What is the best way...

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youngfilmmaker

Active member
I am working on a upcoming short film. And there is a scene where i need cop cars and officers. I am thinkning of contacting the police department. Does anyone know how i can do this? What should i say to the PD?
 
I doubt if they'll accomodate you. You'll need a filming permit as well as insurance and then you'll have to know someone in the department. A friend of mine has all of the above and even then he was only allowed to film in the front of the station itself. It would be tough to get them to provide cars and officers.

I would suggest looking into places that allow you to rent policecar look-a-like. They'll supervise you so you can't get into trouble. One more way is to find a relatively quiet area with the occasional police patrol and ask very nicely if they'll give you a shot for your film. If there is less of a chance at disturbing the neighborhood and the shot doesn't take too much time they might agree. This worked for me once but it depends on how nice the cop is.
 
youngfilmmaker said:
What do you think I should say to the Police Department?
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If you were to try it I would tell them that I have a script that requires X amount of police officers and car for Y amount of time at location Z and would they please help out. Obviously minimize the amount of time they have to spend and the number of people that you need. The officers will do such and such in the film. I would suggest emailing them a copy of the script first for approval and then tell them that you'll screen for them the final cut of the film before you released it ect to make sure that the department is portrayed well. They'll ask you for a film permit and proof of insurance for sure so you need to have that ready.
 
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Call about your local police department, if it's a big city they should have a community outreach divison. If it's a small town, speak to someone in the chief of police's office. Explain to them that you are a making a short film as a learning experience and what you need from them. As long as you are shooting on private property (so that no permits are required). You might be asked to pay for the officer's time (special duty pay usually ranges between $20 and $50 an hour depending on where you live).

The other option is to hire a private security firm. They usually provide uniformed officers in marked cars, and the price range is $10 to $30 per hour.
 
Just explain to them what you are trying to do, what is involved in the scene and that you are shooting this film as a learning experience. Be warned, if you have any gunplay in this film you will have problems getting the police involved.
 
OK here's something I once did:

I have a prop LA police car magnetic sticker I printed up years ago for the show Macguyver. Several years after I needed to shoot some police footage for a friend's no budget project. I used some old police shirts I found at the Salvation Army for $5 each. We found a mechanic in town that repaired police cars and taxis and often had a stripped police car sitting on the street outside. We just showed up slapped the sticker on the door got our shot, then pulled the sticker off when we were done.

See if you can find that local mechanic.
 
I don't know what your budget is, but renting a picture car and uniforms is pretty cheap. A cop car was something like $200 a day in the LA area.
 
I think it's going to depend largely on where you are. I'm sure it's much more difficult in L.A. or NYC than in some small towns in NC.

For instance, when I was doing location scouting for a horror feature in a small NC mountain town, I went before the town council and asked for their blessing -- which they happily gave. After that meeting, the town's sheriff came up to me and said if I need cops, cop cars, or even to shoot in his jail and office, all I had to do was give him a call.

I also know some other filmmakers here in NC who got a warm response from the police in another small town here. So it can be done.

Good luck!
 
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