NYC Clamps Down on the Tiniest Film Crews
As you may have heard, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting is proposing some strict new rules (actually, they claim they’re codifying existing rules) on permit requirements for very small film shoots. The proposed rules require permits for shoots with a handheld camera that last more than 30 minutes or those with a tripod that last more than 10 minutes. They also require that anyone obtaining a permit obtain a minimum of $1 million in film liability insurance.
Lots of folks are up in arms about this (and with good reason), from the New York Civil Liberties Union to the National Coalition Against Censorship to smallish arts groups like EYEBEAM.
Since Fractured Atlas is by far the leading provider of low-cost liability insurance for film shoots, we’d stand to benefit enormously from this rule passing. Nonetheless, in good conscience we’ve got to oppose it.
There’s no question the city needs rules and guidelines on permits and that you want people who bring heavy duty film equipment into public places to have insurance, but the proposed thresholds are crazy. They’d impact lots and lots of people who should be outside the scope of a rule like this, including tourists, independent photographers, and amateur or student filmmakers.
A few groups have set up mechanisms for protesting the proposed rules, in which I encourage you to participate:
I’ll add more as I learn of them.
Tags: censorship, film, nyc
