Why you should always ask permission first before filming

We just got kicked out of a location today.

So we go out to are location for our contest entry. It's a group of old abandoned buildings and we were going to be shooting on an old loading dock. And we had been out there a few times and worked a few things out. It was really cool because we could hook up the chains so it looked like we chopped them with our lightsabers and a railing was loose that we could throw each other into and simulate it breaking (hadn't planned on actually doing that one until we filmed it as we didn't actually want to break it *coughrespectforpropertycough*). So we're just walking through talking about where the fight starts, how we go about integrating cool environment interaction smoothly, not even doing any fighting, just holding our props, showing ideas for moves against air, doing nothing really.

Then this guy comes out just walking toward us. We thought he was coming to kick us off, then it looked like he was walking by and we waved, said a friendly hello, then continued our nerd conversation about EpIII as we just walked around. Then suddenly there he comes around the corner. He starts asking us what we're doing. We explained it was a film project but of course we had no camera because we were just planning He starts getting kinda anal about it and we're just kinda saying Okay, sorry we didn't know, we can leave. And he just keeps going on about it.

So we go back to the car and he's still standing there, with someone else coming behind him. We're getting in and this other guy comes in a pick-up and starts b****ing us out and we're thourouly annoyed because we're peacefully doing what they asked with no resistance and they're still yelling at us! And what was funny was this guy couldn't drive the manual very good and he starts rolling down the hill, still yelling at us.

So we decided on another location that I feel is alot cooler. And we got the bulk of our new fight worked out now and yeah, you can read this part in the contest thread...

 

Reminds me of some troubles we had with a disgruntled janitor at the school we filmed MS2 at. Even though we had permission he tried to kick us out just about every time we filmed there, but we had the permission from the principal so we always would throw that in his face.

 

My story isn't exciting but it does have an upbeat ending I guess... Early on during the production of my film 'Moonlit Reich' I had to shoot a quick scene of the two lead villians in a NZ (dare I say it? Bah! It's not a fanfilm...) forest firing on the locals they are at war with. I was meant to have the SS Officer firing his side-arm into the darkness while the Em, panning his MP40, did the same. It was a real small shot which wouldn't have taken long at all, but for the Police it was a problem.

Weeks before the shoot I contacted the Police (In person, by phone is stupid!) about the possibility of having permission, they said 'no problem'. Next was the local council who said the same, so all was going well until... On the morning of the shoot I went to the Police to remind them I was shooting and to give them my cell number so we could be contacted. It only so happens the Constable on the desk is interested in firearms, so he asks what props we're using - I go and get the prop MP40 (Which is a full metal replica but not a real gun...) to show him. He takes one look at it and says 'This is a real gun, even though it's de-activated you're still not allowed to have it!' I told him where I hired it from - a reputable armourer in NZ's film industry. But they wouldn't have a word of it, in short they confiscated it and were about to begin prosecuting the armourer when the head arms office in Auckland, NZ told them it was in fact a replica (!?!) I guess they needed new glasses... Even though I lost the day (and the gun!) I laughed it off... At least the Police had the general public's interest in mind.

The funny thing is though that after all the fuss made over a replica I still got permission from the Police and the regional and local councils to shut down a bridge in a park for my next (and largest shoot) AND have the actors playing the German forces fire blanks in thier rifles... So all's well that ends well. 6 live firing rifles are still safer than one extremely life-like MP40 replica. :/

The locals loved it and some even made the trek down to watch as they had seen the flyers (another good idea along with door knocking) I had posted a day earlier. I actually got a shock when two elderly woman approached us and clicked their heels and saluted - 'Heil Hitler!' It was meant to be a joke, but we didn't get it.

EDIT: Here are some stills from the bridge shoot-

http://img49.exs.cx/img49/5311/Bummer.jpg
http://img63.exs.cx/img63/1063/RealREALguns.jpg

'A farming family tries to unravel an ongoing plot of German espionage on the shores of New Zealand during the final months of WWII before an invasion by history's greatest villians is ensured!'

 

My story isn't exciting but it does have an upbeat ending I guess

Are you kidding? That was one of the coolest things I've read all day!

 

lol

I posted some links to pics taken on the day...

EDIT: I should say I'm all for guerilla film-making but I'm just too anal to do it. I have to have everything perfect if it's in my control.

It's the actual process of film-making that I love the most: pre-production, production and post. They are all so cool.

 

wow! That second photo you posted looks bloody awsome!

 

Ken, dirty those uniforms up a bit..they are to clean.

 

Old lady thought we had real guns. Kinda the same.