Do I need release forms for "streeters" at DVinfo.net

Victor Kellar · September 4th, 2014, 10:22 PM

I recently shot a small documentary, I have releases for all principles involved. We shot much of the footage at a public event and order to provide context and background I shot a bunch of streeters, man on the street interviews. Do I need a release form for each one of these little interviews

I am in Canada

Brian Drysdale · September 7th, 2014, 11:36 AM

Where ever possible you should get release forms signed, it's standard practice on everything apart from news. I know production people who get worried if they haven't signed everyone off, it gives confirmation to any broadcaster etc who buys it that everything has been cleared.

You do get individuals who refuse. one well known paramilitary here always refused to sign, but it was thought unlikely he would sue, because he was maintaining his image.

Andrew Kimery · September 7th, 2014, 08:05 PM

Not sure about Canada's laws, but in the U.S. we get release forms signed by anybody prominently featured on camera. That includes on the fly/man on the street interviews and even broll if we are obviously focusing on select individuals.

Dylan Couper · September 17th, 2014, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor Kellar

I recently shot a small documentary, I have releases for all principles involved. We shot much of the footage at a public event and order to provide context and background I shot a bunch of streeters, man on the street interviews. Do I need a release form for each one of these little interviews

I am in Canada

Picture this... The pres of the Ceeb sees your small doc at a festival and loves it, wants to run it nation wide. They write you a cheque for $2,000,000 and give you season Leafs seats. Allll they need is for their legal department to clear it. They ask to see all your paperwork to cover their butts. No release forms for all those interviews that really tied the whole doc together? Uh oh! Sorry, deal flatlines. Maybe re-shoot the interviews again with new people, show it to them again, ah too late they've got something else in mind now.
Poof.

Always get releases whether you think you need them or not. It's the right way to do it.

Denis Danatzko · November 22nd, 2014, 06:45 PM

What about "camera lice", i.e. those folks who you don't want in the shot but position themselves behind the subject just to be in the video, even though they have no idea where it's destined, or that they may well be forcing a re-shoot?

September 4th, 2014, 10:22 PM	#1
Victor Kellar Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 239	Do I need release forms for "streeters" I recently shot a small documentary, I have releases for all principles involved. We shot much of the footage at a public event and order to provide context and background I shot a bunch of streeters, man on the street interviews. Do I need a release form for each one of these little interviews I am in Canada

September 7th, 2014, 11:36 AM	#2
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Do I need release forms for "streeters" Where ever possible you should get release forms signed, it's standard practice on everything apart from news. I know production people who get worried if they haven't signed everyone off, it gives confirmation to any broadcaster etc who buys it that everything has been cleared. You do get individuals who refuse. one well known paramilitary here always refused to sign, but it was thought unlikely he would sue, because he was maintaining his image.

September 7th, 2014, 08:05 PM	#3
Andrew Kimery Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 352	Re: Do I need release forms for "streeters" Not sure about Canada's laws, but in the U.S. we get release forms signed by anybody prominently featured on camera. That includes on the fly/man on the street interviews and even broll if we are obviously focusing on select individuals.

November 22nd, 2014, 06:45 PM	#5
Denis Danatzko Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NYC Metro area Posts: 579	Re: Do I need release forms for "streeters" What about "camera lice", i.e. those folks who you don't want in the shot but position themselves behind the subject just to be in the video, even though they have no idea where it's destined, or that they may well be forcing a re-shoot? __________________ Denis ------------ Our actions are based on our own experience and knowledge. Thus, no one is ever totally right, nor totally wrong. We simply act from what we "know" to be true, based on that experience and knowledge. Beyond that, we pose questions to others.