Independent Artists Lead Fight Against Proposed NYC Regs Limiting Filming, Photography...

[babylonsister]

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/02/1455217

Independent Artists Lead Fight Against Proposed New York City Regulations Limiting Filming, Photography in Public Places


The Mayor's office of Film, Theater, and Broadcasting is considering new permit and insurance regulations for photographers and filmmakers that would radically undermine the First Amendment right to photograph and film in public places. If passed they would have harsh consequences for independent and low-budget photographers, filmmakers, journalists, artists, students, tourists, amateurs, and really, anyone with a still or video camera and a sense of curiosity about New York city. We’re joined by three guests: Beka Economopoulos from the coalition Picture New York, Christopher Dunn from the New York Civil Liberties Union, and independent filmmaker Jem Cohen. Now we turn to New York City, the most photographed city in the world. The Mayor's office of Film, Theater, and Broadcasting is considering new permit and insurance regulations for photographers and filmmakers that would radically undermine the First amendment right to photograph and film in public places.

Over two months ago the Mayor's Office quietly proposed a new set of rules that went largely unnoticed until a few weeks ago. If passed, they would have harsh consequences for independent and low-budget photographers, filmmakers, journalists, artists, students, tourists, amateurs, and really anyone with a still or video camera and a sense of curiosity about New York City.

Under the new rules, any filming or photography involving “an interaction among two or more people at a single site for thirty or more minutes, including all set up and breakdown time” would have to obtain a permit and one million dollars in insurance. The permit and insurance regulations would also apply to any “interaction among five or more people” using a tripod for more than ten minutes at a single location.

The New York Civil Liberties Union described these two requirements as “unreasonable, unlawful, and unenforceable” and urged the Mayor's Office to eliminate them. After pressure from the NYCLU, Julianne Cho, the assistant commissioner at the Mayor's Office, agreed to extend the period for public comment on these rules until tomorrow, Friday, August 3rd.

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[pschoeb]

1. So you'd have to get a permit to take pictures at your family picnic in Central Park?

filming or photography involving “an interaction among two or more people at a single site for thirty or more minutes, including all set up and breakdown time” would have to obtain a permit and one million dollars in insurance.

Nothing like spending a couple hundred dollars for a one day, million dollar policy to go on a picnic and be able to take pictures.

[babylonsister]

2. I'm glad the ACLU is fighting this; sounds pretty ridiculous. nt