Permission to film on school property

Just before Christmas, I sent the following email to our Head teacher Mr Knowles to request permission to film students within the school premises. It was important to get permission because we weren't sure if there were any guidelines regarding the child protection policy.

"Dear Mr Knowles,

Myself, Scott Cartwright, Adam Lievesley and Alexandra Reddish are AS Media students. We are writing to you to enquire whether it would be at all possible to set up a camera in a specified location in/around school on a set date during a change over time between lessons. The object of this to get a piece of time-lapse film which shows the hustle and bustle of school life, one of the ideas of our film is for a psychological/supernatural thriller where the protagonist is a school girl who may be frequently seen as an outcast.

We understand that this is a big ask as we would need permission from lots of different people. However, all faces and the school badge can be anonymised by filming using a shallow depth of field and this means that it would be blurred and out of focus so no faces would be seen and only the outlines and colours of uniforms would be visible etc. Also the footage would be sped up, used as a backdrop and only last for a few seconds.

If you would like us to explain this to you in person for you to get a better idea of what this will entail (especially with regards to Child Protection policy) and hopefully something the school can facilitate. If given permission, we will show you the footage we plan to use so you can give it your final go-ahead or refusal.

Thank you,

Abbey, Scott, Adam and Alexandra.

12AMS1 "

 

A few weeks later we got a reply which said

 

" Hello Abbey,

 

Complete the filming and then shown it to me.

 

Thank you and enjoy the holidays!

 

Mr Knowles

 

Andrew J Knowles

Headteacher "