J P
Well-known member
How do you feel about stealing locations?
I shot a short 16mm film for a producer/director. We had three locations. There was a location agreement for the first two, but not for the last one -- a sketchy downtown LA location, including Skid Row. No permission, permits, or police. The director wanted to setup a jib shot in the middle of a live street, with no traffic cones or signage. I refused. That whole day was an unpleasant experience for me and the rest of the crew.
Now we are shooting pickups, and he wants to shoot in a location again without permission. "It's just some abandoned railroad tracks and abandoned warehouses. Noone will bother us, and if someone asks us to leave, we'll leave," says producer/director. I told him that we need permission to shoot in any location. Being a low budget film, he doesn't want to deal with the hassle or possible expense of securing the location. I told him that I thought this was unprofessional and that I didn't want to do it.
Who is right, and what do I do? I don't want to walk away from the project because I still want to be involved in color timing. Additionally, as a young DP I want to take every opportunity I can.
I shot a short 16mm film for a producer/director. We had three locations. There was a location agreement for the first two, but not for the last one -- a sketchy downtown LA location, including Skid Row. No permission, permits, or police. The director wanted to setup a jib shot in the middle of a live street, with no traffic cones or signage. I refused. That whole day was an unpleasant experience for me and the rest of the crew.
Now we are shooting pickups, and he wants to shoot in a location again without permission. "It's just some abandoned railroad tracks and abandoned warehouses. Noone will bother us, and if someone asks us to leave, we'll leave," says producer/director. I told him that we need permission to shoot in any location. Being a low budget film, he doesn't want to deal with the hassle or possible expense of securing the location. I told him that I thought this was unprofessional and that I didn't want to do it.
Who is right, and what do I do? I don't want to walk away from the project because I still want to be involved in color timing. Additionally, as a young DP I want to take every opportunity I can.
