Shoot in the school - Questions

A

AlexGg

Active member
Hi All,

I am going to make a shoot in the school pretty soon. There will be filmed some acts from normal school day, but I have no ideas about who should sign a release form?
Each kids and teachers, or just head teacher?

Thanks in advance!
 
To be safe, have everyone that you film sign it! Create a generic form with a place for tons of signatures and also printed versions of the name for reading back and you should be safe with that
 
I would check with an entertainment attorney.
What country are you in?
If you're not in the US then the laws may be different that what many here are familiar with.

As far as having 'everyone' sign a release, having minors sign one doesn't do you much good here in the US.
You would have to get their parents to sign the release.
 
Might be easier to use a location release form, get it signed by the principal, and then post the release form on entrances to the school explaining that if people enter they may be on camera. You could also have the principal make an announcement so people know.
 
Might be easier to use a location release form, get it signed by the principal, and then post the release form on entrances to the school explaining that if people enter they may be on camera. You could also have the principal make an announcement so people know.
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Sorry, Isaac, but I'm pretty sure that that's not gonna cut it here in the U.S.

I am not an attorney, but as Luis pointed out, minors cannot give consent. And even if they could, posting a sign in front and then requiring them to come in (they HAVE to go to school, there's no choice involved in entering) wouldn't cut it.

When my kids entered pre-school, one of the things they had us sign was a photo/video release so that the pre-school could take pictures anytime they wanted (and use them commercially for their own advertising).

If it's a private school, then maybe Alex could get lucky and the school already has release forms on file for everyone. If it's a public school, then getting releases from every parent (as well as a location release from the school and releases from anyone else, like teachers) would seem to be the way to go.
 
In this situation, I think Isaac's idea might be the best. When you go to a concert and they are filming it, they don't have to worry about getting little kid's parent's permission. They work it out through the venue and post signs everywhere informing attendants about the filming.
 
I've done a few shoots where the client had made release signs and posted them at the entrances of a building we were shooting in. In those instances, the producer asked me to get a few quick shots showing the release on the door and the proximity of people around it, etc.

Don't ask me what all the release said because it was lengthy and I don't recall.
 
Joe Kras said:
I am not an attorney, but as Luis pointed out, minors cannot give consent. And even if they could, posting a sign in front and then requiring them to come in (they HAVE to go to school, there's no choice involved in entering) wouldn't cut it.
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I am not an attorney either but I have never seen a release that did not require a parental release signiture for a minor. Was wondering about sports venue's but I imagine that it is on the back of the ticket and you have to be 18 to purchase?

AlexGg, if this is for a short of movie and not an official project of the school, why not shoot after hours and get with some of the parents to sign releases for their kids. I think that would cover you then.
:thumbsup:
 
A lot depends upon your jurisdiction, but no minor (or, technically, infant) has the legal capacity to bind him/herself - so (here comes the bad news) for every child whose identifiable image appears in your shoot (or at least those portions that are published) you are going to need his/her parent or legal guardian to sign the release on the child's behalf.

Principals do not, I would guess, have the legal capacity to contract on behalf of their students.

Nor would the standard notice posted at the entrance of the venue cut it, because again the child would not have the capacity to contract by entering the premises.

Sorry for the bad news. But look at it this way - if your kids were wanted to be photographed for some awful production, wouldn't you as a parent want the ability to act as gate-keeper?
 
Ok, Guys, thanks a lot for very useful information and ideas what to do!

Yes, this is a private school.
Location in the UK, but I am going to come back in the US, so all suggestions will be also applicable there.
Joe Kras: you have pointed in right direction to check if school already has release forms on file for everyone.. thank you! I am going to check it first of all.
And also, I am going to issue a bunch of release forms to pass via Principals, to ensure their parents have to sign them.
Cryogenic Filmworks: This is not an official project of the school, but I have to think about your hint and probably I will try to offer it to the headTecher...

Any way I appreciate your help!!! Thank you!
 
Well...at my high school..i dont know about all the schools in the country..but we have this thing called Parentus Locus..or suttin like that. I dont kno how to spell it....but it means....from time we enter that school at 7 in the morning untill we leave at 2:25 in the afternoon...our ''deans'' / principals and stuff have Parental consent over the students. So if it happened during school hours and you had all the principals and stuff sign those papers..I think you would be able to get away from signing from each real legal parent.

I'm not sure if every school in the US is liek that..but mine is...so like...they have all legal say for us during school. Good example is..they can search our lockers without notice if they wanted, instead of getting the cop that works there or the security officers who would then need a search warrent.

I think im starting to ramble..so im gonna end this post. Since it is a private school...get all those papers signed by the principals..and still..post signs around the doors of the school saying that someone will be there with a cam..so while your shooting...no stupid ass looks at the camera and makes a retarded face.
:thumbsup:

good luck!
 
"In loco parentis", or the person who stands in in place of the parent, is usually used for things like granting emergency permission for surgery on a minor when the parent can't be reached. It also is used in schools for general types of things like ensuring discipline during the school day.

What it is not used for is things like granting permission for field trips. These things (being optional and out of the usual norms of school) are not covered by this concept. So we're back to getting permission from each parent (unless the school already has a blanket permission on file).
 
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