This is an awful idea.

It would have made an entire formerly underground, now very much overground,
history of the city by everyone from Helen Levitt (her “In the Street” is now a national treasure in the Library of Congress), Robert Frank and Bruce Davidson to Jim Jarmusch and Jonas Mekas simply impossible.

It also will drive away new young indie filmmakers like Aaron
Katz (his “Quiet City” is so beautiful, makes you love New York all over
again) and Andrew Bujalski and of course, Jem Cohen.
Why should they shoot here when they can work in Austin or Boston with
no problems and cheaper rent.

It also makes trouble for the art, film, and photo schools. How can I
send one of my thesis students out onto the street to try out whatever
abstract idea is in her head if she’s going to be scared that someone will
hassle her for a permit if she’s even carrying a camera and walking around
with a couple of classmates?

Most independent filmmakers and film students don’t have time to plan
in advance. They catch a few hours here and there when they can break away
from their day jobs or classes and when people they want to work with are available.

And of course the insane thing about trying to make these rules is that with the new
teenyweeny technology, anyone can take whatever kinds of pictures the government
is scared of without anyone even knowing they’re doing it.

Amy Taubin is a writer for Film Comment
& a professor at the School of Visual Arts, NY, NY