some designer owns the copyright to the headstone. :)
 
If they are not returning your calls why don't you actually go down there and knock on the door ?

Braaaiinnss!
 
i was planning on it. And all in all i don't think it should be a problem now. thanks. knock on the door i shall
 
arhartman said:
i was planning on it. And all in all i don't think it should be a problem now. thanks. knock on the door i shall
Click to expand...
A couple years ago, we shot a short (The Cemetery) at a cemetery(surprise surprise) We scouted the location and contacted them. Luckily, this particular cemetery was in the countryside and was attached to a church. They contacted the family of the actually headstone we intended the use and got the permission for us. THe only thing they required was that we got insurance for the day, which we did.

But it's wise to say you get their blessing first...
 
We just walked into the cemetery, lined up for the shots and filmed everything we needed. No one bugged us at all. It worked out very well.
 
If you plan on distribuitng the film and it is private property, you need a signed release from the owner or a qualified agent of the owner.
 
ive got to shoot in a cemetary soon as well.. But what about a veterans cemetary? I pay my taxes just like everyone else, is it public?
 
bosindy said:
If you plan on distribuitng the film and it is private property, you need a signed release from the owner or a qualified agent of the owner.
Click to expand...

well i don't know about distributing...but I definitely plan on sending it festivals of all sorts. Do I still the the signed release?
 
You need a release regardless but it comes down to a question of risk depending on your plan for the film. If just festivals there is not much in actual damages, but they have a legal right to an injunction and/or statutory relief. Not incredibly likely given the low profile, but possible.

The real problem lies when people like the film and there is a shot at distribution. Fear of litigation will make a distributor demand to see all the releases and will make sure you have a clean chain of title to the film. Many will even require a filmmaker to get E&O insurance for negligently (not intentionally) infringing in matters such as these. I would get the releases if you plan a public viewing. Also remember to cover yourself with liability in case someone gets hurt, you may be able to piggy back on your schools if you are a film student. This is a great selling point in getting people to sign a release BTW.

As for public places, permitting is what you need. (taxpayer or not)
 
Hmm,
if you're entering it into festivals, most will want signed releases.
Unless its a common name you probably want to avoid showing names out of respect (or replace them in post),
I've seen some really old disused ones along roadsides, usually out in the countryside. Some haven't been mowed or attended in what would seem over a 100 years, but I'm sure someone owns the land as in all cases.

Just don't forget your tripod head and use a stone for a support... That would be bad.... or so I'm told...

as far as the taxes, wouldn't it be nice if anything that took our tax money was open for filming, but even state parks want insurance, or some such...
Private places are probably easier to deal with...
 
thats true faulty, about the private places. Hell you could probably get the permit to film somewhere public, but if a citizen complains itll probably be reconsidered.
 
dearly noted. I do believe the cemetery is privately owned, and I plan on seeing them this week with a strategical and mapped out plan.

But where does one acquire such forms that the owner would have to sign? I know about actor release forms and image release forms, but what about the owner one?

any links?
 
I highly recommend a book called "Clearance and Copyright" 2nd Ed by Michael C. Donaldson. Pick it up on Amazon. Anyone filming in the U.S would do well to have a copy on hand and it has boilerplate releases. I am no expert in Entertainment Law, but when I was in law school this was required reading in the entertainment class. It is straight forward and not bogged down in legal jargon.

For more complicated issues most states have resources for filmmakers, including in northern California, where I believe you are. California Lawyers for the Arts. (415) 775-7200.

One last note, if you do not have permission to be on private property, you could be violating a local criminal trespass law.
 
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noted. And I will probably pick this one up.

amazon might take some time, is there any links to websites that have them ready to go?

or should I just skip that step and go for the book?
 
check your email, sometimes the server my website is on is seen as spam, so it may be in your spam filter. Good luck.
 
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