From finding the best possible location to ensuring good sound and lighting, there’s plenty of work that goes into preparations before letting the camera roll. This is especially true when it comes to filming in public spaces.
While filming in a studio allows for a higher degree of control and security, shooting on the go happens to be much more challenging. There might be permits that you need to obtain in order to shoot at a particular location, and there are also certain laws you need to abide by in order to avoid dealing with legal issues. With that in mind, we’re listing a couple of tips for staying safe and ethical while filming in public spaces that you might find quite useful.
Choose the right location
Depending on the type of content you’ve set out to create and deliver, you’ll want to find the right location for it. Busy streets and other public locations are ideal if you want the content to be more human-focused. For nature-focused content, consider heading to a field, mountain, or other outdoor area that aren’t commonly accessible.
If your plans involve shooting outside an urban setting, you want to make sure you’ve packed all the necessary gear. Lighting and batteries will help you work on your film for longer while also helping you address the lack of electrical outlets while you film in the great outdoors.
Make sure you have the right gear with you
Speaking of gear, you want to plan ahead and bring everything that you might need for filming. Being spontaneous might sound like a good idea in theory, and it can be quite thrilling. However, you never know what might happen, and you need to be ready to address any challenges that arise, so definitely make sure to plan ahead.
If you’re about to film an event where discretion is vital, a smartphone and GoPro might be all you need to. In other instances, you’ll need a more extensive photography and filmmaking gear, such as drones, lighting, video tripod, and plenty of other camera supplies.
Anticipate challenges and find ways to overcome them
Challenges are a part of every filmmaking experience. Filming in public spaces in particular comes with the risk of dangerous encounters you may not have planned or. You may find yourself in the midst of a critical situation, or someone may confront you due to the fact that you’re shooting. When that happens, it pays to have experts from the GSG security team to rely on and prevent dangerous situations from escalating. These professionals will assess the site prior to filming to ensure safety while also identifying potential safety concerns and finding the most cost effective solutions.
Things can go sideways in the blink of an eye, so you want to make sure you anticipate any possible challenges and obstacles in advance and identify the best ways to overcome them and, if possible, prevent them in the first place.
Get informed about local laws and permits
Whether you’re using your smartphone for filmmaking or bringing an entire camera crew, there are certain rules and regulations that need to be followed in order to ensure you do not land yourself in some legal problems. Before even deciding which location you should use for filming, your safest bet would be to gather as much information as possible about local laws and permits regarding filming in public.
Spend some time researching the area, reviewing laws in that particular region, and the types of permits you need to acquire in advance. You’ll also need to inform the neighborhood about your plans to film in that particular area out of respect. Which brings us to our last tip…
Most importantly – be respectful
Before you set out on your filmmaking journey, you need to make sure that you’re not – in any way, shape, or form – disrespecting those around you. Some individuals simply do not want to appear on camera, and you need to respect that.
The safest route you can take is to inform the public that you’re filming in the particular area by placing polite warnings. Always seek consent when you’re unsure about filming people. While you might have the right to film in a public space and are not doing anything unethical, there may be individuals who might ask for the footage to be deleted. In that case, you should go ahead and delete it so as to avoid confrontation and remain respectful.
Keeping things safe and ethical while filming in public spaces
A few simple practices go a long way in making sure you’re filming in a way that is both safe and ethical. While this may involve several extra steps, it will give you the peace of mind you need. This will allow you to focus on your filmmaking journey and inspire you to come up with new ideas and solutions that will help make it better.
