Permissions to shoot? Or Freedoom of Press?

SurJones

SurJones

Veteran
Okay so there is a benifit concert. It is in a court yard in between a movie theater and some store fronts. In the store fronts is a church and a wine bar. Now any average smuck can I am sure just walk by and video the thing with their phone, but I am going to set up my tripod, and shoot direct to disc using my Apple set up. I contacted the host of the event, which happens to be the church, and they said they will ask the Artist if it is okay to film him. But if I get a "No" then what?

thanks
 
Do you intend to use it for commercial purposes?

Also, what is the contract between the church and the artist? Does it permit filming?
 
Not for commerical use. I am a local Media company, so figure me as a independent news reporter that if the station wants footage, then I am there. So does a TV staiton need permits to film public benefit concerts?

Typically I just show up and film these things, and usually no questions asked and I am leave when its done and all thigns are A- OK. But in this case I asked, and might have put myself into hearing a NO, so I thought I would see what my fellow peeps might know :)
 
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If you are shooting for a news organization, let the organizer of the event know what you are doing, they can help you get better access to what you need... Also Davis S. is right. It depends on what the contract between the band and the organizer is...
If this band is signed with a label, They may only allow you to shoot the first 2 or 3 mins of the first 2 songs...
That is even for the news cameras as well....
If it is just an open to the public festival and a local band without a label, you may have better luck.
Your best bet is to make good friends with the organizers and maybe offer a deal between you and them,, say certain amount of footage for their cause or future production....
Good Luck...
Let us know what happens...
 
But if you are shooting and selling your footage, this is for commercial use by definition.

If you are an employee of a new station and the station sends you to shoot it with your press pass, that's different.

Basically, nobody can shoot almost anything anymore without permission, permits, insurance, etc. or you run the risk of getting hassled or sued. I was recently in NYC, shot a tourist snapshot on the street of a building with the moon above it as I was walking by at night. Then I was stopped by a security guard who told me that it is illegal to shoot a federal building. He demanded that I show him the image. I got pissed and just deleted it in front of him (the shot didn't come out very well anyway). The terrorists have definitely won.

Best,

Dan
 
It sounds like you're on private property, which, press credential or not, you need permission to operate on. Also, you might have a different position when operating as a stringer versus as an employee of the affiliate who was sent to cover a story.

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SurJones said:
So does a TV staiton need permits to film public benefit concerts?
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The law may be different in the US, but in the UK a TV station definately does need permission before doing any filming on private property. As does anybody else if the filming or photography is for commercial purposes. In the case here there may also be copyright issues.

An exception may be in the case of undercover filming, when the station may well argue "public interest" if there was an attempt to take them to court
 
If the courtyard is public property, you're free to film, but local municipalities *may* require permits for commercial productions and/or tripods. Selling the footage has absolutely no relation to whether releases are required for the final use of the material. You could sell the footage for a cool million to CBS for the evening news and no releases would be required or you could give the footage to an ad agency for free and they'd still need full releases for use in an ad campaign.

In your case, you're much better off doing this with the cooperation of everyone involved which will ensure hassle-free access. Once you have a professional production setup, you're viewed very differently regardless of your legal rights.
 
Permission or not,,,play it safe an make friends with the organizer....
Once you make friends with them , permission or not,,,they will make your life easier...
If you are planning to sell the footage to a local news station,,You may want to call them up before and let them know you will be there covering the event and you can sell the footage to them for their newscast as a stringer.
If that is the case, have their assignments desk call the organizer of the event and get you clearance...
 
If the bands have managers, prepare to get hell. I was filming a music festival earlier this year (I was hired by the people who put the festival on) and walked out in the middle because I was tired of getting yelled at by all the managers.
 
Making friends may assist in a variety of issues, but it doesn't help with the legalities.

A signed release or license agreement is the best approach.
 
Well I thought I would let everyone know that they returned my call and welcomed me, and of course who doesnt want coverage. LOL - Always safe that sorry.
 
You should be able to shoot what ever you want on public property. and nobody can do any thing about it. Depending on the location and the environment. stand out in the street and zoom in lol.

If you get permissions from the grounds. you should ok to film on their property.
and if other visitors dont like it, too bad! they can leave then.
 
don't get intimidated by the managers or anyone else with the band ...
If you just talk with the important people ahead of time,,then you'll know where you stand with the situation...
Remember, what is more important to you? fighting with the managers during the performance to prove your point or getting your shot?
If they say no...
then you know that you won't be allowed to shoot and you can thenenjoy the festival by listening to the music...
 
I was stopped by a security guard who told me that it is illegal to shoot a federal building
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well you could of told that security guard to go f himself and to arrest you so you can sue his ass off.

your on public space. you can take picture of your house or the white house, it dosn't matter.

not to mentiono he's a security guard, he has no jurisdiction outside of his company's building.
 
puredrifting said:
But if you are shooting and selling your footage, this is for commercial use by definition.

If you are an employee of a new station and the station sends you to shoot it with your press pass, that's different.

Basically, nobody can shoot almost anything anymore without permission, permits, insurance, etc. or you run the risk of getting hassled or sued. I was recently in NYC, shot a tourist snapshot on the street of a building with the moon above it as I was walking by at night. Then I was stopped by a security guard who told me that it is illegal to shoot a federal building. He demanded that I show him the image. I got pissed and just deleted it in front of him (the shot didn't come out very well anyway). The terrorists have definitely won.

Best,

Dan
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That's bull. The only thing that's illegal to shoot are military institutions. I've had federal employees try this crap with me (I'm a news photographer). When I ask them to show me the law, no one ever can. It's is NOT illegal to shoot any building from public view....you may be questioned, but you cannont be arrested for it.
 
My brother collects pictures of historic courthouses. At one county courthouse, the deputy came out, asked him what he was doing, checked his ID, and told him he couldn't shoot. Sure he was on public property, but in Texas you don't argue with a Sheriff's Deputy.
 
I'll be honest with you guys - I agree 100% with the fact that it is not illegal to film on public property or shoot public buildings, but at the same time, I'll tell you this - you can tell them to f off, you can fight for that right, and in the meantime, the cops have arrested you, searched (and torn up) your premises and property and conveniently "lost" all that expensive equipment you've invested in. That's what you'll get for messing with the police. You want to put yourself at risk? Feel free - maybe when I have the money to pay to repair and buy new equipment after they ruin it, I'll go and fight the good fight, too. But after having been screwed by both the police, the insurance companies and everyone along the way, I choose to watch out for myself - when you're the little guy with no money, you'll find yourself far worse off for trying to express your rights.
 
if you go google "photograph federal building patriot act" it seems as though alot of people are getting harrassed by security, but no real actions taken or proof of the written law.
 
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