Moving Vehicles

Overview

Moving vehicles while filming will be permitted only in strictly limited circumstances if certain safety criteria are met. Approval by the Risk Management Panel is required for any moving vehicle shots with the exception of situations below.

The use of any type of motor vehicle for production is not covered by school’s production insurance without obtaining an additional rider and adding the vehicles and drivers to the policy schedule.

B-Roll & Background Plates

Any filming from a vehicle, for drive-by B-roll, must be done by a camera operator that is seated in a factory seat within the vehicle and buckled in with a factory seat belt. The driver of the moving vehicle shall not be directed in any way by the director or camera operator, so that they are able to drive as they normally would.

Students are permitted to shoot background plates for upcoming VFX work if they are using their own personal vehicle, the driver of the vehicle is not directly involved in the photography and can solely focus on the road. The driver and the camera operator must be sitting in a factory seat within the vehicle and buckled in with a factory seat belt. The camera cannot be obstructing the view of the driver or be rigged into the interior or exterior of the vehicle. It must be handheld by the camera operator who is seat as a passenger.

Traffic laws must be obeyed at all times.

Documentary Interview

Documentary filming of an interview while the interview subject is driving their own vehicle is permitted if the camera operator is seated in a factory seat within the vehicle and buckled in with a factory seat belt. The director or camera operator are not directing the driver of the car in any way, besides engaging in a conversation in which the driver has been informed not to look at the camera or the interviewer at all during the interview.

Traffic laws must be obeyed at all times.

Restrictions

Filming scripted scenes with directed, actor performances on public roadways without obtaining the proper insurance, permits, and, if required, police road closures or escorts is prohibited. Additionally, operating a vehicle while filming on public roadways without a permit is a potential violation of the Florida State Uniform Traffic Control code. This is especially true if the driver is distracted while engaged in a performance, if their view is obstructed by production equipment, if equipment is rigged to interior or exterior of the vehicle, or if passengers are not properly belted into seats.

Video monitors inside vehicles are not permitted while vehicles are in motion, as they are considered a potential distritraction.

Filming from the cargo area of trucks, or other vehicles, or from any position that is not secured by a seat belt, is dangerous and is not permitted under any circumstances.

Safety Bulletin

Students should also familiarize themselves with the guidelines in the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee’s following Safety Bulletins:

• Safety Bulletin #37 – Vehicle Restraint Systems – Seat Belts & Harnesses
• Safety Bulletin #43 – Recommended Guidelines for Free Driving

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