Filming permits are permits issued by

governments A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a m ...

to allow the

filming Cinematography () is the art of motion picture (and more recently, electronic video camera) photography. Cinematographers use a lens to focus reflected light from objects into a real image that is transferred to some image sensor or light-s ...

motion picture A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, since ...

s. Every city and state has some sort of council or office that handles filming permits.Jolliffe, Genevieve; Zinnes, Andrew (2006). ''The Documentary Film Makers Handbook: A Guerilla Guide.'' Continuum International Publishing Group, Obtaining film permits is part of the process of

location scouting Location scouting is a vital process in the pre-production stage of filmmaking and commercial photography. Once scriptwriters, producers or directors have decided what general kind of scenery they require for the various parts of their work ...

, and they are usually the responsibility of the

location manager The location manager is a member of the film crew responsible for finding and securing locations to be used, obtaining all fire, police and other governmental permits, and coordinating the logistics for the production to complete its work. They a ...

. Permits are issued prior to the shooting with details about location, date, time, equipment, personnel, special effects, actions and stunts. The process of applying for filming permits may include fees and often requires

production insurance "Below-the-line" is a term derived from the top sheet of a film budget for motion pictures, television programs, industrial films, independent films, student films and documentaries as well as commercials. The "line" in "below-the-line" refers t ...

. Sometimes this process is handled directly by the city, and sometimes it is handled by a non-profit organization such as FilmLA in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. In addition, each state may have its own permitting commission for state land. The process of film permitting can often make it difficult for

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

and amateur filmmakers. Filming in large cities is generally more tightly controlled. Less populated areas may waive fees or have looser requirements and regulations, either because filming is less frequent, or because they hope to attract more production.Clevé, Bastian (2006). ''Film Production Management.'' Taylor & Francis US, In their email request, the film company should specify the type and working title of the project (movie, TV series, commercial, music video) and list the locations selected, as well as the day, time and exact street location that needs to be covered, plus a detailed description of the film crew's activities at that time. It is also necessary to specify how many people are in the team, what vehicles they will arrive in and where they intend to set them up, whether they have a crane, trailers, cargo vans or a generator, and where the main production base is located. In addition, the movie office will want to know the future locations of cameras, spotlights and "no parking" signs, as well as whether and what kind of pyrotechnics will be used (gunshots, explosions, smoke, sparks or any other type of fire), as law enforcement and local residents must be notified about such things. It costs money to go through the process of requesting and issuing a permit to film, any changes to the plan will also require additional fees, as will the possible hiring of police officers to keep order and manage traffic congestion - and that's not counting the basic amount the movie company will pay the city. Depending on where the shooting takes place, the community may need to be notified. Notices should be pasted near phone booths in apartment buildings. This should be done approximately 72–96 hours before the first shooting day begins. Usually, permission for filming must be granted at least 48 hours in advance, as the authorities must have time to inform the police about the need for possible street closures, remove parked cars from the roadside and organize traffic diversion.

References

Filmmaking {{filmmaking-stub