shooting in an abandoned building

R

randomname

Well-known member
I have a script that I really want to shoot but the location is an abandoned building and I'm a little bit nervous about it. While I understand that safety is a big risk its one we're willing to take and we're going to be smart about it, but what kind of trouble can we get into legally? if nobody own the property is it illegal to shoot? Also, should we be worried about gang activity if its all in the middle of the day?
 
Well, the biggest issue is trespassing. Even through a building my look abandoned, there is somebody, somewhere that "Owns" it. If it is a long term abandoned building, then the ownership may have passed to the local municipality. I would contact the local government and see where you could research the ownership of the building, and then try to get in touch with them. If you can't get into touch with the owner, then I don't know if I would shoot there. If the local municipality owns the building, then they may have some very strict requirements for filming there, basic of which is going to be liability insurance. Now if you are shooting guerrilla, and are very unobtrusive, you may be able to sneak in and get some stuff shot. However, that is a big risk, and just be aware of that when going in.
 
alot of the depends on where you are. if you're in gary, indiana or east LA then you might worry about gang activity. if you're in omaha then maybe not so much. same goes for the 'trouble', is it secluded location where no cops would ever really go to or where no one would see you filming? Or is it in the middle of an urban sprawl where you're likely to get caught within the first 15 minutes of stepping foot into it.
 
As with above, somebody always owns it. There's no such thing as unclaimed property. Trespassing can be a big deal, and you already know there's a lot of physical danger with dilapidated buildings. Also with above, you should have an idea of who else goes there. Gangs, drug dealers, addicts, general homeless, thuggish neighborhood kids, stuff like that. But it depends on the property, obviously none of us know the place.

If possible, go through the proper channels.
 
you as producer owe a duty of care to your crew and actors to take them to a safe work environment

think and plan carefully my friend as a hazard is unfair to your co-workers and leaves you

open to being sued should an accident happen
 
There's an abandoned factory in Sydney that people occasionally shoot in. Apart from the usual hazards (floors that might break, lots of broken glass, lots of rusted metal to cut yourself on, junkies' needles, asbestos, and general filth and excrement -- all of which make for excellent production value), the police occasionally patrol it, and try to charge you with break and enter if they catch you, though the place has been abandoned for over a decade.
 
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Patryk_Rebisz said:
Read this:
http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-04-06/news/nyu-s-snuff-film/

My friend was a DP on this film where one of the kids died shooting in abandoned place...
Click to expand...

That is harsh. Quite a story. Heavy industry is full of equipment hitting stuff. Here you have a bunch of kids with no industrial background, playing with equipment they have no background on.

I worked in heavy industry for most of my youth and the one thing I learned is you only get one chance to not have an accident. I always try to remember that when I am about to take a risk.

Grant
 
We had a tough time finding an "abandoned" looking location because we simply did not have the money to make them safe enough to shoot in. But I agree you're looking for real trouble if you just guerrilla some stuff like this.

Legally, you might also be opening the actual property owner to liability if someone gets hurt there. That's why people want you to have insurance.
 
As the producer it is incumbent on you to due your due diligence and research the ownership, obtain written permission and insure your cast, crew and equipment from any harm.

If you do not follow any of these steps, and an unfortunate accident should occur you are in a world of trouble.

BELT AND SUSPENDERS!
 
phudsontx said:
As the producer it is incumbent on you to due your due diligence and research the ownership, obtain written permission and insure your cast, crew and equipment from any harm.

If you do not follow any of these steps, and an unfortunate accident should occur you are in a world of trouble.

BELT AND SUSPENDERS!
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Code: 
Frank
How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders?
The man can't even trust his own pants.

From "Once Upon a Time in the West"(1968)
 
j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
Code: 
Frank
How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders?
The man can't even trust his own pants.

From "Once Upon a Time in the West"(1968)
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This issue is not about trust it is about safety and security and if far from humorous.

The people that are serious about this business recognize this. Those that are playing "film maker" laugh it off. I have seen many people hurt on sets, a few seriously, . Thankfully all these productions were legit and had the proper insurance. Recently I was on a shoot that was not properly insured. No one was hurt but a $30,000 camera package was destroyed. I, thankfully, am serious and had the camera insured myself. Now my insurance company is litigating against the film.
 
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phudsontx said:
This issue is not about trust it is about safety and security and if far from humorous.

The people that are serious about this business recognize this. Those that are playing "film maker" laugh it off. I have seen many people hurt, a few seriously, on sets. Thankfully all these productions were legit and had the proper insurance. Recently I was on a shoot that was not properly insured. No one was hurt but a $30,000 camera package was destroyed. I, thankfully, am serious and had the camera insured myself. Now my insurance company is litigating against the film.
Click to expand...

My humor was in regard to the idiom you used.

There are about 2 things I refuse to do. Brakes on my car, and electricity mods or work, beyond plugging approved equipment into standard 2 or 3 prong wall sockets, in my house (or anywhere else...)

And needless to say, I would not use a 'craigslist' respondent for either, from the tragic story above.

When the Wife has done shoots in houses, I have my 'trusty' tester to make sure at least it registers that 'ground' is connected... and if the house light dim or flicker... I pull the plug... wrath of Wife is easier to take, than burning down the house...
 
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