I Briefly had my car on Craigslist this summer. Got a call from someone claiming to want my car for a photoshoot. With all the scams tied to craigslist just wondering if this may not be legit. He game me a price he would pay for the day .Also stated approximately where it would be. It sounds legit but Im guessing they all do .? If anyone has used their car in ads or movies what is the going rate ?
I am being a bit paranoid Im sure ,open to thoughts
Thanks Bill 14869
Get a contract with a specified $ amount. Proof of their insurance. And insist you bring the car and be with the car at all times. But it does sound sketchy. I can't imagine any video company would be looking at Craigslist ads for cars to use.
I have tons of horror stories about classic cars involved in movie shoots, (and they were the legit ones). So yes, while watching for scams is always an issue, you can also run into all sorts of problems with the so-called "legit" shoots. Too much to begin writing about, but if you decide to get involved re-read Dave's reply to your post as is good advice. I would insist that the contract also specify precisely how the car will be used and under what conditions, storage, how it will be transported to a location, mileage to be incurred, etc. I would add a clause stating that an additional reasonable sum for cleaning be included. Meaning that you will receive those funds to have the car detailed by a professional of your choice. I would also prefer to deal directly with those doing the shoot rather than any middle man. You are not being 'paranoid' Bill. Clay/Lexi
Lots of good advice. I would say there are two separate categories here. In one you provide the car and control it such as driving it to a position where they can get the shots they want. You would have full control and knowledge in this one. I see no big issue!
In the other category you would be allowing someone else to drive it and possibly out of your control and in this one take full precautions as mentioned above.
Also, google the outfit and ask for references. Make sure you are comfortable. A number of years ago I got a call from someone wanting my '59 for a photo shoot. They wanted to send a truck to pick it up. I was very skeptical. I asked for references,and was given the names of all the top people in our region. Turns out the photographer was Ron Kimball, the guy who shoots many of the old car calendars and is one of the premier automotive photographers.
You are not being paranoid. Unfortunately, this is the world we live in now. I have checked out everything and researched it to death before I proceed with any transaction these days. Remember it's your car.
If it aint gonna go the way you want it to then say g'bye.
I would probably turn it down.
Your insurance company won't pay for damages when used commercially and yes this will be a commercial venture, someone is making money on it.
Insurance will not pay for a car that is coerced from you. If you give up the keys for any reason and they don't return with it, tough luck.
Just my 2 cents
I've had numerous requests, offers and business cards left wanting to use one of my cars for a commercial or album cover etc, never felt the desire or need to do it.
No one will be as careful with your car as you.....
I used mine for a coupe of wedding shoots. I was with the car the whole time. In one they wanted to drive around the block and take pictures. I drove and the photographer sat in the passenger seat. I charged them $100 for 15 min of actual shoot time. If it was a professional shoot for and ad or something like that I would charge at least $100 hr from the time you leave your house to you get back. with a 2 hr minimum.
Not to throw a wet blanket on renting a car out for a wedding photo shoot, but why on earth would a couple want to have their picture taken in a car they have no connection to?
Seems weird.
Fast forward 15 years:
Son: Dad, was that yours and moms car you guys were in when you got married?
Dad: No son, we just rented that car to have our wedding pictures taken with it.
Son: That's stupid.
I have used my cars for weddings, but only for friends and relatives, and they have always used the cars as a part of their photography sessions.
But, weddings are different, as the owner/driver of the vehicle is always there to ensure that nothing happens to damage the vehicle.
I don't charge for weddings, and as a result, I don't use my cars for un-related weddings, as they are a pain in the backside to do as once one starts doing weddings for profit, the cost of insurance, registrations etc climb, and ones' spare time is completely eroded.
Another reason I don't do formals.
Bruce. >:D
PS. Thankfully they don't use Confetti at weddings any more as the dye from the pieces would stain the upholstery when it got wet, and it was very hard to clean up.
I agree with Tassie's point and what several others have said on this.
The only weddings I have done is for a few friends. Once you engage
in a "for profit" business your insurance may take a dim few of your
activities. You will most likely not be covered for this. Also, letting anyone
else drive your vehicle (especially without you) is a great risk in the
event of any accident insurance-wise.
Since I have invested quite a bit of time, effort and money in my cars,
it's just not worth the risk and hassle to me.
Mike
Yep, and I did not delve much into the insurance perils in my earlier post. Presumably their insurance would cover all costs in the event of a claim (with your insurer probably taking a dim view and a pass on coverage). They did not build all those skyscrapers by paying out a lot of claims! What coverage would you ultimately have? Who wants to find out! Agreed that there are basically the 2 types of shoots as noted in Gary's post, and you did not provide specifics. The posts that followed definitely addressed the major risks involved given various situations. Frank was right when he said "No one will be as careful with your car as you". If the shoot involves you losing control of your car; i.e. them shipping it to a location, storing it, others driving it, etc... watch out! An informal shoot among friends-helping a buddy out for a wedding, that sort of thing is further down my risk list but as my dad used to say, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions". The devil is always in the details so take all suitable, reasonable precautions. Clay/Lexi
Quote from: chrisntam on October 19, 2017, 09:37:50 PM
Not to throw a wet blanket on renting a car out for a wedding photo shoot, but why on earth would a couple want to have their picture taken in a car they have no connection to?
Seems weird.
Fast forward 15 years:
Son: Dad, was that yours and moms car you guys were in when you got married?
Dad: No son, we just rented that car to have our wedding pictures taken with it.
Son: That's stupid.
He got a hold of the clc in stl and they sent a email to the members asking for a cadillac convertible. He has a thing for old cadillacs. Most people rent limos they have no connection to. Life would be very boring to never take some risks.
I had a positive experience allowing my cars to be used in a TV show being filmed here locally in Salt Lake, the show was called Granite Flats, I became comfortable enough with the "Transportation Captain" that I would leave my car with him while I went to work, I was paid 250.00 cash for each car per use which most of the time they just sat on the street for background , my cars are nice drivers and driven often so if something were to happen it wouldn't be the end of the world. I was always allowed to be on the set if I chose and enjoyed breakfast, lunch etc. Not to mention the experience of seeing how these productions are made. Over the shows run I made enough money to put electricity and sheetrock / insulation in my garage. I now have photos framed and hanging in my garage from different scenes. I have attached one shot.
I just loaned some props to a production that took place in 72 and I asked the person I was dealing with where they got the cars. Sounds like the main 2 cars which was a Camaro like thing and a police car that characters drive in the movie came from a rental company in LA. The big productions use a service usually based in LA that owns a ton of their own cars and has their own fleet of transport rigs. Some of them are big enough that they can supply 100's of cars from a specific era.
These big rental companies apparently have partners or agents in major cities that know and work with local clubs. The local cars end up being 'extras' and are often just parked or are seen in a quick shot just driving down the street. Sometimes there is some sort of contract and pay. Other times its more of a club event where people just show up and park and then hang out in a tent near by and watch the shoot (which is almost always really boring). I would imagine the local agent keeps and builds their own database of contacts and cars of people willing to consider participation.
The recent production I loaned the stuff to apparently involves the cop car getting destroyed. Apparently a local club member had a similar car he was or did part out for sale so they bought it and quickly painted it to look enough like the cop car that they switched it out when it was time for the fire.
There can be a lot of politics involved in 'real' movie shoots and there are cities and states that can make it tough for productions. Its odd stuff like paying LA union scale to shoot in a cornfield and tax stuff. Some places have incentives where they pay productions to come to their city. Its a big mess and that is even before you start to try and start shooting. Those are the sorts of reasons some places have lots of production going on and others have very little. Most big cities have a 'film board' that helps productions find and get permits to shoot and has contacts for things like cars and extras. Popular places to shoot like Times Square or the Vegas Strip likely have their own boards with several employees.
There used to be a registry for classic and odd vehicles in Seattle area because many films were being shot here.
The TV show "Twin Peaks" was filmed in Roslyn Washington and A guy I knew back then worked as an extra. primarily because his old truck had a Bulldog hood ornament and he parked it in front of the tavern and drank beer during the street shots. I don't think he was ever on TV, just the truck.
Quote from: chrisntam on October 19, 2017, 09:37:50 PM
Not to throw a wet blanket on renting a car out for a wedding photo shoot, but why on earth would a couple want to have their picture taken in a car they have no connection to?
Seems weird.
Fast forward 15 years:
Son: Dad, was that yours and moms car you guys were in when you got married?
Dad: No son, we just rented that car to have our wedding pictures taken with it.
Son: That's stupid.
Other than things like the bride's dress and the rings, I think most things are often "rented" for weddings including the tuxedos, church/temple, reception venue, limousine, etc. I'm sure most newlyweds seen in pictures in and around a limousine didn't actually own that limousine nor have any connection to it. I don’t think a couple choosing to rent something different, like a classic car or even a horse drawn carriage, to use over a traditional contemporary limo for photo shoots is weird or stupid.
Quote from: Big Apple Caddy on October 22, 2017, 12:17:43 PM
Other than things like the bride's dress and the rings, I think most things are often "rented" for weddings including the tuxedos, church/temple, reception venue, limousine, etc. I'm sure most newlyweds seen in pictures in and around a limousine didn't actually own that limousine nor have any connection to it. I don’t think a couple choosing to rent something different, like a classic car or even a horse drawn carriage, to use over a traditional contemporary limo for photo shoots is weird or stupid.
Of course most things are rented. They are generic - tuxes look alike, limos look the same, churches are similar. A classic car stands on its own. When I got married (the first time), pics were taken in the church, at the reception and at my '55 Chevy (we both had a connection to that car). Second marriage no car pics were involved, that marriage stuck!
I just think it's pointless to have a really cool car in your wedding pictures and it's not yours. I guess he didn't want to use his Geo Metro.....
As Chrisntam rightly pointed out most things are rented, from tuxes to the Limo and all look more or less the same, (though there are classic Limos for hire). But you can only take that debate so far. Getting married is a special event in a couple's life with the honeymoon supposedly being the ultimate 'vacation' in a sense. So why not a classic car somewhere in your shoot? Similar to getting a shot of you and the new spouse at a historical landmark or on on the deck of the Queen Mary at Longbeach, California, for example. That is the time to do new things and have an adventure, to infuse that 'wow' factor into your big day. For many people it will be the most lavish time of their lives, (and the most costly). If you want your pics to look like they have all pppped out of the Sears catalog, then go for what most everyone else does. I think it comes down to personal taste, but I certainly don't see anything odd with a couple wanting to have a photo taken of themselves on their big day, in a classic car. Some of them even opt for the horse drawn carriage ride.
It is largely about ambiance and the adventure of having a lavish time spent on yourself knowing that after the honeymoon real life begins. Having a classic car not owned by the couple in their shoot should not be taboo, as they also did not own the Limo that took them to the Church. Yes, both are pretentious, but its their time to be King and Queen for a day. They don't own the Church either, and some opt for old school Ecclesiastic charm to escape the un-inspired, institutionalized look of many modern Churches. Some don't even regularly attend Church. It is all 'fake' in that sense.
I have friends who will never be able to afford a classic car but wanted one in their wedding. That was as close as they ever got to having one. They actually DID have a connection to the cars, but not in the sense of ownership-but in the fact that they had a passion for them all their lives. Just something they wanted to do and their wedding gave them that opportunity. You don't have to have a physical connection to a classic car in order to have a connection with them. Many of us have had that same connection since we were young, which developed into the passion that we now enjoy. Most of us just happen to be the lucky ones as we currently own a vintage automobile and can experience the classic car dream on a daily basis. Clay/Lexi
Working for a number of years in the film industry by far the first step I would recommend is to research who is asking for the photo shoot and what kind of shoots the car will be used for. Ask for credentials, websites, Facebook page, previous works done before even worrying about the car or committing to anything. If it's a medium size or larger studio I would not worry as much as if it's a private photographer. Studios have their own insurances and more careful handling things as they are more vulnerable for lawsuits. Studios also often have a person designated just to handle assets while a private photographer could not have as good insurance and probably more concerned about 'making the shot' instead of worrying about other things. Also best to sit down with the person ahead and discuss what exactly the car will be used for. Also let them know of the value of your car or cost of repairs if damaged.
So find credentials and verify legitimacy first, then if you feel safe handing your car over to them write (or sign) a contract on renting and liabilities. Also best to be present (or have a rep present) while the shooting takes place to see exactly what is the car used for and how it is handled.
Quote from: Mike Josephic CLC #3877 on October 19, 2017, 10:14:31 PM
The only weddings I have done is for a few friends. Once you engage
in a "for profit" business your insurance may take a dim few of your
activities. You will most likely not be covered for this.
No, they won't take a dim view. The magic words are, "not covered".
Classic car insurance usually (always?) excludes commercial use.
Our chapter (Las Vegas) was contacted a few months ago. Wealthy folks were flying in from the east for an Elvis themed wedding (again, it's Vegas . . .). They were offering, iirc, $200/car for ten classic Cadillacs to drive from the airport to the Chapel (10-15 minutes).
Someone at the meeting (probably me) pointed out the insurance issue. After we checked, and found a $50 rider for each commercial use, limit 2 or 3 a year, they offered to pay that, too.
Oddly, the years they specified actually excluded the year of Elvis' first Cadillac--he bought it used, as the choice was a new chevy or a used caddy. I think they jumped on it when we pointed out not only the error, but that we had a member eager to show with one . . .
Anyway, bottom line is that you are probably *NOT COVERED* renting out your car unless you pay the rider, or are covered by the studio, even if it's you behind the wheel.
hawk