On this page
How to use it
- Fill in the owner, the property's full address and your company.
- Write the dates, hours and the areas included and left out.
- Agree the fee and the overtime rate, and when they are paid.
- Note the insurance you carry and the site rules.
- Have someone with authority sign before the shoot, and keep a copy with the job.
What each clause covers
| Clause | Why it is there | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | Dates, hours and areas, so nobody is surprised | Load in and load out times count |
| Use of the recordings | You can show the place, its name and its signs | A brand that asks to approve the film |
| Fee | Agreed in writing, with overtime | Cash on the day needs a receipt |
| Care of the property | You fix what you break | Take photos of the place when you arrive |
| Insurance | Many venues ask for a certificate | Ask your insurer early, it can take days |
| Rules on site | Parking, noise, power | A neighbor's driveway is not parking |
| Authority | The signer can really say yes | A tenant may not be able to sign for a landlord |
Who should sign
Find out who can say yes. A store manager may not be able to sign for the company that owns the building, and a renter may need the landlord. For a public street, park or beach, the permission usually comes from the city or the park authority as a film permit, and that is a separate process with its own fees and rules.
The worked example
The sample is the Coastal Realty shoot at a marina: the dock, the clubhouse deck and a parking lot for half a day, at $375, with $100 an hour if the shoot runs over, and a certificate of insurance before the day. The private slips and the fuel dock are left out, so the crew knows where not to go and the marina knows what it agreed to.
How Cutvey does this
In Cutvey a location is part of the project's Plan, with its address, photos and shoot days. A location release goes out by link or is signed on a tablet in Signing mode, and lands in the project's release register. Your own insurance policies sit in the workspace with expiry alerts, so the certificate a venue asks for is easy to find. How releases work.
Frequently asked
Do I need a location release for a client's own office?
Yes, as a rule, though it can be a clause in your contract saying the client gives permission to film its premises. Make sure it is in writing somewhere.
What about recognizable buildings in the background?
That is usually a different question from a location release, and it depends on where you are and how you use the footage. Ask your lawyer if a building is central to a commercial.
Is a film permit the same thing?
No. A permit is from a public authority for public places. A release is from a private owner for private property. Some shoots need both.
Goes with this stage of a job: Plan the shoot. More free paperwork on the templates page, and free tools that work in your browser.