How do you get cop cars and an ambulance?

F

filmmakerguy

Member
I need to get a couple of cop cars and an ambulance for a scene in my movie. Anyone have any experience with this? :Drogar-Shock(DBG):
 
I...have a bad answer for this. :D

I used to get into some heat when I was young, but my friend got into a LOT of heat when he was young -- and he never left the town where we grew up. So once upon a time I needed some cops to be in a shot, and since he knows them all and has for years, they all came out in "force" to help out.

So my advice would be something in that vain. Know someone who knows the cops.

Also, while I'm not sure it pertains, when I was working on a couple of short stories I did ride along with cops. They're pretty cool about it. In the end if you literally don't know anyone who knows a cop, you could just call and ask! Or maybe go to a bar where cops hang out and ask the bartender if he'd be willing to let you put up some fliers, etc?

And now someone can chime in with the professional answer! :D
 
The ambulance is easy. Just call a local private ambulance service and ask them about doing a promo stand by with you you. They may not charge that much if you could work out some kind of deal with them. What I would do is schmooze them into asking them to ask one there employees drive the ambulance to site, for a flat fee, and credit, and then give the ambulance service a rental for the rig, and credit. I would definitely research the ambulance business in your area and find out the batting order of the competition, from the most successful service, to the least successful. Find out who is number one and then who is number two. Then go to number one, pitch them on the idea, and when they come back with a cost, tell them that number two told you that they could do it for less. Trust me on this... I worked in the Ambulance business for over 20 years, and the competition for recognition and promotion in the private services is cut throat. Now if you live in an area that is serviced by volunteer services, go to them and just ask. Offer a token donation to the service and you should be in.
 
Here in So Cal. they're a dime a dozen. Well more than a dime, but you get the idea. You can even choose what "flavor" you want.
 
If your not in a film-heavy city (like I am), seek out local car enthusiast clubs, or museums. Here in Winnipeg, we have the Winnipeg Police Museum, which regularly rent antique and modern police vehicles.

Also, decommissioned police or ambulance vehicles can be found, and re-decaled to be any look, but consult the city authorities. I know locally, the requirements for such vehicles include having police markings covered during transport and storage, flashing lights not be used in transport, and to have a closed set so no confusion to the public.
 
Abundance is a white van with an "ambulance" sign on it (you can find the magnetic signs on eBay for about $10 and I saw a rotating light for $20, but that was an auction so it could go up). For police cars get a black and maybe white or gray car with emergency lights ($35 for the light) in the back and have two guys get out in black clothes with "police" T-shirts on with badges. In the second car plain clothes officers jump out as they put on their badges. Uniformed officers are only seen walking in so we don't see them until they are inside therefore you don't have to show the cars.

-Nate
 
Unless you know some cops, it's going to be tough to get an actual cop car. Plus I imagine the context of what you use it in has a lot to factor in with the decision. If possible, I'd look at renting a cop car from a prop car shop. Not cheap, but probably easier then from an actual PD
 
As all these suggestions are entertaining and plausible. But there are a THOUSAND ways to tell a story.
Couldn't you simply ask a local police station if you can film around the station. A few closeups of cop cars with blinking lights, cops getting out of the car, guns, cuffs, etc.
Also the same goes for an ambulance, just hang out near the emergency entrance with a good tele lens. Add in some sound effects of radio chatter and blinking lights and you should be vanilla.

Either that, or there are a TON of CGI templates that use Cop Cars and Ambulances. Dark-light the scene and add in a few extra cop cars.
 
We did a gunfight in an alley and a cab was parking at the edge of the alley. We did a quick cut to the cab. Then back to the actors. The cab was a bit blurry and at the end of the alley. With a police sound underneath everyone thinks it was a cop car.

-Nate
 
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