Film making backlash

[wordmier]

We recently were asked to remove a video from our Youtube site. and One of us lost our job because of one of our videos.

We were wondering if anybody else has ever had any negative backlash over a film they've made.


Wordmier

TD and C Entertainment
Youtube.com/TDandC

[punkandska66]

Is that even possible? Unless you're video showed you doing illegal stuff in it, can they take you're job away? Whatever it is, it's incredibly stupid methinks. We haven't had any bad things happen to us cause of movies, except maybe someone saying "That movie sucked" or something.

[Flamekebab]

We had some trouble over some stuff we filmed but several copies of the footage are still online. We filmed speeches made by student union presidential candidates and one of them wanted the footage taken down. We pulled the footage from YouTube after she persistently whined on and on but it's still available on my personal BlipTV account.

Due to the way Scottish law functions, at least from what I've read, she doesn't have a leg to stand on in terms of forcing me to do anything. She was under the impression that I needed her consent or something. Up here, much like there's no trespassing law, I don't need her consent to film her. Especially given that it was a public speech.

As it happens, she won, although I can't say her campaign's conduct improved following that incident.

Our funding hasn't been pulled though, so we soldier on!

[chainedflesh]

Send me the film. I'll post it on youtube. That way she can't touch you in any way, shape or form. And it would be impossible for her to touch me... I'll just add a news commentary to the start of the video and the first ammendment will cover my rear end.

If you took it down to be respectful of her, I understand. But if you took it down because you were forced to is another matter entirely. It is the sort of thing that makes my blood boil.

[Jier]

Is that even possible? Unless you're video showed you doing illegal stuff in it, can they take you're job away? Whatever it is, it's incredibly stupid methinks. We haven't had any bad things happen to us cause of movies, except maybe someone saying "That movie sucked" or something.

It's quite possible and it happens. I was just put on probation for 30 days on the Fire Department I volunteer for because of a post I made on my Myspace Friend's only thing.

[greyroompictures]

Wordmier - It all depends on what the video is all about - does the video implicate your friend in some form of misconduct / a sackable offence or does it somehow bringing his employers into disrepute ?

And Jier - sounds a shame, cos you're always making reasoned, well informed comments here about safety so you seem like a sensible bloke...


It does seem like some employers can use the internet to scour through the 'off work' behaviour of their employees though... I heard that a lot of firms will google a name of a potential employee while making a decision on whether to hire or not.

I'm probably never working again! lol

[wordmier]

Is that even possible? Unless you're video showed you doing illegal stuff in it, can they take you're job away?

We were filming in a school and used a gun as part of a sight-gag. As it turns out the school has a ZERO tolerence policy on guns. We componded the mistake by allowing the name of the school to be visible. two and two together. couple of parent complaints and wah-la. NO Job!

It does seem like some employers can use the internet to scour through the 'off work' behaviour of their employees though... I heard that a lot of firms will google a name of a potential employee while making a decision on whether to hire or not.

While it may be happening we spoke to a lawyer and a couple of folks we know who work in HR. They said as long as what you do isn't illeagl or illicit. it's none of thier(the company's) business and not an evaluation on past work performance.

We used a loacation too close to our work source. MISTAKE. but thought we were cool because we got the head honcho's okay to make it. then same person gave it a thumbs up after he seen it. Then politics and paranoia got involved.

In the end not only did we have to pull our 8 minute film which we spent almost 3 weeks on. But the parent of one of our actors (we use our nieces to help out sometimes) got freaked out by this incident and once again paranoia took over and asked us to pull all videos with her child in it. which not only removed 3 more films from our Youtube site but canned 3 other projects that were half completed.

So another question. Would a blow this big make you stop film making or just make you more careful?

TD and C Entertainment
Where the Cheese is good!
www.youtube.com/tdandc (http://www.youtube.com/tdandc)

[jpeenut]

It's up to you, i would just be more careful, nothing would stop me from film making.

[sanftner2003]

It was kinda dumb to even bring a fake fun to school in the first place.

But, I prob wouldnt have taken it down. I would probably have just edited out the name of the school and etc.

[Fisherking]

You bought a gun to a school without okaying it with the administration? Professional moron, or just a gifted amateur?

I'm not surprised you lost your goddamned job. What the hell were you thinking?

[Kaygee]

I have to side with the previous two. You're surprised that a school has a zero tolerance policy on guns?!

[IdealistProductions]

Lets imagine me being the superintendent of that school. I walk into my school one day, and I see someone in there holding a gun and a camera.

You really think that would make me happy?

Even if your filming, and the gun was fake, people would still treat it as a real gun and do whatever to protect them.

I think you were fired more over stupidity, not having the gun in the school.

[wordmier]

You bought a gun to a school without okaying it with the administration? Professional moron, or just a gifted amateur?

I'm not surprised you lost your goddamned job. What the hell were you thinking?

We did get it okayed, but Thanks for name calling.


Wordmier

[wordmier]

I have to side with the previous two. You're surprised that a school has a zero tolerance policy on guns?!


wasn't surpirised at the policy. Surprised that that the administration that okayed the script, the storyboard and the final cut were the same people who told us 3 months later we were in violation of the policy.

Oh and as a side note you've never seen any movie with guns in a school?

Wordmier

[wordmier]

Lets imagine me being the superintendent of that school. I walk into my school one day, and I see someone in there holding a gun and a camera.

You really think that would make me happy?

Even if your filming, and the gun was fake, people would still treat it as a real gun and do whatever to protect them.

I think you were fired more over stupidity, not having the gun in the school.


Well since it was the superindendant that okayed it, yeah I would. Also this was not filmed during school operating hours or even during the school year. there are NO students involved.

[Mattageddon]

Oh and as a side note you've never seen any movie with guns in a school?


I did it. Toy guns... painted black. Had to keep the packages and the orange tips. Also had to get them cleared by the schools security.

[greyroompictures]

On the surface, it seems like a no brainer: guns in school... zero tolerance = bad call

However, if you got permission to film (and the right people at the school were aware of the script) and someone in charge approved the edit after, then it seems really unfair for there to be any comeback - especially to lose a job over the incident...

Did you get any evidence of conversations where the script/edit was given the OK ?

[SyxxGage]

Were all these permissions given verbally, or do you have any signed documentation to back it up? Always have everything in writing just to cover your own ass.

[jugglingfreak]

That kind of thing happens to pros too. George Lucas originally had permission and everything to film "American Graffiti" in San Rafael. The city decided to kick out the cast and crew after 1 day because production was disrupting local businesses..

He had to scramble to find a new location..

[wordmier]

Got permissions verbally.
I know my mistake but this was our first large(r) scale production that was done on location. We were giddy and more worried about getting in and out before major summer work began at the school and we would not have the spaces to shoot in.

Oh well live and learn.

Thanks for advice and comments.

Check us out.

TD and C Entertainment.
Youtube.com/TDandC

[Indymoguler]

dont you read the education guides??? NO GUNS :)
lol at least not in school

[WesScog]

Got permissions verbally.

That's a problem, remember everybody you get EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING. In writing.

[hayden]

I made a video with my friend with some guns and a person getting shot. It was on my property and no rules or laws were broken, however I did not know my friends mom was a nazi when it came to any sort of guns and violence, and immediately freaked out when she saw the video. She demanded it to be taken down and that I couldn't make movies with him again :(