ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

8 years, 8 months ago - John Lubran

You do not need an ID in the UK nor do you need to explain yourself except at the border or if you are being lawfully detained as a witness to a crime or being arested or in control of a motor vehicle. Filming from a public place, even if what you are filming is in a private place and even if someone doesn't want to be filmed, absolutely whoever they may be, is entirely lawful. Whether or not you are filming for commercial or non commercial purposes is irrelevant.

Things to watch out for though include harmful misrepresentation of a person or corporate entity. Even though some lawyers might claim that it's only factual programmes that enjoy such public domain licence it's not actual law. Exploitation of such recordings from a public place for or within any purpose is only vulnerable to Common Law Torts. A complainer must prove harm quantifiable by financial or other remedy before winning a Tort claim.

Finally no one can prevent the use of a tripod in the public domain unless they can prove an actual obstruction as opposed to the now case law proven defence that no one was obstructed from safe passage around your tripod.

Police might claim special powers based on emergency or threat. Ultimately they are liable to censure or damages if you are obstructed by a false claim.

In any event maintain as much grace as possible and avoiding putting one lens into people's faces at short range is always the better part of valour. A decent zoom lens ought prevent that however

8 years, 8 months ago - Alexandra Tincu

Hello John! Thank you for your detailed reply, this is very useful information for me! Yes, I am definitely considering zoom lens as the last thing I want to do is to make people uncomfortable. Regards, Alexandra

8 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Just my take on John's insightful comment - you may find making a 'Film Unit' pass of some kind (Name, company, role, photo, expiry date, maybe a hologram, nicely laminated or on plastic card, punched, lanyard) is helpful. Whilst it means nothing legally, it may be helpful to be able to show anyone interested.

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AqeBM-qC1TC-gZdCMGrSByCZtoZtug This kind of thing.

8 years, 8 months ago - John Lubran

Ah yes Paddy, such devices can be very effective when done well. Quasi officialese is often enough to impress those quasi officials. In the words of the Jhedi master, "These are not the droids you are looking for "

8 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

I've actually become a dab hand at accreditations - the more florid the better!

When we do the big overseas events, we often have royal guests, which invariably means going through multiple cycles of security screening (lots and lots of lists of passport and ID card numbers, photos, dates of birth, in many others and formats) with state security who will always insist that we use their passes/accreditation. And every single time, they fail to provide any state/police accreditations, and every single time we point out that there will be no show if we can't get people on site. Our trump card is to show that our accreditations are at least as fancy as any they were offering, with photos, security features, holograms, embossing, see-through holograms, barcodes, etc. This gives the police chief or general a route out - that they'll agree to recognise our accreditations (once we swear that only names on the list have them and they can cross-reference). It's quite fun when you have Generals asking you to make accreditation badges for them inside a military facility.

Anyway, in brief, making something official-looking with stamps and stickers and embossing etc works well. Real press passes are very plain by comparison!

8 years, 8 months ago - Alexandra Tincu

Great stories Paddy! Thank you for sharing!

Will crack on with making my own, glad I can have some peace of mind on this one.

8 years, 8 months ago - janus avivson

When you became a member of BECTU - which itself is helpful - they may issue you with a press card. Life is easier for a filmmaker with a colourful badge with a photo and large letters PRESS on it. And be careful with tripods whatever you do. Good luck!

8 years, 8 months ago - John Lubran

BECTU have more authority to issue press cards than anyone else. A press card is a quasi official document that has no lawful status other than a useful arrangement with metropolitan police whereby your declared status as a journalist or film maker is registered with the. A prearranged password is lodged with the police with which they can confirm your I'D is genuine. A press accreditation can not be refused unless it is bogus; of all accreditations that of being a press person is amongst the least exclusive in law. BECTU is a trade association of ever decreasing relavence.

I'm unsure what Jan's means by the further caution about tripods. Common sense issues always apply but unenforceable by laws wrongfully enforced are an offence in them selves, as case law proves. If one is unlawfully obstructed by such a claim for damage must succeed.

8 years, 8 months ago - John Lubran

Correction. My first line above should have read that BECTU has no more authority to issue a press card than anyone else.

8 years, 8 months ago - Yen Rickeard

There is a separate question about what you film. If it is documentary you can get away with members of the public in the background. If you are doing drama you may have problems getting it widely distributed if you don't have releases from every recognisable face on the screen.
Highly visible boards out of shot, stating that filming is in progress give the camera-shy chance to avoid being caught. Having your actor moving against the flow of foot traffic can be very effective in keeping faces out of shot too.
Having a crew member assigned to dealing with public/police is often a very good idea. As is a swift set up and departure before attracting the sort of interest that will make filming difficult.