Shooting in public spaces

Your video may call for scenes to be shot on locations away from your premises in public.

Here you need to pay special care to legal and safety issues.

Many public areas, like shopping centres and car parks, are not public at all, and you will need permission to film there, even if your company is a tenant of the centre.

If you are likely to cause an obstruction or a disturbance, you will need to speak to the police.

Many large cities have a film production office which can help you get permissions.

Do a risk assessment for any shooting that might be hazardous – on water or on a road, for example.

Check that your organisation and the video company are fully insured for public and employer’s liability.

Unfortunately there is nothing much you can do about dummies who wave at the camera.

On the other hand, a street scene shot at a busy time looks more convincing than one shot at 5am, or on a deserted Sunday.

Next: Pre-shoot meeting and check >>