Permits, the bane of every filmmaker, from amateur to professional, are seemingly impossible to avoid. Aside from insurance, location / shooting permits occupy most of the legal matters when it comes to the production process, and that includes innumerable amounts of paperwork. This is the second most worrisome aspect to filmmakers, where the first of their anxieties stems from keeping an orderly shoot. But not all locations require mass amounts of paperwork. It can be curbed, if not avoided outright. All it requires is a little common sense.

Before permits, there were permissions. All filmmakers require a certain amount of consent from their subjects / locations, and this consent comes in the form either in permits or permission. The size and severity of the shoot determines the form of consent. Yes, filmmakers can always wing it guerilla style, and without prior consent; but sometimes such a tactic can be needlessly risky. Permits can eliminate risks, or at least can alleviate most legal anxieties. But: paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. If the shoot is relatively small scale and tame, with zero dangerous stunt work, then all that's required is a little personal permission. This permission should preferably come from the manager or owner.

Because when filmmakers shoot outside of their home turf, two variables determine the ease of production: public approval and legalities.

Personal permission from the location owner fulfills at least one of the principle requirements, which will ensure a smooth shoot (nothing is more intrusive than having to stop shooting because of an angry landowner). Legal matters usually only rear their ugly heads when the shoot itself becomes larger than life, or mismanaged. If a film is ever shot on location in the public eye, and without legal approval, then the filmmaker should acknowledge that he/she is only able to shoot because the public approves by anonymous consensus. This means that a guerilla style shoot can only persist if no one in the public decides to take action. Shove a camera in their face, or inconvenience them in an offensive way, could spell a production obstacle. Legal rights are, more often than not, on their side. In other words, the ball is in their court.

Adopt an "open door policy" when shooting in the public eye. Generosity and modesty will go a long way to ensure a smooth shoot. Most city officials and policemen are familiar with shooting permits, and so the best way to avoid legal troubles is to be honest. At the very least, investigate the matter prior to shooting: student films are hassled less than commercial films. And a very good tip to always keep in mind is to manage time. Rehearse scenes several times before shooting it on location, because the duration of a shoot is usually what strains "public consensus": the longer it goes on, the more intrusive it will seem. Subtlety and order are the key traits to a hassle free public shoot.

So, keep in mind that most consistent, on-going guerilla shoots entail a lot of modesty and manipulation on the part of the filmmaker. "Public consent" is the one variable that can make or break a small production.