EXT. CHURCH (? legality)

[Randall_Oelerich]

So I have an EXT. CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY scene with a character outside a church, first on the sidewalk then walking to enter the church. Is it legal to capture footage of the church from the outside as long as the name of the church is not visible, as long as that sign often out in front of churches listing the pastor's name and the mass/sermon topic is not visible in the shot or is edited out?

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

So I have an EXT. CATHOLIC CHURCH - DAY scene with a character outside a church, first on the sidewalk then walking to enter the church. Is it legal to capture footage of the church from the outside as long as the name of the church is not visible, as long as that sign often out in front of churches listing the pastor's name and the mass/sermon topic is not visible in the shot or is edited out?

This is one of those 'sticky' areas... I think if you had the person walk down the street 'past' a church, there would be no problem. However, actually going to the door, you are shooting on the church's property, and as such would require a release.

If on the other hand, you had the person look like they were going to the side of the church, then at some other location, 'enter a door'... by the miracle of juxtaposition there is the strong suggestion that the church is the building being entered...

 

[clang]

That's my understanding too. If your actor is on public land in front of the church, and the church is kept unidentified, then there's very little the church could do legally. Unless of course your character is about to go into the church to commit unspeakable satanic atrocities, which would be a whole different can of legal worms.

j1clark's suggestion of a split shot sequence is also good, presuming you also have a suitable 'close up church door' location elsewhere.

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

Kind of solve it I think, was out scouting and found a nice old catholic 'church', in blue collar residential beat up neighborhood, and it is now a music recording and performance studio, and can be rented for weddings or other artistic pursuits, but it is not owned by any church/religions, run by artists; in fact, Kevin Smith (Clerks) was there a couple of years ago doing some podcast or radio interview. And to add to the value of this location, 1/2 block up the sidewalk is Bob Dylan's childhood where he was born and raised until age six. All about 12 blocks from my house, so very handy. I emailed the 'church' today to ask about renting it for a couple of days for shooting inside. Some pics below (Bob Dylan's house is that one in the foreground, the back entrance of the church is in the background, and of course in that photo on the right on a sunny day.