Getting Access

[tubecamera-or-bust]

As a freelancer, is there any one organization's membership card that you find gets you access to an event more often than not if you are not working with or directly for a network news organization?

That is, if you have no press pass from a network what card would you show if asked?

[Macro]

Get out of jail free card?

[Douglas]

Make them yourself. I've got them for all the networks, depending on who I'm shooting for, and I've been told by staffers that they look more impressive than the real thing. On many occassions, including 9/11 in NYC it's made all the difference.

Doug

[Flaca Productions]

are you working for somebody or just trying to sneak into a concert or two? ;-)

the net bureaus can and do give freelancer IDs. if/when you're working for them, thats what you show. if you are trying to shoot something for a production company, etc. they need to make contact with the venue/location/event to make advance arrangements for your arrival, etc.

(or do what doug did!)

[tubecamera-or-bust]

My need is for shooting something on spec so would not necessarily be connected to any specific "bureau" at the time of shooting.

I'm sure what Doug means is he uses his FoxNews "made up pass" if he is actually on assignment for them. At least then he can always call the producer and hand his cell phone over to the guard.

Is this correct, Doug?

[Baltimore Shooter]

My need is for shooting something on spec...

Producing something on 'spec' is a BAD practice!!! Many associations such as the AIGA, Graphic Artist Guild, etc. have specific rules against doing projects on spec and will remove you from their membership if you're found doign spec work.

I'll refer you to this recent B-roll thread with a link to another website - http://www.b-roll.net/forum/showthread.php?t=15814

Warren

[Baltimore Shooter]

Damn...3,000 posts, I REALLY need to get a life!!!!

Warren

[bluffton]

Ditto to Batimore Shooter. Spec!!! Dude, if you have a REEL show them that or take previous work and make it happen in the bay. Don't screw the profession. Get whatever credential you need and get paid to shoot. And watermark your material so they can't use it.

Don't get excited over probably getting paid. If you shoot, there is money involved. If they want the footage, there is money involved. If you use gas...you get the idea...Right?

As for your reason for posting, go to the local government, sometimes they give out temporary and permanent I.D.'s for media.

Good luck and beware of greed.

[Douglas]

I'm sure what Doug means is he uses his FoxNews "made up pass" if he is actually on assignment for them. At least then he can always call the producer and hand his cell phone over to the guard. Is this correct, Doug?

Yes, that is correct. I only use the press credentials when I have a legitimate purpose for using them. I've got no ethical problems with that. Otherwise, I just bluff my way in my using the 30 pound camera on my shoulder as my calling card when I want to do something for my own purposes.

Also, SPEC can be very, very good. You just have to choose the projects carefully. Only a fool would piss on all spec projects just because they're spec. That's just stupid. I really hate that kind of attitude when I hear it, but I figure who cares. The only person the anti-spec person is hurting is themselves. Their loss for passing on a good project is someone else's gain.

Doug

[Graybeard]

To start with, you have to have a reason to be there.
If your reason is to shoot something "on spec", and you're honest about it, then there's no way you'll get in. Because most events, concerts, ball games, etc. have good reason NOT to let you in. They obviously don't want freelance cameramen shooting, and selling footage of their event. Mostly It's because, whatever you shoot does not help them promote the event, because it's already happening. Doesn't that go without saying?
Even with pre-arranged permission, I've had representatives from the group, team, etc. follow us around to make sure that we don't shoot more than one song, or more than 5,or ten minutes of footage.
Face it, you've got a pro camera on your shoulder. And most times we patch directly into their mixing board for clean audio. They don't want people shooting bootleg concert music videos, do they?
Even with valid media credentials, what they allow you to do is limited.

[Canonman]

On a related note, what do most news stringers use? You can't pre-arrange coverage of spot news for someone. You shoot it, and if it's newsworthy, you sell it. Since you don't necesarily know who will buy the footage, what credentials should you have for major MVAs, fires, wx damage, etc.

cm

[Flaca Productions]

i think most new stringers rely on their 'events' happening on public property - car accidents, fires, etc. no creds needed if you're behind the tape with everyone else.

[INLANDNEWS]

Stringers in Los Angeles are prevented by union rules from being assigned by a news station assingnment desk to cover breaking news. This also goes for planned events. The rules also state anything 60 miles outside of Los Angeles is fair game. I mainly work San Bernardino and Riverside Counties outside of Los Angeles and cover "events" all the time with no problems because this falls outside of the union rule boundaries. Most stringers carry credentials issued by local law enforcement. My credential is issued by San Bernardino Sheriffs Department and must be renewed once every couple of years. I have had no problem securing press credentials to anything I have wanted to cover.

[tubecamera-or-bust]

Hey Inland:

Can you describe those credentials. Is this specifically a press pass or something else used for other purposes? What did you need to do to get it? That is, do you have to be employed by a station to get it?

Do you need one for each town you work in or does one town/city accept the credentials of the other?

I'm not sure all states or towns issue credentials. Are the others out there who do get them from state or local law enforcement and how?

In my state, Connecticut, they do not. There is a special license plate for press but you must be employed by a station or paper and have them give you a formal letter stating that fact. I think they also want a pay stub. If you leave their employ you must return the plates. I do know some who kept them, though, and they still use them. They do still shoot but as freelancers.

[Pesky Media]

can whip you up a decent looking media pass on their home computer within a fwe minutes.....:D