NYC: Permits No Longer Needed for Tripod Shoots

"That's right take your skeleton crew with your tripod and your bounce board (maybe even a boom op? haven't read that details yet) and shoot in Central Park or on Brooklyn Bridge or on the steps of the courthouse all day/week/month long for free."... I shoot in NYC on average 2 to 3 times a week (mostly Manhattan) and really the only trouble I have had are in parks. Not with the NYPD, but with park workers/police. They always ask you if you have a permit even if you aren't "taking ownership of the location" and I find arguing with them is useless. Sometimes they'll leave you alone if you're handheld, but if you put down a tripod it's usually an issue. I don't think the park employees get trained on shooting nearly as much (if at all) as the NYPD does on this issue...
P.S. don't let this stop you from going out and getting your footage. I have shot in Central Park, in the middle of the day, with a crew -- and we were handing out glasses of wine!!!
 
scorsesefan said:
"That's right take your skeleton crew with your tripod and your bounce board (maybe even a boom op? haven't read that details yet) and shoot in Central Park or on Brooklyn Bridge or on the steps of the courthouse all day/week/month long for free."... I shoot in NYC on average 2 to 3 times a week (mostly Manhattan) and really the only trouble I have had are in parks. Not with the NYPD, but with park workers/police. They always ask you if you have a permit even if you aren't "taking ownership of the location" and I find arguing with them is useless. Sometimes they'll leave you alone if you're handheld, but if you put down a tripod it's usually an issue. I don't think the park employees get trained on shooting nearly as much (if at all) as the NYPD does on this issue...
P.S. don't let this stop you from going out and getting your footage. I have shot in Central Park, in the middle of the day, with a crew -- and we were handing out glasses of wine!!!
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Parks are permitted separately and have their own set of rules, and this mayor's office statement has no bearing on those rules at all.
 
If you are using the footage as NEWS, you are clear to show anyone you want if they don't have an expectation of privacy (bathroom stall, private property, etc.). Documentaries are probably protected press, but I don't know if it's ever gone to a high enough court to be sure. Many high-profile docs blur out some faces.

Commercials/drama are definitely not protected. If you have someone in the background drinking a Coke, Coca-cola can sue you for damages (and the lawsuit will hurt worse than the fine, I'm sure). If they are wearing a Milwaukee Brewers jersey (go Brew Crew!) you'll have to blur it out or risk lawsuit. And what if the person who happens to be walking in the background is on contract with another company that specifically forbids them from being in your commercial or other work?

On top of all that, you're going to get untrained extras looking at the camera and just acting odd, trying to get out of (or into) the shot.

The worst part isn't paying for damages, it's court costs and the temporary injunctions to not sell or distribute your work.
 
scorsesefan said:
" I shoot in NYC on average 2 to 3 times a week (mostly Manhattan) and really the only trouble I have had are in parks. Not with the NYPD, but with park workers/police. I don't think the park employees get trained on shooting nearly as much (if at all) as the NYPD does on this issue...
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Manhattan is a different story although you still run into the occasional hardass. The borough cops are usually more likely to stop and ask questions.
 
Mark Harris said:
Parks are permitted separately and have their own set of rules, and this mayor's office statement has no bearing on those rules at all.
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Do you know what those rules are or where they're posted? Shooting in NYC parks has no rhyme or reason: I have shot many, many time in Union Square park (handheld and tripod) and just recently was told "no tripods". This order came as a group of NYFA students shot on a tripod twenty feet away from me. My handheld filming was stopped by Park Police in Tompkins Square park after a homeless person (who was so far out of shot it's not funny) complained. On Wednesday I shot on the west side (for four hours!) and then stepped into a gated area and was told by the Park employees that I needed a permit...
 
scorsesefan said:
Do you know what those rules are or where they're posted? Shooting in NYC parks has no rhyme or reason: I have shot many, many time in Union Square park (handheld and tripod) and just recently was told "no tripods". This order came as a group of NYFA students shot on a tripod twenty feet away from me. My handheld filming was stopped by Park Police in Tompkins Square park after a homeless person (who was so far out of shot it's not funny) complained. On Wednesday I shot on the west side (for four hours!) and then stepped into a gated area and was told by the Park employees that I needed a permit...
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Here are the complete Rules and a link to the Film Shoot Request Form:

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/film_photo_guidelines/parks_film_photo_guidelines.html

As mentioned in someone's previous post, the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation has their own set of rules and guidelines that are completely different than those of the NYPD and then some.

The link above provides general NYC Parks Rules.

There are certain parks including Central Park & Bryant Park that require you to clear your request with the specific park's conservatory group.

The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation number for information/media requests etc. is: (212) 360-1311
 
ProfessorU said:
Yes, but unless you're doing a doc, you'll still need model releases from anybody who wanders on your set without a pixellated face.
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Hey Prof...is that true? I thought there were some rules or laws that stated that in public folks take their chance or is that just for docs?

I know in my state a crew can put up signs that point at their shooting area that read "we are shooting this project and if you walk past our cameras you are now aware and releasing us from any liability if you end up in our finished project" or something to that effect.

Can you do that on a film in NY? Have you ever checked? Just curious...
 
Ok, I'm in London nor NY, but a while ago a crew was in the area where I work, and they put up notices to the effect that "If you pass this sign you give your consent to appear in the movie"
Don't know if it would work elswhere.
Dave
 
It sure does. In Sydney we have a show about customs called Boarder Security. It's one of the two Australian productions worth watching (the other is The Chaser's War on Everything).

When you pick up your bags at the Airport, you walk past a sign that says something to the effect of "Channel Seven is recording its Boarder Security program. If you would prefer not to be shown on television, please make yourself known to the production staff."

I operate on the people don't care enough to make paperwork worthwhile philosophy. This is a habit I'll have to break once I start doing bigger things, but I figure if a broadcaster can fob off such a lot of responsibility so easily it's not a huge deal.

Anyway, awesome news for you New Yorkers (I want to go back, 4 days isn't enough), and I wish Sydney would let me do the same.

-DAVE.
 
It's kind of irrelevant to this discussion. If you are putting up signs telling people they give permission to be in your shot, you are most definitely in a situation where you need a permit anyway.
 
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