Shooting a National Sports Event.

W

Willie57

New member
I shoot local races in New England, stock car, motocross, etc.. I am trying to get permission from the track owner, Speed Channel, the AMA, etc to shoot a National Motocross event at Southwick Mass on August 28, 2010.

Do I need to be in a union to do this? What avenue do I need to follow first?

Thanks for any advice I can get.

Willie L.
 
You listed all the folks you need to contact first. And I wish you luck. SPEED pays money for the rights to film the event and I would be surprised if they would even consider anyone else putting the event on the internet for download. Not saying you will but once the cat is out of the bag, game over.
Once someone has secured the rights to film, they are going to control the rights to ANY video/audio/photographic media concerning the event. More than likely there has been a loooong contract signed that gives them exclusive rights. I dont think union has anything to do with it other than SPEED may be under an obligation to use only union members for camera people and all personnel involved with capturing the event. I'm not positive on that but that has been my experience with unions. Down south here it isnt as prevalent as we are right to work state, VA. But I have seen situations where union status is require to work. Just being a member of a union doesnt allow you to "joi:n in filming.
Plenty of people have had their cell phone videos removed from the internet that have been taken at major league sporting events.
I wish you luck and urge you to follow up here with the resolution so that other people can learn from your experience..
Out of curiosity, why do you want to film it?

GLB
 
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If it's a National event, you are probably out of luck - especially if Speed is involved. Number one, they won't want anyone else track side jockeying for the best camera location while they are trying to do their job. Number 2, I do think the union thing will be a problem at a national event..

Is this an arena event, or outdoors? If outdoors, you may have enough access to decent locations to get some good shots. And since the 40 is a small enough form factor, you may be able to pass it off as a consumer camera and go unnoticed. But as Kim points out, it is almost certain, that even if they do allow you to shoot, you will not be able to do anything commercial with the footage.
 
Thanks Brad Neal & Kimchoc. I have started the ball rolling and will post what takes place here. I don't intended to sell the footage, maybe just put some clips together for folks on my FB Business site or help promote my business. The event is outdoors and I know the track owner and the photographer that shoots this event so we'll see what happens.
 
Thank goodness for Flip cameras.. hint,

Sometimes we'd just like to enjoy something we see and we dont want to post it on the net, without being noticed. :)

Let us know how it works out, good info.
 
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