Lost Boys Media Group is set to film our first feature film this spring break. Basically the whole movie needs to filmed on the beach or on the sand dunes. Fortunately were going to be staying at Nags Head beach on the NC outer banks, where jockey's ridge is. Jockey's Ridge has some huuuuge dunes which would be perfect for the setting of the movie. Do you think we would be able to film scenes there without getting into trouble? Remember were not like those crazy yankees that got away with everything in Brooklyn, lol. We would need a good amount of shots done up on the dunes, some which include the use of weapons for action sequences. Do you think we could do this? Any suggestions? Should we ask management there or just do it and hope for the best? Im almost positive its public, or atleast we know that there is no fee for going to Jockey's Ridge. Thanks for the help.

hmmm....

have you ever seen any authorities there (i.e, police, state troopers, coast guard, even life guards)?

EVEN if you're going to be there only a few hours and you've seen said authorities only ocasionally i'd still be slightly worried. guns just set off all sorts of trouble.

but if it's totally desereted give it a try. maybe start at 5 am or something and be out of there by them time visitors start showing up.

Well I have NEVER SEEN any police officers or such on the dunes or near it, althrough a small staff of 2-3 stay inthe small museum near it and keep track of things. As for weapons, it will actually be swords/staffs, but all of those scenes are at night and such so I doubt public will be around.

But we haev a couple tent scenes that dont involve weapons, but not sure if we can run in with dufflebags and film it soon enough lol.

hmmm.... if it's just 2-3 people in the musueme you may be able to approach them right before the shoot and say you're students, blah blah, doing a "school project", real nice, "is it ok to film some shots on the dunes?"

but if they say no you're screwed. i hate that choice. every time i've asked it's been ok, and half the time i havn't it's gone wrong...

good luck!!

oh, being there at night may arouse suspiscion if anyone sees you. lots of these places have a no entrance between dusk and dawn rule. don't know if that applies here.

If you should decide to ask them, do not ever mention anything about weapons of any kind. I personally would just try and get as much shooting as possible without asking and do my best not to get caught. There's way too big of a chance of them saying no. It's a 50% chance that you'll be able to make your movie. If you don't tell anyone, your chances are much higher that you'll be able to shoot it, and even if you do get caught, you can play the "we didn't know. it's for a school project" routine. the worst that will happen is that you'll get thrown out...but that may have already happened if you'd asked.

...Not that I condone the breaking of ANY rule (as my eyes scan the masses of studentfilms.com posters)...

I completely disagree with Durden. I had a friend that tried to do a ten minute movie that took him four hours. He didn't ask and a local police officer caught them. He fined them $150 for tresspassing on state property. So I would deffinetly ask first.

I think you should figure this one out for yourself. If you think it would be hot going around the beach with cameras and guns ask first, but if you don't then get a lookout and film to your heart's content. Good luck y'all and don't let anything stop you.

There are many factors that you must look at in this matter. Is the beach private or public (some beaches have times)? How long will it take to film? What kind of shots will you be taking? What is the weapon situation?

Only you know the situation. Prometheus raises a good point that you may want to consider, despite my rough-n-tough filmmaking methods.

If you have any doubt in your mind at all that you may get in trouble with the law, you should probably ask first.

Actually most of the filming (if we are allowed to) will be shot at jockeys ridge, a huge collection of sand dunes. It's not close to the beach at all. We wont be using guns at all either, only battleaxes, staffs, and maybe swords and knives. There is no entry fee but like we said earlier, just a little kiosk at the entrence with 3-4 people working. Thanks for the feedback though guys, please keep it coming!