Rules, rights and safety

6 min read

How charities can get consent for stories, photos and film that people truly understand: what to explain, what the form covers, how long it lasts.

6 min read

What a school and a film crew need to agree before a camera comes in: lawful basis, consent, pupils who must not be shown, and safe handling of footage.

6 min read

When you need a signed release to film people in the UK, how consent and UK GDPR apply to footage, and what to do for crowds, staff, children and public places.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

What a UK location release must cover, step by step, with a worked example and the common mistakes that leave a shoot without permission on the day.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

What to put in talent, location, property and minor releases for UK shoots, with the UK GDPR consent points and the child licence check.

2 min read

When a creator's post is an ad, which labels the ASA and CMA accept, where the label must go, and what brands must do to stay on the right side of the rules.

3 min read

Which music rights a musician clears before posting a video, covering PRS for Music, PPL, sync and the recording, explained for UK artists.

4 min read

Nine months into the less healthy food ad rules, the ASA's rulings show what makes a product identifiable. How to plan a food shoot around them.

7 min read

Who owns the music in a track, which licence covers a brand video, and the four safe routes to music you can use on a website, social or paid ads.

6 min read

How to clear music for a film in the UK: sync and master rights, what PRS and PPL do, library music, public domain, cue sheets and the mistakes to avoid.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

A music cue sheet template for short films and programmes, with each field explained, a worked example and the mistakes that delay music reporting.

Explainer film

The general safety points a studio induction should cover, from electrics and height to floors, haze and water, and who has to assess the actual job.

3 min read

What an intimacy coordinator does, what UK guidance says about hiring one, and how to plan a closed set for scenes with nudity or simulated sex.

2 min read

How to use the free Whole Picture Toolkit from The Film and TV Charity to plan crew wellbeing on a production, stage by stage.

3 min read

The insurance cover a UK film or video shoot usually needs, which cover the law requires, and what to settle with a broker before you book crew or kit.

3 min read

General safety guidance for a rain rig on a set: keeping power away from water, planning drainage and footing, and looking after the people in the rain.

3 min read

The basics of working at height on a film set: what counts, what the Work at Height Regulations 2005 ask for, and how to plan a rig before anyone climbs.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

A risk assessment template for studio and location shoots: hazards, who could be harmed, controls, ratings and actions, with the legal duty behind it.

7 min read

What a UK drone shoot needs from the CAA and from the landowner: Flyer ID, Operator ID, insurance, distances, class marks and film office permission.

8 min read

Who to ask before you film on a UK street, in a park or on council land, how much notice film offices want, and which office covers your area.

7 min read

When a child on your shoot needs a performance licence in England, who applies, how far ahead, what a chaperone does and the hours limits to plan around.

6 min read

How to read a Bectu rate card, which one applies to your job, what to check before you quote or budget, and how small-shoot day rates compare.

6 min read

What a first-time UK film or TV freelancer needs sorted: public liability and kit cover, IR35 and status, invoice terms, late payment and day rates.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

A kit list and insurance schedule template for freelance crew: the fields to record for each item, how to total the values, and the gaps to avoid.

5 min read

How BFI NETWORK short film funding works in England: awards of £5,000 to £25,000, who can apply, what it pays for, the yearly calendar and the application steps.

6 min read

What BAFTA albert certification involves, what Channel 4 asks of producers, and the studio and supplier data to collect before you shoot.

6 min read

Where a shoot's carbon comes from, what a studio day can and cannot save against location, and how to count your own numbers before you book.

6 min read

How the UK's AVEC rates of 34%, 39% and 53% work for film and TV, who qualifies, how the 80% cap and BFI certification fit in, and what a claim involves.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

A free green memo template for film and TV productions. What to commit to, who owns each action, and how to share it with cast, crew and suppliers.

Filed under Film and stream events

A template for a speaker release that records permission to be filmed, where the recording will appear and how a speaker can ask for changes. With a worked example.