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Legal and Ethical

Client Ethos & Reputation, Themes and Messages Communicated

Fruit Bowl Tech is a start up tach communications company operating in Milton Keynes. They produce mobile and desktop software which allows business clients, friends and family to communicate globally. The brand was originally aimed at the tech and business sector however, they would now like to build a relationship with families and friends. The brand wants to communicate the message that they are friendly, approachable and essential to their new target audience. The company wants to use targeted advertising to reach out to 24-60 year old explorers, mainstreamers and aspirers in order to promote their new app "AncesTree", a global communications service which allows families and friends to retrace their family tree and communicate with unknown relatives. The key messages the brand endorse include the vitality of "staying in touch", "connecting to the past is as important as facing the future" and "family is as important as friends". 

Health and Safety Documentation

The employment legislation refers to laws which protect employers and employees from unsafe work conditions; this also links to the health and safety act of 1974, to follow this we must create a risk assessment and ensure that working conditions are assessed and risks are minimised. If we do not take health and safety seriously someone could get hurt and we may have a lawsuit on our hands for the negligence of other people's safety, although this may not affect the production massively, having to pay out fines may leave us over budget therefore there will be less money to make the production, this will potentially lower the quality of the production and it could mean that we may not have enough money to finish the production therefore, we must halt the production until more money is found or we must cancel the production. 


Permission Documentation for Locations

Although we have chosen to use Blackpool Sands to shoot the footage, I am also going to acquire permission for a permit for both the other locations as well just in case the location becomes unavailable. The locations are all close together therefore if there are any issues it will be easy to move to a different location.

Chosen Location - Blackpool Sands

I found the information based on the requirements to be given a permit in the council of Devon here. It states you must have public liability insurance, you must check the location first and account for potential dangers which we have done by creating a risk assessment. 

This is my email to the department in the Council of Devon which responds to emails regarding permits for filming on council land.

Response to email

Dear Miss Katerina Angelides 

Thank You for submitting a request for a permit to us Blackpool Sands, Devon. As you have evidenced your public/employer liability insurance and risk assessments that have been done for the location we would be delighted to provide you with a permit. We would like to kindly ask that you and your cast and crew are able to keep the area clean and try to use local facilities and services as much as possible. 

We hope you have a lovely stay in Devon creating your production. 

King Regards,

Samantha Sally, Devon City Council Representative.

Sennen Cove and Pedn Vounder Beach, Cornwall.

When filming in Cornwall, the council asks you fill out a filming application form, have public liability insurance and create a risk assessment. Since we have completed all of these things it is possible to shoot in Cornwall. I found all this information from the Cornwall Council Website. The council asks that in return the production could try use local goods and services which we will be doing by renting locations to live, using restaurants and takeaways nearby in exchange for use in bathroom facilities, and we will also be hiring staff in the area for the production. 

Evidence of Filming Form


Response from Council

Dear Miss Katerina Angelides

Thank You for your email regarding receiving a permit for both Sennen Cove and Pedn Vounder Beach, as you have been able to meet all the criteria for receiving a permit (risk assessment, filming form and insurance) we would be happy to give you a permit for the two weeks of shooting. You should be receiving another email shortly which contains a certified copy of the permit documentation. 

Thank You for getting in touch with us 

King Regards, 

Mike Platond, Working with Cornwall City Council.


Contributors and Assets

This is a list of all the employees working on the production and their contact details. Not all these members have been placed on the call sheet as some are just extra staff in case our staff are ill or unavailable on the days of shooting. It is good practise to make sure you have proper documentation of all the staff members involved in the production as it will make it easier to contact them in an efficient manner if they are needed urgently.

Release Forms

Mother Actor Release Form
Baby Release Form - This was signed on behalf of the child by their Parent/Legal Guardian as they are not old enough to consent or give a valid signature. 
Dad Actor Release Form 

Copyright Clearances

In film production it is crucial to acquire the require permission for all aspects of a production. The necessary clearances include sets, actors/extras, music, stock film, art, posters, products/brands, books, broadcast, computer programs, dramatic works, props/clothing and photographs. Gathering clearances is important in order to avoid any copyright or trademark issues. Within this promotional video the main aim is to stray away from using any copyright material and anything that is copyright is properly licenced. To complete all the post production work we will be using Adobe software, as we have already bought the software through Adobe we have the proper licencing and are therefore cleared to use it for professional products. The clothes that are being used in the production will all be unbranded so that they spark no copyright claims. The main props being used in the production include the phones which will record the child taking first steps and the beach accessories the parents brought, all these products are unbranded or the brand of the product is hidden (For example, the phones used have been fitted with unbranded cases). The music we are using in the production has been sourced from Adobe Stock, since the software is license we are free to use any of the audio files they provide. 

Employer/Public Liability Insurance

Insurance in the film industry is very important without it the production could be bankrupted by claims made by individuals damaged by the production. Insurance is also important as without it we cannot acquire a permit to use our a locations as the council will not allow it. We have acquired both Public and Employer insurance, Public insurance covers a member of the public that has made claims against the company regarding personal injury or property damage. The employer liability cover will protect all cast and crew members that have obtained any injuries during the production.

Equality Act

I have to take into consideration the equality act of 2010 which suggests that we are not allowed to discriminate against an employee for any reason whatsoever. Everyone involved within the production must be treated fairly. For example, female actors should be payed equal wages to male actors in order to not cause any offence or make anyone in the production feel uncomfortable or as though they are being treated unfairly compared to anyone else involved in the production. The relevant characteristics to be protect by the act include disabilities, gender reassignment, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex and or sexual orientation. In order to abide by the 2010 Equality Act we must make sure we do not treat people with disabilities less favourably because of there disability unless there is a clear reason to do so.

Defamation

Defamation is considered to be an untrue spoken or written expression which when published is deemed harmful to the reputation of an individual or a business. FruitBowl Tech is able to take legal action against us if they consider the production we make as damaging to their reputation or if it expresses information which is untrue. In order to make sure we are not releasing content which can be potentially damaging to the brand we believe it is important to do a script clearance report, this involves reviewing an entire script to make sure there are not issues with the script in relation to copyright, trademark, publicity, privacy, location, and any other related rights. There are many companies which are willing to do a professional quality clearance report which can save us a lot of time on the production. The Clearance Lab is able to complete a thorough script clearance report for £10 a page, since we are only shooting a promotional video the script isn't very long making it a affordable and safe solution. The script report will take up to a week to complete which should create no set backs really as we would still be in the planning stage therefore there will still be tie to make amendments to the script if needed.

References

Gov, 2010, Equality Act 2010: What do I Need To Know? A Summary Guide For Businesses Who Sell Goods and Services (Online)
Available at : https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85009/business-summary.pdf
The Clearance Lab,  Accessed: 2021, Script Clearance Reports (Online)
Available at : https://theclearancelab.com/script-clearance-reports-film-television/
HSE GOV, Accessed:2021, Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (Online)
Available at : https://www.hse.gocv.uk/legislation/hswa.htm

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