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Production Handbook

Film and Mass Media Program at the UCF Nicholson School of Communication and Media

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Production Vehicles

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Overview

When working with motor vehicles, student productions must be mindful of the inherent risks and liabilities involved. The UCF-NSCM Film and Mass Media Program does not provide auto liability, compressive, or collision insurance for vehicles used on student productions. This limits how motor vehicles can be used in media assignments and student productions.

Motor vehicles used to transport equipment, cast, and crew to and from each location are considered a “Production Vehicle.”

Students who wish to use vehicles in front of camera or as camera platforms must adhere the specific safety protocols. Students engaged in any coursework or the production of creative projects must limit their use of Picture Cars to stationary setups that utilize safer Special Effects, Visual Effects, or Virtual Production techniques unless they are approved by the Risk Management Panel to utilize a process that involves moving vehicles.

There are requests that will be considered too risky for a student production to undertake; thus, students should align their expectations with what is collectively deemed reasonable for their experience level, budget, and the program’s learning outcomes.

The university is not liable for any damage to personally owned vehicles or rented / leased vehicles that are used on student productions.

Personal Vehicles

On student productions, personally owned vehicles are commonly used as Production Vehicles. Students are expected to operate their vehicles in a reasonable manner and under their personal auto insurance policy.

If you borrow a vehicle from a friend or family member, be sure to check that it is properly registered and insured by the owner.

Personally-owned vehicles drive by cast and crew members to transport themselves to and from set are not considered production vehicles.

Rented or Leased Vehicles

Students are expected to use an appropriate vehicle to safely transport equipment. Depending on the equipment package for their production, the rental of a cargo van or box truck may be required. Cargo vans are different from passenger vans as they have a distinct cargo area sperated from the front seats by a reinforced wall.

Students who are not able or willing to rent an appropriate vehicle will be required to reduce their equipment package to safely fit into a personal vehicle.

When renting or leasing vehicles, students must acquire the appropriate insurance to cover the use and operation of the vehicle. This is typically accomplished by purchasing additional coverage directly from the vendor you are renting the vehicle from.

Picture Cars

Picture Cars are any motor vehicle, operated by production, that is used in front of camera as part of a scene. They can either be parked as set pieces or be driven by actors and/or stunt drivers during a performance.

Using a personally owned or rented vehicle as a picture car is permissible, but students must be mindful of the inherit risks and liabilities involved. Normal operation of a personal vehicle is covered by a individual auto insurance policy for general use, however, rigging equipment to the inside or outside of their personal vehicle could be considered abnormal operation and outside the scope of their personal auto policy’s coverage.

Students who intend on using Picture Cars in their production must submit an Uninsured Activity Application for review and approval by the Risk Management Panel. Even if it just to get feedback for a non-moving, stationary vehicle to make sure they are filming within safe parameters.

The use of a moving Picture Car is inherently high-risk and requires that a safety meeting be held on each day of production to go over how the work will be completed safely and to solicit safety concerns from the crew.

Insert Camera Cars

Insert Camera Cars AKA Insert Cars or Camera Cars are motor vehicles used by production as a moving platform to rig camera or lighting equipment to in order to film Picture Cars, actors, or background plates. Professional platforms, such as the Shotmaker Camera Car, often have exterior seats and safety harness equipped so that crew can safely operate equipment facing backwards while in motion.

It is extremely important to be harnessed when working on an Insert Car as bumps at high speed can easily eject crew members from the vehicle while in motion or throw them in the event of a collision.

Students are NOT permitted to use an Insert Car as shooting plateform unless they have been approved to do so by the Risk Management Panel. The use of Insert Cars must be supervised by staff and can only performed by qualified operators.

The scheduled use of an Insert Car is inherently high-risk and requires that a safety meeting be held on each day of production to go over how the work will be completed safely and to solicit safety concerns from the crew.

Process Trailers

Process Trailers are traditionally low-profile vehicle transport trailers that Picture Cars are loaded onto and secured. They are typically towed by Insert Cars to simulate driving on actual roadways. The purpose of this is to relocate the responsibility of driving from the actor to the precision driver of the Insert Cars. This also provides additional mounting points to rig camera and lighting equipment around the Picture Car. This enables the Picture Car’s engine to be turned off to to record cleaner sync sound.

The scheduled use of Process Trailers is inherently high-risk and requires that a safety meeting be held on each day to go over how the work will be completed safely and to solicit safety concerns from the crew.

This activity is NOT covered under our general liability and auto insurance policies. Students are not permitted to use Process Trailers unless they have acquired to appropriate insurance rider and have been approved by the Risk Management Panel.

Safety Bulletin

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

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