I was doing some location recording and the police got involved...!

[-silent-sam-]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

I would have fired the "grumpy old man" instead...
He didn't seem to fit the plot of the story anyway.

hahahaha yeah..... Im down for a bit of running from the cops.... I guess as long as it doesn't happen every single time you set up your gear..... Although that might be a pretty funny Doc in itself.

Otherwise that sounds like fun.... I wouldn't fire anyone.

Except the old man.

[Lofifreq]

Originally Posted by MiserableSod

You need to check this sort of thing out beforehand. ****ing amateurs.

Wow so rude..

[Jim vanBergen]

Rude maybe, and certainly has a point...

I've been screamed at by a LOT of people who have been inconvenienced by a shoot, outdoor concert, or location gig. You have a location manager for that...usually. You should have a permit, no matter WHAT you are shooting. Even porn. Most of the time you can say, "we have been issues permits and have complete approval from the authorities, and as soon as you stop yelling, we can get this shot and be gone in 1 minute, would you like to watch?" can shut up a lot of people. Also, "I'm really sorry, let me get my producer to fix this" can get you five minutes of respite.

Finally, I learned something about 15 years ago at Lincoln Center- when someone tells you, "you can't do that", you can often do it and be gone before the cops arrive. But you have to have the "5 O'clock news" mindset. It doesn't include running, but it DOES include filming the complainer and asking them, in their face, why they'd challenge a group of broadcasters (or documentary filmmakers) who have permits and proper licenses to do what they are doing...even if they don't.

Hope this helps-

JvB

[Kyle S]

you guys could have been a bunch of dopers out there for all he(jerk) knows.

[wyndrock]

I'm a first year film student. I know nothing. ..but, I'm always required to put together a complete pre-production package before we take any gear to a location, for any reason, including, but absolutely not limited to release forms, permits, insurance, right of way agreements..etc. Along-side the artistic pre-production items. There's absolutely no reason to show up on-location unless this is taken care of.

I would seriously recommend against working with this filmmaker in the future. If you have to work this way, for any reason, in the future, then hire two majorly sexy and charming production assistants, one from each sex, who's sole reason for living is to hold off angry old people and other a-holes.

Your executive producer's job is to take care of the paperwork and releases and what-not. Always make sure this person is competent. If not, then don't agree to the job.

Law enforcement agencies are starting to look at guerrilla filmmakers as a problem group, and in some instances a serious security threat. Cops carry guns and tasers. The idea of getting a viable chance for them to use these implements gives them serious wood. I don't want any part of it... lol.

[Ozpeter]

The title (rather than the actual discussion) reminds me of the time that I was recording a classical concert in a church - it was packed just before the scheduled start time - suddenly I could hear pandemonium in the church, and when I went out from the vestry, I saw that a vagrant had run amok with a knife and stabbed several people in the audience. I quickly found myself holding a cloth over a young woman's wounds while the ambulances arrived - and of course the police came in quantity, detained the whole audience, and questioned every one before they were allowed to leave - took at least the length of time that the concert would have done, and was rather less entertaining.

Fortunately those injured were out of hospital in a few days. Could have been much worse.

Next day I got a phone call from the promoter's office offering trauma counseling at their expense if I needed it. (I didn't - that kind of thing is all in a day's work for a location recording engineer!). Good people.

The concert was rescheduled for a couple of months later - and there were burly security guards on the door.

Woman jailed for church stabbings - www.theage.com.au