This document provides a legal, ethical and permissions report for a student film project. It addresses issues such as copyright of filmed footage and music, intellectual property rights, consent from actors, filming permissions, age ratings and classifications. The report concludes that copyright is not an issue as all content is self-created. Permission was obtained from locations and actors. The film receives a 12A rating due to scary scenes but no other legal or ethical issues were identified.

1. LEGAL, ETHICAL AND
PERMISSIONS REPORT
Unit 17

2. 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
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.

3. 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 film includes content of getting captured which could
cause fear and bad imagination and thoughts to young
viewers. I have however shot this film to interest viewers by
adding others shots where lighting is lighter to distract
from the darks scenes.
I have acknowledged the responsibility of having my film
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
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.

4. 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 film are 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 film
them. 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 film to 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.

5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Intellectual property rights is a property protection that helps you to stop people stealing or copying
your work, for example the names of your products or brands, your inventions, the design and look
of your product or things you write, make or produce.
 Intellectual property rights affects my film because I would want to ensure no one snatches my
ideas or conventions in my film. As well as copying my film name and logo, they could also use
the storyline of my film and 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.

6. SLANDER/LIBEL
Slander/libel law is the communication of a false statement that harms the reputation of an
individual person, business, product, group, government, religion, or nation.
 Slander/libel does not affect my film as 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 film genre and what content
could be visible.

7. FILMING PERMISSION
Filming permission ensures that the actors and directors are allowed to use
their chosen locations and have permission by 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 film in 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.

8. 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 which is agreed upon in a contract between the creator and the manufacturer, publisher, agent
and/or distributor.
 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, for example not to steal other people’s content without their permission.

9. VIOLENCE/OFFENSIVE
LANGUAGE/BEHAVIOUR
 My film includes content of someone getting captured which could cause fear and 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.

10. PUBLIC INTEREST
Public interest law loosely, refers to legal practices undertaken to help poor or marginalized people,
or to effect change in social policies in the public interest.
 My film shows 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.

11. 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.