A change in existing law will propose to make it easier for independent filmmakers to film in Roselle Park. The objective of the ordinance is to encourage filmmakers to visit the borough and highlight it as a viable location to film projects.
Currently, anyone wishing to film in the borough needs to file a permit, pay a $25 application fee, pay a $500 daily filming fee, provide proof of $1,000,000 bodily injury and $300,000 property damage insurance, put up a bond, and hire an off-duty Roselle Park police officer.
With the advent of technology, the new ordinance makes a distinction between a major motion picture film and an independent production. In addition to replacing the Chief of Police with the Borough Clerk as the point person for filming, the bill updates the definitions of film equipment and student film, requires filming location credit, and defines instances where filming permits are not required:
4-5.3 Filming Where No Permit is Required.
- Productions using hand-held camera, camera on tripod, hand-held props and/or handheld equipment, not asserting exclusive use of Borough property, not using prop weapons, prop vehicles, stunts, actors in police uniform and not requesting parking privileges for production vehicles do not need a permit as outlined in Subsection 4-5.4.
- Standing on a Borough sidewalk, walkway of a Borough bridge or within a Borough park while using a hand-held camera and not otherwise asserting exclusive use of Borough property is NOT an activity that requires a permit.
- Permits are not required for casual photographers, tourists or credentialed members of the media
The fee structure section of the code will also change:
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- Major Motion Pictures.
- Permit Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of one-hundred dollars ($100.00), payable upon submission of application to the Borough Clerk
- Daily Filming Fee: A non-refundable fee of one-thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per day of filming, payable upon the issuance of permit by the Borough Clerk.
- Non-Profit Organizations Filming for Educational Purposes.
- Permit Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of twenty-five dollars($25.00), payable upon submission of application to the Borough Clerk.
- Daily Filming Fee: There shall be no daily filming fee for such organizations. Such organizations shall be required to await issuance of a permit by the Borough Clerk prior to the start of filming.
- Student Films for Educational Documentary or Public Television Purposes.
Students seeking to film for educational documentaries or public television purposes shall be exempt from both the application and daily filming fees otherwise imposed. Students or such student groups shall be required to await issuance of a permit by the Borough Clerk prior to the start of filming. - All Others Requiring a Permit.
- Permit Application Fee: A non-refundable Basic filming permit: application fee of seventy-five ($75.00) dollars., payable upon submission of application to the Borough Clerk.
- Daily Filming Fee: A non-refundable fee of five-hundred dollars ($500.00) per day of filming, payable upon issuance of permit by the Borough Clerk.
- Major Motion Pictures.
The proposed law does not make mention of drones which are being used more and more in filmmaking. Ordinance 2530 will have its public hearing and vote at tonight’s municipal meeting located at 110 East Westfield Avenue in council chambers of the Roselle Park Municipal Complex. The meeting is set to start at 7 p.m.
A copy of the ordinance is available below:
Download RP Ordinance 2530