Best place to shoot in/near LA sans film permit?

[Eric Boellner]

Gearing up for production in January and was wondering if anyone on this board has much knowledge as to where is the easiest place to run-and-gun/guerrilla film? I'm hoping to have a little money for permits, but in the event that it doesn't pull through, what part of LA or the greater LA area would be easiest to shoot in without getting busted for not having permits?

I live in West LA, just outside of Santa Monica, so I don't think I'll be shooting right outside my house. <grin>

 

[Batutta]

I've gotten away with guerilla shooting on a divider in the middle of a busy intersection in Glendale with cops driving by. Keep your crew very, very small and avoid setting down a tripod and you probably won't be bothered.

 

[Taylor Rudd]

I've gotten away with guerilla shooting on a divider in the middle of a busy intersection in Glendale with cops driving by. Keep your crew very, very small and avoid setting down a tripod and you probably won't be bothered.

We stole a whole scene in a Glendale neighborhood. Started early Sunday morning, 2 actors, 6ish crew, doorway dolly on road/sidewalk, had no problems. We also stole a lot of handheld shots downtown - middle of the day and nighttime. A security guard stopped us...just to make sure we weren't being bothered by a bum around the corner. He must've been new.

I guess it depends on what cards you're dealt that day. Go volunteer at an animal shelter or something to stock up on karma before production.

 

[dwelter]

Penny wise and pound foolish. Why not just pony up for the permits and take the hassle out of your primary shooting. Then when you really need to grab a quick shot without a permit you'll have the old one to flip in your bag. I've shot all over Santa Monica without a permit, small crew, drop out of the van, shoot ten minutes, gone. Oh, and I had my permit from the day before to show how confused I was if I needed it.