ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

6 years, 1 month ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Did you get permission to film from the private company that owns and operates the property? They seem to take security seriously "Security: The Old Truman Brewery estate is a secure site with 24 hour security, patrolling SIA accredited guards, and firm security procedures in place. CCTV, alarms, barriers and bollards are in place across the estate and entry may be subject to bag checks." from their website.

6 years, 1 month ago - davina brown

@Paddy we asked the owners/mangers about a location rental and they gave us an itemized quotation including an hourly rate for a,security guard to follow us around. It just seemed a bit much. I mean, if they already have onsite security then why are we getting billed for that as a separate item. Oh, they also insisted on billing us £75 for electricity even though we are shooting in daylight and won't be requiring it.

6 years, 1 month ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

It's their house, their rules I'm afraid. "Already onsite security" whose responsibility will be divided across the site. Someone dedicated to keeping you safe (not obstructing shoppers or trade, ensuring you are not laying cables across paths, not irritating traders, and on the other side not getting your kit stolen or extorted by mobs) isn't the same - you're an interruption to "business as usual", so need supervision from someone in their eyes. It's a cost of doing business on those premises. Similarly the leccy, if they're charging for it you should ask them where you can plug in securely, might be that you get use of a non-public space to do so.

Honestly, if that's all they're charging you to shoot there - supervision and leccy - it's a real deal. There's no inherent right to shoot on their private property, so if they feel those are charges to mitigate their own costs and liabilities, that's the offer. By all means go back to them and say "we don't need leccy, and we are only a camera operator and presenter" (if that's true), and make your own discounted offer showing that you understand their constraints and that their prime concern is for their traders and public and will be responsible. If you can't do a deal, shoot somewhere you can afford. Their house, their rules :-/

Usually, though, charges like this are born from shooters before you taking the piss, plugging in lights, bringing in a large unit, obstructing foot traffic and trying to enforce a stop and go, pitching outside a trader who lost business thanks to camera attention.