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Viewpoint: Proposed film ordinance is too restrictive

May 11, 2015
/ Craig Meadows
/ government

The City of Pensacola is about to consider an ordinance requiring all commercial photographers and video producers to obtain a permit to shoot on public land within city limits. [caption id="attachment_23194" align="alignright" width="300"]

Craig Meadows[/caption] Permits should be required for large scale productions with crews in the dozens, street closures and public safety and security concerns, like you might find on a feature film Hollywood style set. I applaud the city for reaching out to those entities and the economic impact they will bring. Unfortunately the proposed ordinance is so broad and naive in nature at the moment that it could impact those of us who quite frequently, by ourselves or with a very small crew, need to get shots downtown, along the bay front, etc. How you timely enable and enforce such an ordinance without impeding local businesses that rely on local advertising agencies and production companies needs to be addressed. Florida Production Group, Inc., has held a City of Pensacola business license since 1985 and over the past 30 years have shot dozens of times throughout the City of Pensacola without a single incident or complaint. [sidebar] At a workshop Monday, Pensacola City Council members discussed the film ordinance and decided to rework the proposal. According to the Pensacola News Journal:

(Council President Andy) Terhaar's fellow council members said there was a need for more information. The ordinance will be discussed, and not voted upon, at Thursday's regular council meeting. "I would like a better definition of 'commercial purposes,'" said Charles Bare, the at-large council member. "I'd love to see an ordinance from another city." Terhaar said he received a lot of feedback over the last few days and planned to make changes. "My intent wasn't expressed as clearly [in the ordinance] as it could be," he said.

Read the story here. [/sidebar] This ordinance “as is” would prohibit, without permit, so many things that area producers today commonly shoot to foster Pensacola businesses, tourism and independent film making within the city; law firms, automobile dealerships, small restaurants, small businesses, tourism related scenes, etc. With this proposed ordinance;

Any business, production company, advertising agency or marketing firm with camera equipment based within city limits would have to pull a permit just to stand on their street corner to get a shot.
A corporate video professional at Gulf Power would have to pull a permit just to walk across Bayfront Parkway with a camera to get one shot of their building.
A small independent or student film making group would need a permit to shoot a scene in a city park.
Any commercial photographer, business owner or small business employee shooting solo with just a hand-held camera would need a permit to shoot anywhere during Gallery Night or any other festival downtown for use to promote their business.

The proposed ordinance goes hand-in-hand with making the Mayor of Pensacola, his office or an appointee the "Film Commissioner." An experienced Film Commissioner will rightfully know when multi-million dollar liability insurance is needed by a large out of town movie company and when it’s not needed for the little local guy, standing on the corner shooting for a local business, charity or other organization. It’s obvious the City of Pensacola is new at permitting film and video producers and photographers and understandably are learning along the way. I encourage them to do their due diligence, research other communities large and small in regards to film permitting. Our neighbors in Okaloosa County and Mobile have a policies that seem to work well for them for instance. Most importantly, I encourage city staff to hold workshops for those all involved to help formulate a policy that is fair, easy and affordable for everyone. An experienced local film office or commissioner works to foster and promote production business, not hinder it. Craig Meadows is president of Florida Production Group, Inc.

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Viewpoint: Proposed film ordinance is too restrictive

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