Media Law: Our Video Production Company Saves You From Legal Headaches

When it comes to film and video production you’re better off to play it safe by covering all your bases surrounding media law. If you don’t want to get sued and if you’re smarter than a 5th grader, you realize you can’t just set-up production in a park and film passersby to save on paying for actors.

First of all, you might need a permit (depending on the size of the production). Check your city’s website and read through the section on “filming” to inquire about permits and to ensure you are adhering to the law. Depending on your production’s power requirements (for lighting), you may also need an electrical permit prior to filming. To be eligible to receive one, the City of Vancouver, for instance, requires that the production company holds “a valid electrical qualification certificate issued by the Chief Electrical Inspector of BC and a valid Business License.”

Secondly, you must obtain a signed performer release form from anyone that is recognizable in your shots. The form should include (among other things), the producer’s rights, performer expectations and copyright information. Look for sample releases on the internet to get you started. It is especially important to obtain such legal documentation if employees are filmed. If an employee goes on-camera without signing a release form and later leaves or is fired from the company, s/he can legally demand his or her image be removed from the video — a costly process that could render the film unusable.

Whether your production is a television commercial, industrial or corporate video, or even a web video, meeting these requirements can save your production potential city fines and possible invasion of privacy lawsuits. To prevent headaches, make sure you hire a production company that is aware of the production’s legal obligations — one that prevents you from facing any legal issues down the road.

In addition to performer release forms, Philip Miller, author of Media Law for Producers, advises the use of audience and location release forms if necessary. These documents grant you permission to include audience members in your film or video and give you the right to film in private areas, such as restaurants and hotels. If you fail to fill out these papers, Miller warns you risk being charged for trespassing and invading a person’s privacy.

Our professional video production company is well-versed in media law and our industry best practice could save your project time and money in the long run. View testimonials to see what past clients have said about our services and experienced staff.