Important!!!

Before getting started, here are some explanations and helpful hints for a smoother application process.

  1. Please use Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Safari and Google Canary are not compatible with our system.
  2. The $300 application fee is *non-refundable*. It is a one time fee per project. Do not pay a second time without talking to our office first.
  3. There are three parts to the application process:
    • Account: Created by the individual user. Linked to your e-mail address and lists all your projects.
    • Project: For specific production activity. Lists all the permits you submit for the project.
    • Permit: Your production activity for a specific shoot date.
  4. Project dates must include all rigging, de-rigging and rain dates. Once submitted, dates cannot be amended by your production or our office. Any additional dates that fall outside your original duration dates require a new project application and another $300 fee.
  5. Validating insurance:
    • Your company name must *exactly match* the insured name on your certificate of insurance (including LLC, Inc, Corp, etc.).
    • It can take up to 48 business hours for your insurance to be input into our system. Certificates of insurance must be e-mailed to our office (insurance@media.nyc.gov) by your broker (not your production company) at least 48 business hours prior to creating your project. If your insurance is not in our system by the time you apply, it will not allow you to validate.
    • Sometimes one policy number covers a variety of projects. When this is the case the system will ask you to input your production company name exactly as it appears on the certificate of insurance (including spacing and punctuation). Should the company still have multiple certificates, you will be asked to select your specific project from a drop down box (again, this drop down box only functions using Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox). When you’ve selected the correct COI, click “Update Insurance”.Do not select a project or production company that is not yours. If your project does not appear as a selection, please call your broker to make sure a certificate was e-mailed to our office.
  6. All exterior scenes require you to provide a detailed scene description of the physical action being filmed (including props, number of extras, weapons, animals on set, etc.). If you’re filming at one location for the day, but will be filming interior and exterior scenes, you must break down the hours you’re filming interior and the hours you’re filming exterior (with details) in the scene description (EXAMPLE: 7am-2pm INT BAR: Various interior dialogue scenes. 2pm-8pm EXT BAR: Two actors walk and talk down sidewalk. They enter bar). Driving shots should be listed as a separate location in addition to any other scenes you’re filming.
  7. To obtain parking privileges you must list all your vehicles in the Vehicle Tab. If license plate numbers are unknown, input the vehicle type (cargo van, cube truck, campers, etc.) and add plate numbers by the first shoot date. If there are no vehicles listed in your Vehicles Tab, your parking requests will be removed and you permit will be approved without them.
  8. Only submit one permit per shoot date. List all your locations (in shooting order) for the day on the same permit.
  9. If you’re requesting only a half block or a quarter of a block of parking, please note in the Special Request Box which half or quarter. (EX: Half block closest to 6th Avenue or Mid-block, etc.)
  10. If you’re shooting at multiple locations and base camping vehicles in one place for the entire day, enter all your locations (in shooting order) without adding parking. Assign all your parking requests to the last location and make a note of this in the Special Request box for each block of parking. (EX: BASE CAMP: 6am-9pm)
  11. Once permits are submitted the system no longer allows you access to edit them. If changes have to be made, you must re-type the entire permit (incorporating your additions and/or changes) and re-submit with the same name but add the word *revised*. The original permit will be withdrawn by our office and the revised permit will be signed.
  12. Please read and answer all questions on the Questionnaire Page. Police assistance is ordered on the Questionnaire Page.
  13. There is a separate permit you must fill out when filming at a DCAS property. Select “DCAS” rather than “Shooting” from the “Permit Type” drop-down menu. The DCAS form has a different questionnaire page.
  14. Permits are reviewed and processed 72 to 48 business hours prior to your shoot day.
  15. Permit requests to film in Times Square must be submitted 7 business days prior to your shoot day.

Students

  1. If using school insurance, your company name must be the school’s name.
  2. The student named on the school’s insurance letter must submit their student ID. Both the letter and ID must be uploaded onto your account. The named student must also be an active user on the project (using the e-mail address your school has provided you).
  3. If you’ve purchased your own insurance and are using that instead of your school’s insurance, select “Feature Film” instead of “Student” as your Project Category. Then from the sub-category select “Short”.
  4. Students can only film in residential neighborhoods until 11:00pm.
  5. Scenes involving weapons, fight sequences, crime scenes, actors in police uniform, prop police cars or scenes requiring intermittent traffic control must be covered by the NYPD Movie / TV Unit.