Am I breaking rules for shooting outside?

alexandroff

alexandroff

Well-known member
I'm getting my D90 with different lens from wide to telephoto. I live in LA and want to go outside and shoot motion, practice different things, etc.

Am I breaking any rules for shooting outside? I heard that generally the rule is when you touch city property (e.g. place a tripod on a sidewalk) you need a permit. I heard from a downtown LA based photographer that you can have your camera taken away for doing so without permits...

I guess, part of the answer to this comes from how "professional" the equipment looks.

Yes, with a D90 I can play to be a tourist photographer. but what happens if I use tripod, mattebox & filters...

Does cinesaddle make these rules a bit more forgiving?

Want to know what is the bottom line on this in LA and generally outside anywhere...

thanks.
 
alexandroff said:
Yes, with a D90 I can play to be a tourist photographer. but what happens if I use tripod, mattebox & filters...

Does cinesaddle make these rules a bit more forgiving?

Want to know what is the bottom line on this in LA and generally outside anywhere...

thanks.
Click to expand...

Given that it is LA, and the LA Police never pass up a chance to write tickets... I'd say, do the tourist style shooting out in really public places...

Most LA and So. Cal jurisdictions have some form of film permit required, and this includes filming on private property, etc. About the only exemption would be personal 'happy' shots. Since most people don't do 'happy' shots with major equipment setups... the presumption would be with such a setup that you are 'filming' and would be required to have a permit.

Of course whether you get caught or not, in no way indicates that these ordinances are not pursued...
 
Nobody in LA is going to confiscate your camera. They might tell you to stop shooting or leave, but you will still have your camera.

Dan
 
actually, in LA you're supposed to be permitted even if you're shooting in your own apartment or house.
 
Well, if you're young, you might as well learn now. "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask permission" is for kids. Adult, responsible filmmakers do the right thing. We don't make the laws but that doesn't mean we can break them as we see fit.

Distribution can get sticky too. Will you have releases on locations so a distributor doesn't have to worry about being sued down the line for a film they've bought?
 
Zak Forsman said:
i mean, i don't know anyone who has actually gone thru the trouble, but... you know.
Click to expand...

Quite a few years ago here in San Diego there was a film production 'bust'... which involved a porn production... initially the actors and production crew were up for potential 'prostitution/pandering' charges... those where dropped but as I recall the 'no permit to shoot a commerical film' charges stuck...

Probably the neighbors complained, which got the police ball rolling...
 
I'm a fan of learning as many rules as possible so I know when I'm breaking them.
go shoot.
enjoy.
 
If you're stopped, just have a story ready. Mine was, "Oh, they (my actor and actress) are getting married next week and this is for their wedding video." It worked, with the L.A. cops giving their best wishes to my main actor and actress. (And I had both a camera and sound crew working - it was a handheld setup...tripods really are the red flag to authorities.)
 
I have to say look into the rules of LA.

I shoot mainly news, & the only time I've EVER had any trouble is when I've been near a nuclear power plant, or in a mall (rent-a-cops can really be annoying).

if you're doing something professional, be professional. but if you just want to learn the camera, go for it. I would be shocked if you got a ticket w/o a warning before hand. but I think most places you have nothing to worry about. this is America, and we are free to do most things (how many TMZ photogs do you think have permits?)

but like I said at the top, check out what it is like in L.A. knowledge is power.
 
thanks everyone!

i actually called City of Bev. Hills permits dept today as they are pretty strict here. Basically the guy said: as long as it is non-commercial and its just me shooting that's fine.

Now with the tripod sticks and pro-looking camera, cops may stop by and ask you for a permit, but since its a no crew, non commercial - after a short story - one should be fine...


well.... so far.... no stopping, just people checking out the sticks:)
 
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