Overview
A Crowd Release grants the production permission to photograph and use the likenesses of individuals appearing as part of a crowd scene or public group within the film. It should be posted in highly visible places when a production cannot lock down a public space and get signed releases from all passersby.
This release is important because productions must secure permission to use identifiable individuals in footage intended for exhibition, festivals, online release, or distribution. Crowd releases help productions manage situations involving large groups more efficiently while still ensuring that participants have authorized the use of their image in the finished project.
Instructions
In some situations, especially in public spaces that the production cannot lock down, it is not always possible to get signed releases from every individual that appears in a shot. This Crowd Notice sign can be used in such situations to alert passersby that, by entering an area, their voice and likeness may be recorded and used in the film.
If a production plans to use this signage, the Producer should check in advance with the Location Owner to make sure they are okay with the signs being posted around the location.
When posting the signs, pay particular attention to the flow of passersby through the area. Identify strategic positions for placing the signs so that they are clearly visible to any passersby, but out of view of the camera.