New York State’s highest court recently threw out the conviction of a man who was arrested for standing and not moving on a Times Square corner in June 2004. (Picture shown is not that man - this is some other guy with a camera on a narrow city sidewalk.)
The judge said, “Something more than a mere inconvenience of pedestrians is required (snip) Otherwise, any person who happens to stop on a sidewalk - whether to greet another, to seek directions or simply to regain one’s bearings - would be subject to prosecution under this statute.”
Read the NYT City Room blog on the ruling here.
PNY agrees with basing need for a shooting permit on whether a photographer actually causes an obstruction, but we’d like a clear statement that occupancy of the sidewalk by a person with a camera is not defacto obstruction - anything less is just asking for trouble, on the street and in the courts.
What do you see in the amended proposal from the Mayor’s Office of Film? There appears to be consensus that it’s better than the extreme (and probably unenforceable) time and personnel limitations MOFTB put out last time, but is that enough?
+ Donna Lieberman caught our interest talking about the regulations, Parks Dept. and the NYPD in The Hollywood Reporter. “This only addresses what’s legitimate — interference with the flow of traffic. We applaud the city for making these much-needed revisions.”
Lieberman says the NYCLU “actively and aggressively” negotiated with Oliver and her colleagues when the revised proposal process was announced. She said the negotiations were successful, “but we were less successful in obtaining serious training for police and parks department trainees to respect First Amendment rules. This is only part of the battle — the proof in the pudding is if the NYPD respects and follows the new rules. “(more…)
Jem Cohen will show short works and excerpts from over 2 decades of shooting on the street. He will also lead a forum on what’s right, and what’s seriously wrong, with the city’s proposed rules.
Street Documentary as a Right and a Journey.
Presented by Jem Cohen UnionDocs in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Dec 8 | 8 pm
A public hearing will be held on Thursday December 13, 2007, at 10:00 AM
at the offices of the Economic Development Corporation,
110 William Street, 4th floor (between Fulton and John Streets)
MOFTB prefers you notify them by December 8th if you want to testify,
although it is not required.
Written comment regarding this proposed amendment may be sent to Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting (MOFTB)
Communications Department,
1697 Broadway, New York NY 10019,
on or before December 13, 2007.
Comments may be submitted by email to message@film.nyc.gov
on or before December 13, 2007.
The rules and a press release are now available for your review on the Mayor’s Office on Film, Theatre and Broadcasting site. What do you think? Our comments section is open!
Amateur photographers and independent filmmakers looking to chronicle bird life, take snapshots in Times Square or capture the distinctive thrum of New York’s streets will not need to obtain permits or insurance under new rules being proposed by the Bloomberg administration.
The rules, to be released on Tuesday for public comment, would generally allow people using hand-held equipment, including tripods, to shoot for any length of time on sidewalks and in parks as long as they leave sufficient room for pedestrians.
The proposal, drafted as part of a settlement in a lawsuit, was revised after a passionate outcry over the summer from fine-art photographers, independent filmmakers and civil libertarians concerned that the original rules would have restricted unobtrusive video recording. (more…)
This YouTube video from deuteronomie showcases both a cameraperson being told by NYPD not to tape on the street AND another viewpoint of this whole business about blocking the sidewalk: a hot dog vendor gets the bum’s rush.
The video is titled Justice for Hakim, NYC Street Vendor
All the action at the Mayor’s Office of Film is still behind the scenes, but we hear things are moving in a positive direction - one that addresses our concerns.
Still, we won’t know for certain until they publish a new proposal. When it’s official, there will be (per city policy) a 30 day comment period. Keep checking in, and using your 1st Amendment rights to make beautiful pictures of NYC . . . and thanks again to everybody who came together as Picture New York.
Jem Cohen will show short works and excerpts from over 2 decades of shooting on the street. He will also lead a forum on what’s right, and what’s seriously wrong, with the city’s proposed rules.
All the action at the 