If someone is easily and immediately recognisable in an advert you need a release form. The actual wording refers to someone "endorsing, or appearing to endorse"" a product but it's generally held that appearing in an advert is a form of endorsement. I would suggest that a time-lapse where someone is only on screen for one frame, or a small face in a huge crowd, that a release form is not necessary because they are not "easily and immediately recognisable" but that's only my opinion.

In any other form of filmaking you can time-lapse and film crowds to your heart's content but commercials have their own set of legislation and, of course, are also regulated quite strictly by various bodies.

Ok I will make up a release form to have, but would I still need it, even if I got their verbal consent?

^^^ Verbal consent in this case would be worth nothing to you - and what if they chage thier mind - you would have no record of thier consent.

If I am filming something I think just might have a chance of going further than my web site / you tube I always get releases - quite fun on a frantic vox pop outing !

Even places like ' 4 docs ' for non profit auteur produced films insists in releases.

The release forms ensure that you are abole to diffuse this film in any ways you may want to.

Any putative broadcasters will may ask if you have them.

I have attatched my std release form if you want to use any of it. ( the pics on it are not on all the forms.... lolos )

Attached Images

releease form.jpg (185.8 KB, 7 views)

I must admit you have a nice consent form. Attached is the one I made up.

Attached Files

release form.doc (29.5 KB, 2 views)

It's kind of essential to film people if you're doing a coffee shop commercial - an empty shop will look damn weird. I would ask the owner to get all his mates in for a few hours to fill the place up. Let them know what it's for and ply them with freebies.

Film for an hour or two - that time'll help people get relaxed. Don't include any shots of people looking at the camera. Watch out for your shadow across them. Watch out that you're not reflected in any mirrors on the walls or off anything shiny.

You'll be surprised how long 30 seconds is - you can get an awful lot in in that time, believe me. As I said though - the trick will be to make it look unrushed.

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Crane operators use powered heads....

Get a crane on your shoot...

I didn't even think about the mirror refection, thank you.

With all due respect, do you really think you are ready to set up a video business?

Please realise I'm not trying to dampen your enthusism - quite the opposite. I'm trying to help you to avoid becoming disillusioned after either or both:

(a) delivering product your clients aren't happy with and don't pay for (and maybe spread bad publicity)

(b) spotting problems before delivery but when it's too late to fix it properly.

These sort of things aren't difficult to learn, but there seems to be an almost limitless number of "gotchas". And by far the best way to find these out is to make films. But you really need to do this on your own time before you start running the risk of disappointing clients (and yourself).

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Tim

So you are saying that you are perfect and flawless in all of your videos?
Even the biggest hollywood made movies make mistakes of having cameras shown in the videos, shadows, etc.

While I respect your opinion, you can't say that I am a beginner and can't produce a quality video. Nor can I say you can't. I would like to give it a shot and try it out and see what happens. I am not going to take a 5 minute video and try to finish it up in 24 hours. Like my coffee shop 30 second commercial, I'll take a week and fine detail it and make sure it looks good and keep tweaking it until I am happy with the results.

Oh dear - someone else who can't handle a bit of constructive advice

Considering I said "I respect your opinion" means I can't handle the advice? Actually read before you comment.