Shooting in Businesses

[Lederhosen19]

Will a store or restaurant allow you to film at they're location just by asking? I want to use Starbucks in a scene of my film. And I'll be shooting an outdoor shopping area, where stores will be visible (though, I don't think they'll mind).

[EDIT: Pardon my misspelling of "Businesses"]

[Worley]

Ask the manager of the store what the policy is.

I would say it's better to ask a business that closes as certain times during the day (eg restaurant) as that way you won't be disrupting their core business, and you won't have to ask other shoppers/diners to sign release forms if they appear in the background.

Small business owners may be more accommodating.

[filmchild]

Also, make sure you keep any brand logos out of view. That means logos on the outside of building, on t-shirts, water bottles, etc.

[veg]

Under UK Law you are allowed to film in a public place as long as you don't cause an Obstruction on a Public Highway.
If the stores are in "A Mall" then you will need to get permission from the Mall owners.
"I want to use Starbucks in a scene of my film."
Why not ask Starbucks?
veg

[bluegrass]

be descreet. people take photos all the time in restaurants. the only difference is your shooting a bunch of photos very quickly. probably 24 to 30 of them each second. if you're obviously shooting a scene for a movie, i would ask but if you just indescrimantly take out you camera and pan around and shoot for a few seconds, i wouldn't make a big deal out of it. i totally disagree about worrying about logos, tshirts, candybars at the checkout counter. that's a bit rediculous. how many home movies, photos, for that matter "the funniest home videos" wind up with some name brand in them. how many times have you seen a photo or a video taken on a city street that shows signs with the name of stores or ads in them?

[Chicken Warrior]

First of all, we don't know what the scale of lederhosen's project is, nor what he wants to shoot in the environment.

I have heard that for private business (even if 'public' spaces), it's a good idea to get a basic permission form signed. I would avoid having logos in focus, but depending on your budget/crew/camera/distribution size, you might not have to worry about anything else.