How do I go about getting a bar to film in?
Answers:
Literally go in and ask them explain that youre an indepentent director so therefore you havent the finaces but say that you will mention them in the credits and recommend there bar to every1 you know.Also offer the staff a cameo role (walk on etc.) this usually goes down well ;)Also worth mentioning that the cast and crew are avid drinkers and will therefore bring lots of business!!
Other answers:
you want to use it for free???? find bars, talk to owners. film in the morning, hopefully get some light. Say "free adverising to college kids"
you want to use it for free???? find bars, talk to owners. film in the morning, hopefully get some light. Say "free adverising to college kids"
If you're going to shoot in a bar, then you have two options - you can film in an open bar or a closed bar. If the bar's closed then you'll likely have to pay someone from the staff to be there after hours, which costs money. A better solution for you might be to find a bar that will allow you to film while they're open. To do that, you'll need to post signage near every entrance that says something along the lines of "Filming taking place inside! By entering the premises you give your permission for us to use your image..." blah blah blah. That means you get background actors for free and the bar looks like, well, a bar instead of an empty place with six of your friends sitting in the background trying to look like a crowd. Shooting in a working bar will mean that you have to plan your lighting and sound out *very* carefully (especially sound!), but the added realism of the crowd will make up for a lot of shortcomings that would come with shooting after hours.
Something else to consider is product placement. If you're not referencing a product in a defamatory way or making it a prominent element in the scene or story, then Fair Use guidelines state that you're allowed to use any trademarks that you want (in the US, I'm assuming you have similar protections in Canada.) However, you should definitely look into trying to get some consideration (money or product or whatever) from any brands that you can work into the shot. If you have local or indie breweries in the area, they'll likely be glad to throw a few dollars (or a case) at you for having your characters drink their specific brand. Larger breweries would be slower and less likely to respond, but it's still worth a stamp or a phone call to find out.