Shooting the Las Vegas Strip.
 

I plan to shoot some video on the strip in my home town Las Vegas, and I see that Paul Tauger has done the same. My question is that if I want to use this video in a profitable way, will I have to get a location release from every hotel/casino that manages its way into my shot? One example, is for a shot of a motercycle driving down the strip. Most of the hotels and stores on the sides of the streets will be recognizable. Will I have to get a release from each hotel? Will I have to blur everyones faces? Do I just need a basic city film permit?

Thanks,
Bryan

It depends. You have two primary concerns, and one minor one. The primary concerns involved trademark and copyright. If there is a likelihood that viewers will believe that the businesses whose trademarks appear in your video either were responsible for, endorsed or in some way are associated with your video, then you'll have a problem. If not, you're okay from a trademark perspective. With respect to copyright, if you include protected expression, you're infringing. However, you'll notice in my video there is a short shot of a Sigfreid & Roy sign -- this sign is, no doubt, protected expression, but I'm fairly comfortable that what I've done would constitute fair use.

The minor concern is commercial disparagement/trade libel. It's easiest to explain by example. If you do a video that uses Caesar's Palace as a backdrop, and it's about a corrupt hotel owner that uses the casino as a front for laundering money, you've committed trade libel. If, however, you do something like mine, which just comments generally on Las Vegas, you'd be okay.

Again, it depends on what you're doing with your video. Anyone in public can be photographed -- it's what you do with the images that's the problem. Many jurisdiction have commercial appropriation of likeness laws (I don't know Nevada's laws). You'd also have to be concerned about false light defamation liability. I've explained this tort here before -- just do a search and you should find it.

You'd have to check with the city. Normally, permits are required for commercial shoots, but a permit doesn't equal a license to include whatever images you want.

Lets say, I wanted to film in a casino, or for my specific case, on top of the stratosphere. I want to get a location release for the location before I shoot there. There's no setup required, I'll just do it hand held and at most, use a tripod. It's only for a few seconds of my short. Who do I contact for the location release. Is it an owner, a manager, a marketing director. Would my best bet be to call an operator and ask them? I don't want to get pushed away by some low level guy with a standard response of, the ___ does not allow any film... blah blah. What would you suggest?

<<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Mitchell : Lets say, I wanted to film in a casino, or for my specific case, on top of the stratosphere. I want to get a location release for the location before I shoot there. There's no setup required, I'll just do it hand held and at most, use a tripod. It's only for a few seconds of my short. Who do I contact for the location release. Is it an owner, a manager, a marketing director. Would my best bet be to call an operator and ask them? I don't want to get pushed away by some low level guy with a standard response of, the ___ does not allow any film... blah blah. What would you suggest? -->>>

Do it all through these guys and they will help you with what you can/can't do and who to deal with at the casinos. DO NOT go around them unless you want to try guerilla style but run the risk of troubles.

Read this and call the right person:
http://www.ci.las-vegas.nv.us/2173.htm

here is the ap:
http://www.ci.las-vegas.nv.us/Files/FilmPermit.pdf

For the required $1,000,000 in general liability inssurance, how much does that usually cost? Do I have to get it per month? Can I get it per day, or week?

Thanks

<<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Mitchell : For the required $1,000,000 in general liability inssurance, how much does that usually cost? Do I have to get it per month? Can I get it per day, or week?

Thanks -->>>

the million dollar thing is very common no mater where you go. talk to insurance agencies and shop around. you can make a deal for your specific needs. the permit people in vegas should be able to recommend a couple local ins folk.

I'll be in Vegas later this week - purely for fun, not for any commercial activities - and am tempted to take my Sony Z1U along. No crew, no professional production, just me trying to capture some images. Looking at a city website, I find the following:

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Apply/...s.asp?ID=5615#
"A film permit is needed to film a commercial, still photo, music video, documentary, motion picture or television show in downtown Las Vegas."

What I want to shoot is neither a commercial, a still photo, a music video, a documentary, a motion picture nor television show, so I wonder if I am good to go (without a permit) or if I should rather take a much smaller camera along.

Anyone ever done this?

- Martin

Film permits here are free.

But you don't "need" them if you don't have a big setup (tripod, or lights). You're not allowed to film from bridges that go over Las Vegas Boulevard, and you're not allowed to film from the islands in the middle of the street. Aside from that, no one is going to bother you like they would in LA.

If you have any questions, it's as easy as contacting the nevada film office. http://www.nevadafilm.com/

They are very friendly and helpful.

Yes. Here's my rules:
-Look like a tourist. (ie, no shoulder mount cameras, boom ops, etc...)
-Don't be a pain in the ass to anyone.
-Don't shoot near gambling machines (this is against the law).

It's true. When I was doing my first short film, I call the police department (who deals with the permits, etc) and the person I talked to told me that unless I have rigging trucks, lighting setups...etc, I don't need a permit. He said that IF an officer tells me that I can't do it (meaning someone complained), then I'll have to move. Otherwise, no reason to get a permit.

That's the summary of what I was told by the police department. It's not word-for-word (I'd need permission for that. haha).

I have filmed events and shorts in Vegas and outlying areas and never had any problems with permits or police. At the events, the police were present but never bothered me about my filming.

However, you'll definitely want to talk to someone in charge (police department, for example) before you actually film something - laws can change. Especially in a city that grows by something around 3000 people (moving here) per month.

Also, unlike some other states that charge huge fees to shoot in their state parks and things like this, I had no problems filming videos at the hoover damn, or at red rock.

Vegas does a lot to encourage the film industry to shoot here.

Fyi
 

The Strip is not really in Las Vegas. It's actually in Clark County, except for Sahara Ave and north (toward the Stratosphere).

It's on Las Vegas blvd. Might as well call it the Vegas strip, then, no?

My point was that the jurisdiction is different. You need permission from Clark County.

Ah. Nevermind. What city is it, though? Isn't that the more important jurisdiction?