How hard is it to get a cop car?

BrandonC

BrandonC

Well-known member
I am working on a short film (around 3-4 minutes long) and it requires a cop car for pretty much the entire thing.

I have seen some shorts here include them, but how would I go about getting one for a shoot? Do you rent a cop? Or how does it work?

Thanks.
 
Well, in the States, you generally contact a specialty picture car shop that owns the cars. They take care of transporting the car to and from set, so there's no risk of you just running around causing trouble with it. Don't know how it works in Canada, though.
 
Or... just wait till he's busy writing some poor schmuck a ticket, a using Ninja stealth, slip up to his car and drive off with it. Guerilla style! Yeah!
 
Someone just boosted a police car here in the NC last week. She was under lock and key in the back - apparently a good deal more on the key side. She slid up front as the cop ate his Dunkin Donuts and sped off in his sled.

That's how we do things in the NC.

e
 
That's awesome...but not very helpful.

Hmm...I'd love to be able to just rent a cop car...that would be ideal. I tried googling a few things but to no avail.

Hmmm.
 
And probably the better option, since it avoids having to get permission to use the actual seals of the agency in question.

A light bar, some decals, a screen between the front and back seats. Just gotta find a non-stylish car to stick 'em all on.
 
I shot a short once that required a cop car for a few scenes. I simply asked a cop friend of mine to swing by the location on his shift. He did, we shot, everyone was happy. This is guerilla style tho, not the norm. However I think you'd be suprised by the response if you walk up to a cop and give them the 'poor student filmmaker' story. Your bound to find a cop that's cool about swinging by on their break.

Again, this is not the norm and you do need permission from the city in the normal route. This is just an alternative that worked for us.
 
Sounds like Alveraz' plan might be good for you. Just rely on some of that ol' Canadian hospitality!

Failing that, true, it isn't hard at all to get a car and dress it up. I in fact drove a former LBPD black and white Caprice for years. Fun car. I think I still have photos from when I was trying to sell it... yeah, here:

low_angle.jpg


sunset.jpg


Cost me $1200. Ran great. Of course they stripped the light bar and all that, but depending on your shot, that stuff wouldn't be too hard to fake up.
 
They use Caprices these days? What happend to the Crown Vics? :)

Here, the cops are driving Opels at the moment. (And the Taxis are Mercedes...Seems backwards to me.)
 
They don't use Caprices anymore for the most part. I think the last year was 1996 or so. And they were always the minority (although most years outperform the Crown Vic according to road tests). My car there was a '91.
 
They use Caprices here, as well as Camaros and Mustangs for the FHP.

A short story- I was cruising down a two lane rode on my motorcycle several years back. Traffic was light, except for a little Ford Bobcat in front of me. Being in a bit of a hurry, I shoot around the Bobcat. A moment later, I see them flashing lights in my rearview and pull over. It was that Bobcat. I told the cop that was an unfair tactic. He still gave me a ticket.
 
BrandonC,

I was shooting a short this past fall and contacted a liason with the city police about using a car. No go. She suggested contacting a local security company, as one of the companies actually had a crown vic complete with paint job and lights.

I was way ahead of her, as I already had an appointment to meet with the owner. He was more than happy to let me use the car, but i will admit it was a challenge to coordinate our schedules to allow for 8 hour use of the car.

I designed my own logo and had a local graphics shop make up a 15"x17" magnetic sign to cover up the security company logo on the door.

I don't know about Toronto, but I know there are independent security firms in Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay that have these cars.

Good luck.
 
Heh...thanks for the info guys.

I'll have to try what nmbuconj said. I'll contact the police first and then go from there. I would probably need it for about 8 hours, too...so that's tough.

That Caprice that you sold is awesome! That would be perfect with a new decal and some lights. Awesome...

I'll let you all know how my search goes (it's not going to 'officially' start for about a month, thoguh).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top