I'm going to shoot in a public place and need advice

[Chris Anderson]

Ok so in the script I'm writing I'm going to need to shoot a scene with a person buying something I'm thinking in a gas station, something like that. So I need some advice on what do you do when you do that do you tell them they are going to be in a film or do you ask to use the register for a minute?

[Mike Lary]

Ok so in the script I'm writing I'm going to need to shoot a scene with a person buying something I'm thinking in a gas station, something like that. So I need some advice on what do you do when you do that do you tell them they are going to be in a film or do you ask to use the register for a minute?

You can't just walk onto someone else's property and tell them they're going to be in a movie. You need permission. Talk to the manager ahead of time and tell them what you need. Maybe the manager or one of his/her employees would be interested in acting for you. Since they sell things to people all day long, it shouldn't be a stretch for them and they'd probably be more willing to do it that way than have a stranger operating their cash register. You should have the owner sign a property release form if you plan on sharing the film outside of a classroom environment.

[Adrian Sierkowski]

Also I tend to find that the non chains are easier to approach. You'll need permission and be prepared to work at times when the establishment is actually closed and/or slow. it is also rather common that you'll have to pay for someone to be there.. this happens a lot when I shoot in bars; normally on a Sunday, or very late at night, that we wind up paying the hourly rate for the manager to be there to make sure we don't break anything.

it is useful to have someone who works there working the register, but you can also get your character in there too, normally you' should ask for an empty drawer and fill it with your own prop money (e.g stack of paper with a few reel bills on top ;)

 

Good luck and in this case, remember, it's easier to ask permission than forgiveness.. as you never want the cops to show up...