Page 1/7 A Guide to Filming on Roads and with Vehicles

A Guide to Filming on Roads and with Vehicles

The following document is an introduction to filming on roads prepared by Film Victoria and contains

links to further resources available from VicRoads, Victoria Police and Film Victoria. Filming on roads,

while a routine and regular part of film making, involves a high duty of care from all stakeholders.

Safety is the first priority.

OVERVIEW 1. Location Manager

A Location Manager is responsible for the preparation of and getting approval for any filming permit

application on behalf of the production company. In Victoria, a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) and a

Notification of Filming Event form are generally required. The Location Manager can submit the TMP

together with a description of the filming event to the local Council and/or VicRoads for approval. The

Notification of Filming Event form can be submitted to Victoria Police for approval. When required, the

Location Manager will also inform the affected stakeholders including public transport providers, local

residents and traders of the proposed filming via email, letter box drop or sometimes in person.

The Location Manager should check the relevant websites for more information regarding the approval

process. The Location Manager can also contact the relevant authorities i.e. Local Council, VicRoads

or Victoria Police, to discuss the proposed filming.

If the proposed filming is complicated, in a busy area, on a high-speed road or the Location Manager

is less familiar with aspects of the proposed road filming then early contact (at least 20 working days)

with the relevant authorities is recommended. This is so that any safety issues can be identified and

addressed in a timely manner. A site meeting with the relevant road authorities and stakeholders may

be required to plan the best way forward. 2. Traffic Management Plans

A TMP is required when filming on a public road. Pre-qualified traffic management companies can

supply and implement the TMP based on the Location Manager’s brief of the locations, filmed action

and what is required. A “Memorandum of Authorisation” (MoA) is required before a TMP can be

implemented. VicRoads issue MoAs for activities carried out on an arterial road and Council issues an

MOA for activities carried out on a local road. A TMP should also be forwarded to Victoria Police for

consultation.

A TMP is still required when filming is carried out on a footpath or in parking bays as public roads

cover an area between the property line on one side of the road to the other side of the road.

For a typical filming activity, a TMP will contain intermittent traffic control (Hold and Release of

traffic/pedestrians) or a full road closure if longer takes are needed. The proposed TMP may need to

be adjusted following a review of the relevant authorities.

3. Local Council

To film on a local council road or footpath a local council permit is required. Applications and TMPs go

to the council’s Film Liaison Officer who will forward any road activity to appropriate departments like

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Traffic Engineering for review. Council may suggest changes to filming times to accommodate their

expected usage by the residents and general public or because of road works.

Most street filming is on local roads and it is a staple of film making. Common examples are to show

characters driving to work, talking on a footpath or to establish the community the character inhabits.

Filming on local roads is desirable and recommended as they carry lower traffic volume (lower safety

risk and traffic impact) and are quieter for recording sound.

4. VicRoads

VicRoads manages Victoria’s arterial roads including major roads, highways and freeways. VicRoads

does not manage tollways such as CityLink and EastLink. To carry out filming on an arterial road, a

number of permits may be required as described below.

a. Memorandum of Authorisation (MoA)

A MoA is required when a traffic control device (eg. A Stop/Slow bat) is used. A MoA is

normally required for filming activities that are not carried out on a road. For example, to film a

conversation between two actors on a footpath, a traffic controller with a Stop/Slow bat may

be required to stop pedestrians while filming is taking place. In this case a MoA approval from

VicRoads will be required if the footpath is on an arterial road.

b. Permit to carry out a non-road activity (Section 99B1)

A Section 99B1 is required when filming activity will create a significant impact to the

operation of an arterial road. E.g. a film shot requires an actor to run on or cross a road. To

film this scene safely, traffic will need to be stopped at both ends of the road. A Section 99B1

will be required in this case. A separate MoA approval is NOT required if a Section 99B1 is

required.

c. Permit for exemption from Road Rules (Section 99B4)

A Section 99B4 is required when a filming sequence requires the actor to carry out an action

that is considered unlawful under the Road Rules. For example, a shot may require an actor

to drive without wearing a seat belt or a car may need to drive on the “wrong” side of the road

to replicate a city in Europe. Section 99B4 needs to be published on the Victorian Government

Gazette to be legal. A fee of approximately $220AUD is required for the permit to be published

and this cost needs to be paid for by the applicant.

Other examples where an exemption from the Road Rules is required are:

● travelling in the back of a trailer or without a seatbelt

● riding a bicycle without a helmet e.g. cyclists in a film set in the 1930s

● driving on the wrong side of the road or exceeding the speed limit e.g. for a car chase

sequence

● using a modified vehicle on arterial or non-arterial roads. This includes camera mounts,

rigging, and dressed vehicles such as police cars, left hand drives; or

● vehicles being used are unregistered e.g. carnival float or F1 race car

Timeframe:

An application for filming on an arterial road should be made to VicRoads as early as possible so that

any safety or operational issues can be identified and addressed early. The applicant should allow at

least five (5) working days for a permit to be issued.

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For complex shots that require a closure of a major road, VicRoads should be contacted at least

twenty (20) days in advance.

VicRoads will consider each filming request on its own merits and will endeavor to assist with all

filming request. VicRoads has good knowledge of the road network and can recommend suitable

roads depending on the requirement of the shot. VicRoads generally will not support filming

applications that will create a safety risk to road users, especially to children, people with disability or

elderly people. Approval will also not be granted for filming activity that will cause traffic congestion to

the road network or create delays to public transport services especially during peak hours between

6.30am and 10.00am or between 3.00pm and 7.00pm.

5. Eastlink & CityLink

When filming is proposed to be carried out on CityLink or EastLink, Transurban or ConnectEast, the

toll road operator, needs to be contacted for permission. VicRoads and Victoria Police will need to be

consulted as required.

6. Victoria Police

Victoria Police should be informed of all filming activities on major public roads that require traffic

management. Most standard road filming activities will not require police presence or resources.

Use of camera mounts on a vehicle like a hostess tray (side mount) and bonnet rigs may change

the dimensions of the vehicle and constitute a breach of the Vehicle Regulations. Police presence may

be required and VicRoads must be consulted when altering vehicle dimensions in addition to

contacting the authority managing the road. Use of camera mounts on a public road always requires

traffic control of some description be it Victoria Police or private traffic management or both.

If filming with a specialist filming vehicle e.g. Low-Loader (mounting the car to be filmed on a

VicRoads permitted, specially modified vehicle) or tracking vehicle (filming of a hero vehicle from a

camera car) police supervision is required, as this is considered a “high-risk” activity. Police decide

what resources are needed and will prepare a Filming Event Action Plan often working in conjunction

with the Traffic Management Company and the relevant road management authority e.g.

VicRoads/Local Council/Toll Road Operator.

Filming with specialist vehicles may be in a “contained site” between traffic control points or on a “non-

contained” (open road) using police resources to create a “rolling block.” To film on an open road

with specialist filming vehicles, police position marked police cars at the front and rear of the filming

vehicles to create a buffer zone (rolling-block). This separates the filming activity from the general

public.

7. Filming inside a vehicle while traveling on a road

A filming permit is not required to film with a camera inside a normal car as long as the car is moving

with the normal flow of traffic, occupants are wearing seatbelts in an effective manner and the driver’s

vision is not obscured. Typically this is a very small camera placed in a corner of the windscreen or via

an operator filming from the back seat. The camera must be secured for safety.

The driver of the car should not be distracted, engaged in dialogue or operating the camera. Their

whole focus should be on safely driving the vehicle. Victoria Police recommend that all close-up

filming of actors behind the wheel of moving car on a road be performed using a low-loader.

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CONTACTS Victoria Police Film & Television Office Phone: (03) 9247 3259 or (03) 9247 6191 Email: film.tv@police.vic.gov.au

Web: Victoria Police Film & Television Services - Site contains filming examples and detailed

information on filming with Specialist Filming Vehicles. Vic Roads Permits and Events Phone: (03) 9854 2781 Email: vicroadsfilming@roads.vic.gov.au Web: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/

VicRoads Events and Filming FAQs

Film Victoria – Marketing & Production Attraction Phone: (03) 9660 3262 Email: locations@film.vic.gov.au Web: Screen Industry Code of Conduct Section 3.11 – 3.12 has additional information on the role of Victoria Police and VicRoads

USEFUL LINKS

Worksite Safety Traffic Management Code of Practice: Information on how to identify and

assess safety risks when working on a road. Guidance on the Memorandum of Authorisation

List of VicRoads prequalified traffic management companies (search under Traffic

Management Contract)

List of arterial roads (declared roads) responsible by VicRoads:

Victoria Road Rules (search for Road Safety Road Rules under Statutory Rules)

City of Melbourne filming page

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EXAMPLE CAMERA MOUNTS Bonnet Mount

Hostess Tray

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Side Passenger

Back Seat Camera

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SPECIALIST FILMING VEHICLE Low-Loader

Tracking Vehicle