This document provides a legal, ethical and permissions report for a film project. It addresses issues such as copyright of filmed footage and music, intellectual property rights, consent from actors, age ratings, and public interest considerations regarding violent or sensitive content. Permission was obtained from locations and actors to film. While most of the film's content was created by the filmmaker, any copyrighted music or sounds would require permission to use. The film received a 12A age rating due to some jump scares but no actors under 18 were involved so no parental consent was needed. Guidelines for online platforms would also need to be followed for any content.
1. LEGAL, ETHICAL AND PERMISSIONS REPORT
LEGAL REPORT
WHAT WHO OWNS IT LEGAL IMPACT ANY IMPACT ON USE
YOUR FILMED FOOTAGE I own my own filmed footage I will copyright my footage so
others are able to ask permission
to use it in the future
I have asked permission from all
my actors for them to be filmed
and used in my footage. I do not
have any actors under the age of
18 so I do not need to ask
permission. All actors know that
this film could be shared onto
YouTube and Short of the Week
STUDIO TITLE LOGO SEQUENCE I own my own studio title logo as
I made it myself
I will not need any permission as
it is my own
No impact on use as this is my
own individual content.
SOUND EFFECTS I will record my own sound
effects like heaving breathing as
this is easy to record and edit
I will not need any permission as
it is my own
No impact on use as this is my
own individual content.
SOUND EFFECTS/MUSICAL
SCORE
I will include musical scores and
some sound effects, like loud
footsteps, from Bensound.com
to enhance the thriller genre
It will be copyright free however
if it is not then I will have to ask
for permission as it is not my
own
If the sound effects used are not
copyright free I will have to
ensure I ask permission so I am
not stealing anyone’s work and
going against the copyright law.
2. ETHICAL REPORT
WHAT WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON YOUR FILM LEGAL IMPACT
WHAT CERTIFICATE WOULD YOU RATE? I would rate my film a 12A because there are
some jump scares which young people might
find fearful so having a responsible adult
accompanying will make them feel safe
BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) are
in charge of age certificates and rating films
the suitable age restriction.
CONTENT CONSIDERATIONS My filmincludes content of getting captured
which could cause fear and bad imagination
and thoughts to young viewers. I have
however shot this filmto interest viewers by
adding others shots where lighting is lighter
to distract them from the darks scenes.
I have acknowledged the responsibility of
having my filmon a regulated domain
although I have stipulated the film as 12A for
the reasons of content considerations. I could
include a warning note attached to the film
to make audiences aware of the appropriate
age.
ANY CAST UNDER 18 All cast under the age of 18 will need
permission from their parents to show that
their child can be viewed in the film. For my
film, I don’t have anyone under the age of 18
so no permission slips are needed.
There will be no legal impact because all cast
are over the age of 18.
YOUR TRAILER IS GOING TO BE SHOWN
ONLINE
Short of the week provide the submitters
with Submission Guidelines and
requirements such as length, premiere
status, rights and free to view. I also have to
acknowledge the codes of conduct to upload
my film onto YouTube
There could be legal impacts if I upload an
inappropriate or offensive video on a
regulated domain, where anyone can view it.
I also have to obey the policies and
understand the guidelines, for example not
to steal other people’s content without their
permission.
3. COPYRIGHT
Copyright is a legal right, existing in many countries, that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to determine whether, and
under what conditions, this original work may be used by others.
Copyright will not interfere with my filming as all footage will be created by me so there will be no need to ask other people for permission for
using their work to feature in my film. All my cast in my filmare over the age of 18 so no permission from parents will be needed, although I
will still ask for permission to confirm they allow for me to filmthem. I will not need copyright for my logo because I will also be the creator of
my logo with the use of Adobe Photoshop. These two things will have to be copyrighted so if, in the future, someone wanted to use my
footage or logo they would have to ask me for permission to do so.
Although copyright may interfere with my music and sound effects, because although some sound, like conversation and sound effects, may
be made when filming there may be other sounds I want to include in my filmto make it sound better. In this case, I will have to ensure to ask
permission from the person that created the sound I would like to use in my film. Most of my music and sound effects will be from
Bensound.com where all the clips are copyright free so no permission is needed.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Intellectual property rights is a property protectionthat helps you to stop people stealing or copying your work, for example the names of
your products or brands, yourinventions, the design and look of your product or things youwrite, make or produce.
Intellectual property rights affects my filmbecause I would want to ensure no one snatches my ideas or conventions in my film. As well as
copying my filmname and logo, they could also use the storyline of my filmand use it to develop their own ideas, which would be against the
intellectual property rights. You are able to own intellectual property if you created it and it meets the requirements for copyright, a parent or
a design, bought intellectual property rights from the creator or a previous owner, or have a brand that could be a trade mark, e.g. a well-
known product name. This shows that if I created my own footage it would allow me to have intellectual property rights to ensure no one
could use or steal my footage.
4. SLANDER/LIBEL
Slander/libel law is the communicationof a false statement that harms the reputationof an individual person, business, product, group,
government, religion, or nation.
Slander/libel does not affect my filmas my content does not damage anyone’s reputation and is suitable for all viewers. My content does
include tense and frightening scenes throughout although that does not affect someone as an individual, and the content is covered and
protected by an age rating to ensure all viewers are aware of the filmgenre and what content could be visible.
FILMING PERMISSION
Filming permission ensures that the actors and directors are allowed to use their chosen locations and have permissionby the person who
owns the property/area.
My filming locations will be at Ringwood School, Bransgore village and at my house. School have given me
permission to filmin their workplace so to ensure I was allowed to film at home I asked permission from my mum
to confirm I was allowed to. To the left shows a screenshot of her giving me permission.
5. ROYALTIES
A royalty is a percentage of gross or net profit or a fixed amount per sale to which a creator or a work is entitled whichis agreed upon in a
contract between the creatorand the manufacturer, publisher, agent and/ordistributor.
This does not affect my film because I am uploading my film to free websites, such as YouTube and Short of the Week, where I am not
expected to earn anything from it. Although if my film wasn’t for an educational purpose then I could take into account the finance prices of
uploading my film successfully.
Short of the week provide the submitters with Submission Guidelines and requirements such as length, premiere status, rights and free to view.
I also have to acknowledge the codes of conduct to upload my film onto YouTube. There could be legal impacts if I upload an inappropriate or
offensive video on a regulated domain, where anyone can view it. I also have to obey the policies and understand the guidelines, forexample
not to steal other people’s content without their permission.
VIOLENCE/OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE/BEHAVIOUR
My filmincludes content of someone getting captured which could cause fearand bad imagination and thoughts to younger viewers, so due to
this, I have decided to use a 12A age rating because in my film there are some featured jump scares which young people might find fearful, so
having a responsible adult accompanying will make them feel safe. I have acknowledged the responsibility of having my film on a regulated
domain although I have stipulated the film as 12A for the reasons of content considerations. I could include a warning note attached to the film
to make audiences aware of the appropriate age. As well as scare scenes, there is also some mild offensive language, although very limited, so
the need to make the age rating higher was unnecessary if there was an accompanying adult.
PUBLIC INTEREST
Public interest law loosely, refers to legal practices undertakento help poor or marginalized people, or to effect change in social policies in
the public interest.
6. My filmshows someone being captured/taken. This could affect public interest because this kind of topic is such a recurring and current issue
that needs to be taken seriously and for more people to be more aware of who is out there. The film doesn’t include any content showing
sexual consent but in this society most audiences would only be left to believe that the purpose of her being captured is for sexual consent or
rape. This again shows how this is such a recurring situation and how young people are dealing with this.
PERFORMANCE RIGHTS
Performing rights are the right to perform music in public. It is part of copyright law and demands payment to the music’s composer/lyricist
and publisher.
All my cast in my film are over the age of eighteen so no permission slips from parents’ were needed to confirm their child can be filmed. I
ensured to give everyone permission slips anyway to show they give permission to be filmed and for other consent requirements. They are all
unsigned and untrained actors and give me the permission for them to be filmed. I also have permission that they are fine with the film being
on YouTube, Short of the Week and on my blog, and if they want it to be deleted then they have to let me know before the exam date. This
shows that all consent has been considered before the filming has begun and all requirements have been well-thought-out.