Filming an Event on US Forestry Land

J

jcotter

Member
There is an upcoming Mtn Bike race that I have gotten permission from the promoter to film.

I am being told by the Forestry Dept that I need to get a special use permit the film it. Which might not be a big deal, but there is not enough time to get a permit for this years race.

As best I can tell video and photography fall under the same category for a use permit. I know sponsors of the race as well as a promoter hire photographers for the event and they dont have permits.

If I was wanting to make a movie on the land I could understand needing a permit for that, but this is just 3 guys recording something that is already taking place.

Has anyone ran into this before? Have any advice??
 
Ask the race promotor does their permit for the race, cover ppl they sanction to work for them, including video.
Get a copy in writing if you can and carry it with you. Good luck.

Cheers.
 
Keep it in perspective. It is unfortunate that you got the Forestry Department involved otherwise the thought that someone might need a permit to video a mountain bike race may never have crossed their minds. Their permits probably were intended to cover Hollywood type productions with huge crews. On the day you will possibly be one of thirty people with video cameras, 29 of whom never even thought of asking permission. Just keep a low profile. In the unlikely event the need arises, it is often easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.
 
Don't take a big, fancy pro rig or wear a cameraman's vest. It is a red flag to some busy-body, big-shot ranger. Just melt into the crowd.
 
Look up the permitting office before hand, and ask them whether you need a permit to shoot - if it's for non-commercial use, they'll usually let you go ahead without a permit (and take down the name of the person who told you that in case you're questioned while filming). Permits are usually somewhere in the $35-100/day range, so it's not that big a deal if it's a paying gig (as long as you budget for it when negotiating rates).
 
I've heard that the permits cost $150/day, along with a $110 filing fee to simply apply for the permit.

The U.S. Attorney's office is actually investigating and prosecuting cases of people who fail to get a permit. I know that this has happened on some TV hunting and reality programs.
 
Permitting costs vary from park to park. Most of my experience is with California state parks, which have all had permitting costs between $56-75/day fees in my experience and are pretty lenient about letting people film permit-free for non-commercial use. Other state/national jurisdictions may be different, which is why I recommend contacting the permitting office beforehand to ask about whether you need a permit and what one would cost if you do.
 
digital_walnut said:
Permitting costs vary from park to park. Most of my experience is with California state parks, which have all had permitting costs between $56-75/day fees in my experience and are pretty lenient about letting people film permit-free for non-commercial use. Other state/national jurisdictions may be different, which is why I recommend contacting the permitting office beforehand to ask about whether you need a permit and what one would cost if you do.
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Just don't forget that non-commercial use means vacation movies of the kids watching Old Faithful. Most everyone here is doing things that would be considered commercial, even if money isn't changing hands.
 
Steve House said:
Just don't forget that non-commercial use means vacation movies of the kids watching Old Faithful. Most everyone here is doing things that would be considered commercial, even if money isn't changing hands.
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It depends on the park administration. The people at Sinkyone state park were fine with me taking an XF300 and miller tripod through the lost coast to film the wildlife without a permit. The city of Arcata loved the idea of me making a film about their wildlife sanctuary, and gave me permission to shoot without a permit or the usual required liability insurance. Ask first. If they say you need a permit or if you suspect you fall into a grey area, get one (an old classmate of mine didn't and he got his gear confiscated in Yosemite).
 
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