Not An Alternative

Protect Film/Photo in NYC: Brainstorm/prop-making at The Change You Want To See

Posted July 17th, 2007 by surplus

Please join us this Thursday, July 19th for a brainstorm and planning session to coordinate a creative response to proposed regulations by the Mayor’s Office of Theater, Film, and Broadcasting.

Introduced quietly just before Memorial Day weekend, the regulations could severely restrict the ability of even casual photographers and filmmakers to operate in New York City. A group of two or more people who want to use a camera in a single public location for more than a half hour (including setup and breakdown time) could be required to get a city permit and $1 million in liability insurance. According to the NY Civil Liberties Union, “these regulations violate the First Amendment right to photograph in public places, and open the door to selective and discriminatory enforcement.” See links for more information below.

This Thursday members of the film/photography/activist/etc communities will come together to brainstorm ideas for creative actions to take place before the close of the public comment period on August 3rd. Beers, beverages, snacks encouraged.

On Sunday, arts organization Not An Alternative will host a day of props production to produce visuals for a demonstration against the regulations.

Hope to see you there,

Jem Cohen, Astra Taylor, Beka Economopoulos, and Julie Talen

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Thursday, July 19, 7pm – 9pm
Brainstorm and Planning Session

Sunday, July 22, 1pm-6pm
Props Production and Art-Making

WHERE:
The Change You Want To See Gallery and Convergence Stage
http://www.thechangeyouwanttosee.org
84 Havemeyer St., at Metropolitan Ave Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211
Directions: http://www.hopstop.com

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SAVE THE DATE:
Friday, July 27th, 6:30 pm

Union Square
Rally for the 1st Amendment

People are invited to turn out to make a statement about New York City’s laws and regulations regarding filming, shouting, biking, parading, and dancing.

Click To Play

Video: Flux Rostrum

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Original NYTimes article: http://tinyurl.com/2scoog
PDF of the proposed changes: http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/downloads/pdf/moftb_permit_regs.pdf
NYCLU Response: http://www.nyclu.org/nyc_photo_permits_pr_062807.html

Excerpted from an email by artist and filmmaker Jem Cohen:

The Mayor’s Office of Film deals primarily with big film shoots (ie. commercials, features, t.v.) where permits and insurance are, understandably, a given. However, many photographers and filmmakers carry on an equally vital tradition in which spontaneous documentation of the urban environment is at the very heart of our work. Being a street photographer often means standing in a random location and waiting: for the right activity, the right light, the break in the traffic; the countless other unpredictable factors that need to fall into place to make a shot worthwhile…

Permits would have to be obtained for specific dates and times and exact locations, and the insurance would be out of reach for many individuals. The fact is that we simply CANNOT predict where, when, and how long we are going to film or photograph; we CANNOT afford expensive liability insurance policies; we occasionally NEED to work with other people or to use tripods to support our gear. (The regulations would, for example, effectively rule out a great deal of time-lapse photography which depends on tripods and cannot possibly be done with time limitations of 10 to 30 minutes, as well as the use of large format still cameras and long lenses).

Especially in the current climate, official clarification of photographer’s rights could be a positive thing. (Many of us have been shut down by police or other authorities who do not seem to understand that we DO have rights to film and photograph in public places). That said, if these regulations go through, it would invite if not require police to harass or shut down both professional artists and amateurs.

Unfortunately, I believe that we must see the proposed regulations not only as a blow against New York as a city that welcomes and inspires art-making (and historical documentation), but as part of a continuum of broader attacks against civil liberties and free expression.

Please contact the following person immediately and express your concerns:
Julianne Cho
Associate Commissioner Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting
1697 Broadway New York, NY 10019
jcho@film.nyc.gov
ph: 212.489.6710
fax: 212.307.6237

You may also wish to contact the Mayor’s office.

Thanks in large part to the extraordinary work of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and NYCLU (New York Civil Liberties Union) many proposed restrictions of our rights, such as the previously threatened ban on subway photography, have been modified or rejected altogether. Please support these organizations:

http://www.aclu.org
http://www.nyclu.org

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Jem Cohen
www.jemcohenfilms.com