Filming in public? (no not that ;))

Steedie

Steedie

Steedie

Man of Honour
Joined
29 Jun 2004
Posts
21,637
Location
Oxfordshire
Hey guys

For my major project this year, I'm writing a crowd simulation program. For the presentation part, I want some footage of real life crowds, so my question is

Am I allowed to just go down town with a video camera, plonk it on a tripod in a busy spot and film people just walking by. I was thinking usually you have to get peoples permission, but obviously I wont be able to get everyone in towns permission. And the other thing, the whole point is to see how crowds and pedestrians in towns really act and move, if they know they're being filmed it wont be natural

So, does anyone know the do's and dont's of a situation like this?

Cheers in advance
 
Mint_Sauce said:
No idea but no one will see if you're filming from the top of a bridge or parking lot.
Click to expand...

Thats true, I was thinking of doing it from a place high up to get more in view.

But then, what with all the things to do with peadophiles now, I dont wanna seem like I'm trying to do it sneakily and then get chased away by an angry mob
 
Make it hidden so what you see on film is not just a construct of reality due to people knowing they're being filmed, I'd do this by finding a place not on a ground floor.
 
Steedie said:
Thats true, I was thinking of doing it from a place high up to get more in view.

But then, what with all the things to do with peadophiles now, I dont wanna seem like I'm trying to do it sneakily and then get chased away by an angry mob
Click to expand...

try popping to your local police station, tell them what you want to do and ask if that would be alright.

Got the name and number fo the person that says its ok so that if anyone bothers you while filming you can pass his details to them. Or knock up a quick letter of agreement and ask the officer to sign it for you.
 
I dont think you will be allowed to film in children are there, some schools wont let you take a camera to your kids sports day "peado" :mad:
 
I'll definatley try the police idea, definatley sensible and covers my back

See what happens, definatley know I'm gonna get a few dirty looks if parents see me though. Which is a shame it always has to be about that :(
 
RandomTom said:
Make it hidden so what you see on film is not just a construct of reality due to people knowing they're being filmed, I'd do this by finding a place not on a ground floor.
Click to expand...


lol just had to pick up on this, should be PeepinTom not RandomTom ;)

:p lol
 
You are allowed to film, take pictures etc of anyone if they are in a plublic place, even children. There is nothing stopping you filming like that, just don't wear an anorak and sunglasses.. :p
 
They only ask people's permission if it's going on TV.

Think about passers by in photographs/videos, you don't ave to ask them!
 
is it for a final yr uni project?
ask your lecturer/tutor, they should be able to point you in the right direction
 
JRY said:
is it for a final yr uni project?
ask your lecturer/tutor, they should be able to point you in the right direction
Click to expand...

Yeah for my final year project

Trouble is, my project supervisors away on holiday for a couple of weeks during Easter break so cant get hold of him until then, sort of need to get it filmed now.

But if like people said its totally legal unless on TV, then I'll just go ahead and do it \o/
 
think about it

the TV crews do this all the time

just plonk a TV camera in the middle of a shopping precinct and start filming

you telling me everybody who appears in the background of these reports on shopping has given written permission ? just do it i reckon.

you see them "live from bluewater" during christmas all the time etc..
 
Might be worth going with one or two other people as well as standing behind a camera on your own will not only feel dodgy but will look a bit strange as well. We always have groups of students and cameras about in town here.
 
sorry... forgot it was the Easter hols and lecturers are away.
yea.... don't really see any problems with it tbh

sounds like an interesting project m8, good luck with it :)
 
They're in a public area, you're free to film away.

Of course they would have grounds to object if you were standing in their back garden, filming their bedroom window or something.
 
There was a segment on Jeremy Vine's radio 2 show the other week about a guy who had been asked to stop taking photos of his kid playing football in a kids football match by a parent who didn't want her son in the pictures.

They got an experienced lawyer on the show who basically said "if it's in a public place, nobody has any right to stop you taking photos". If they ask you to stop, you don't have to.

The only place anyone can tell someone not to take photos/video is inside a private building.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom