If you’re a regular reader of exposingFashion.com, you know that I oppose the New York City Mayors office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting’s proposal to charge a $300 New Project Application Fee for each new project seeking to shoot on New York City property and requiring a permit.

On June 3rd, 2010, the Mayor’s office held a hearing to hear opinions on the matter. Deputy Commissioner John Battista sat up on the stage as at least 10 different film, broadcasting and photo related organizations stepped up to the microphone to express their opposition to the proposal.

Yesterday, ASMP posted the Joint Statement that ASMP Executive Director, Eugene Mopsik, read on behalf of APA, ASMP, EP and NPPA.

Here’s the text of the Joint Statement:

To:Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting
From: APA, ASMP, EP & NPPA
Re: Amendment to Chapter 9 of Title 43
Rules of the City of New York

The boards of directors and members of the undersigned photography trade associations are opposed to the proposed amendments to Chapter 9 of Title 43 of the Rules of the City of New York. The named associations represent the interests of almost 18,000 professional photographers, many of whom from time to time engage in the practice of their craft on the streets of New York City. Many of these photographers are also residents and tax payers of New York. Through their small businesses they support a myriad of businesses and service providers including prop houses, modeling agencies, film labs, digital post-production services, assistants, insurance companies, caterers, camera and grip equipment sales and rental companies, and more. The passage of this amendment will have a chilling effect on the ability of small producers and individual photographers to work on the streets of New York City.

Amendments are Discriminatory
The amendments as proposed are discriminatory and place an undue burden for most still photographers. The percentage of jobs with budget for the $300 New Project Account application is diminishing. It makes no sense to charge a television studio the same fee for a season of production as an editorial or commercial photographer for a one-day production of a much smaller scale.

Waiver Lacks Guidelines
There are no guidelines for the establishment of the New Project Account application fee waiver, only guidelines for the insurance certificate waiver. The burden of demonstrating unreasonable hardship is on the applicant and appears to be totally arbitrary. The time involved in securing a waiver may in fact preclude waiver application for many small jobs on a tight time schedule – exactly the jobs that should be subject to waiver.

Places Burden on Those Least able to Pay
In these difficult economic times, it is not equitable to shift the burden of budgetary shortfall onto the shoulders of those least able to pay and struggling to maintain their businesses in New York City.

In regard to the insurance coverage, we support the proposed change requiring certificates of insurance as per City of New York requirements.

In summary, the creation of the New Project Account application by the MOFTB is ill conceived and will produce exactly the opposite of the desired effect by diminishing the number of productions on the streets of New York and reducing the overall revenue to the City and the related suppliers.

You can also read it here:
http://asmp.org/articles/press-release-10-06-03.html

About the author

Kevin Michael Reed
Kevin Michael Reed (Google+, Facebook) is a fashion & beauty photographer and producer/director based in New York City and Los Angeles, CA. He is the President/CEO of RedFOG Visual Media, a production company in New York City, and a partner in Passion of Photography, Inc, a company dedicated to teaching photographers and sharing our passion through charitable causes. Kevin has lectured and hosted workshops throughout the United States and the world teaching photographers the business and creative sides of photography. (Kevin's Fashion & Beauty Photography Portfolio can be seen here).

Related Posts