Protests and rally against new rules about film in New York

[r.e.]

I received the following e-mail today from New York filmmaker Matt Kohn that
may be of interest. The proposed rules affect still photography as well as
motion picture photography:

"You can help prevent DIY filmmaking from being stopped by over-agressive
lawmaking...


http://www.pictureny.org/petition/index.php

Hello my fellow film-making and film-loving friends:

Please please please take a second to click here to sign a petition regarding
the rules recently proposed by the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater, and
Broadcasting.

Introduced quietly just before Memorial Day weekend, the regulations could
severely impede the ability of even casual photographers and filmmakers to
operate in New York City. A group of two or more people who want to use a
camera in a single public location for more than a half hour (including setup
and breakdown time) could be required to get a city permit and $1 million in
liability insurance. According to the NY Civil Liberties Union, “these
regulations violate the First Amendment right to photograph in public places,
and open the door to selective and discriminatory enforcement.”

More information about the issue follows -- and details for the Free Speech
Rally this Friday. It'll be fun. Be there!

All the best,

Matt
Picture New York

* * *


Please join the Filmmaker/Photographer contingent at this Friday’s First
Amendment rally at Union Square. Recently proposed regulations seriously
threaten the rights of photographers and filmmakers to operate in NYC, and they
could go into effect as soon as this August. Other laws already restrict our
rights to parade, dance, meet, bike, shout, and assemble.

Join performance artists Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir, the
Rude Mechanical Orchestra, Critical Mass bike riders, and Picture New York -- a
new coalition of concerned filmmakers and photographers, for a festive and un-
permitted celebration of the First Amendment.

Friday, July 27, 6:30pm
Union Square, north end
Press Conference and Creative Rally

Bring: marching bands, gospel choirs, props and signs, cameras, projections,
bikes, YOU and YOUR FRIENDS, and the 44 sweet words of the First Amendment of
the United States Constitution.

Upload: photos and videos of the rally or of your First Amendment feelings to
YouTube and Flickr and tag them “camerawars” and “pictureny”. Send links to
the Mayor's office at jcho@film.nyc.gov and to info@pictureny.org.

Why now? Recently proposed regulations by the Mayor’s Office of Film,
Broadcasting, and Theater could severely restrict the ability of even casual
photographers and filmmakers to operate in New York City. A group of two or
more people who want to use a camera in a single public location for more than
a half hour (including setup and breakdown time) could be required to get a The
public comment period has been extended to August 3rd, but the regulations
could soon go into effect thereafter.

Please take action before August 3rd:

1) Click here to email comments to the Mayor's Film Office and the City Council
committee that oversees them.

http://citizenspeak.org/node/1123

2) Upload videos and photos. Post your NY works or works about these rules on
YouTube, tag them “PictureNewYork” and “CameraWars”. Send links to
jcho@film.nyc.gov and to info@picturenewyork.org.

3) Click here to sign a petition.

http://www.pictureny.org/petition/index.php

4) Join the spectacle at Union Square on Friday at 6:30pm to add to the image
of New Yorkers celebrating their rights to free speech and assembly.


According to the NYCLU, “these regulations violate the First Amendment right to
photograph in public places, and open the door to selective and discriminatory
enforcement.” And they are a part of a broader continuum of attacks on our
rights, including laws and regulations regarding meeting, filming, shouting,
biking, parading, and dancing which, taken together comprise a serious threat
to our freedom as well as our ability to defend that freedom.

At Union Square almost one month ago, before a Critical Mass bike ride,
Reverend Billy was arrested for reciting the First Amendment. The charge?
Harassment of the NYPD. The story ran in press outlets around the world. This
headline-grabbing and onstitutionally questionable arrest, and the recently
proposed filming regulations, suggest that this is a perfect time to throw a
party, First amendment-style, for the press and the people of New York City..


See you then!

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or
of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the government for a redress of grievances.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/07/03/2007-07-
03_lights_camera_inaction.html
http://www.nysun.com/article/57680"

[Ed Richards]

Anyone have a cite for the 1st amendment right to photograph in public places? I think the court might buy one, but I have not found a case where it has. The right to photograph buildings is because of a clause in the copyright laws - but I do not know what the result would have been in the courts if Congress had said that taking pictures of buildings violated the owner/architech's rights. State privacy and right of publicity laws are eating into street photography.

[cyrus]

Latest news - the restrictions that were under consideration have been dropped due to public pressure; the city council is considering new set of restrictions.

[Andrew O'Neill]

This shite had better not cross the 49th! I'm so glad we don't live in such a climate of fear...all we got here in Vancouver are aggressive panhandlers!!

[Duane Polcou]

I would attend the rally but I don't have my "Rally Attendance Permit and Liability Insurance for 1 or more New Jersey Tunnel Rats who intend on remaining for more than an hour and then maybe go to Scores"