Filming Guidelines

• Rules/Regulations/Stipulations
• Filming Application

1. Permittee will provide trash and toilet facilities during dates the permit is in effect. At the completion of permit, clean up all trash, materials, supplies and removal of any temporary facilities will be done within two (2) days. Area(s) will be raked and returned to pre-filming conditions.
2. Permittee will provide "fire safe" cigarette containers for those who smoke. Cigarettes should not be discarded on the ground or in the brush at any time. (Note: If/when fire restrictions are in effect - additional restrictions will be placed on smoking).
3. Travel into the permitted area is limited ONLY to existing roads and trails unless specifically approved and written into the permit. Parking will be done alongside one lane of existing roads and trails. A staging area will be agreed upon in advance. Staging area(s) for equipment, support vehicles, van, motorhomes, etc., will be in an accessible, pre-selected and pre-approved site(s) that allow for turning vehicles around, parking, foot traffic and temporary storage of equipment/materials; without causing damage or disturbance to existing vegetation.
4. A BLM monitor will be present during portions of the filming activity and during placement of support vehicles prior to actual filming, if necessary. The monitor will be contacted by the film company prior to filming and give information on times and places of filming for each day. Spot checks may occur throughout the length of the permit.
5. A post site evaluation will be completed by BLM Program specialist/monitor within 10 days of final removal of equipment to assess cleanliness and any resource damage or non-compliance. The permittee will be notified if non-compliance or damage occurred and will be required to rehabilitate the site(s) to BLM standards. This may include, but not limited to; the purchase of seeds, cost of labor to rehab site, and/or monetary fines.
6. Fire restrictions will be followed during times of high fire danger. Open flames, detonation devices, internal combustion engines, campfires, generators, etc., may be shut down for periods of time or denied entirely should fire danger or weather conditions warrant.
7. Any use of fire requires a campfire permit which may be obtained through the BLM Office. Any pyrotechnic work will require a special permit obtained from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, call (760) 387-2565. We also require fire extinguisher, water, shovels and at times fire engine coverage, depending on extent of fire/pyrotechnic use.
8. The permittee agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the United States for any and all liability, including injury to persons or damage to property, which may result directly or indirectly from the use permitted. A Certificate of Insurance, co-insuring the USDI, Bureau of Land Management at 785 North Main Street, Suite E, Bishop, CA 93514 will be issued in the amount of $1,000,000.00 and be retained as part of this permit.
9. If artifacts of historical, archaeological or palentological significance are discovered on public lands, the permittee shall take reasonable care to preserve the artifact or object in its place and shall immediately inform the BLM Program Specialist or BLM Area Manager if specialist is unavailable.
10. This permit does not authorize the taking, harassing, killing or collection of any type of wildlife.
11. This permit does not authorize any removal, pruning or alteration of any vegetation, shrubs or wildflower species, unless specifically approved in advance and written into the permit.
12. Any AUTHORIZED disturbance must be returned to original condition upon completion of filming. If any hazard exists to recreationists, visitors, users, permittees, wildlife, etc., it must be clearly marked, fenced or barricaded to prevent accidents or cause wildlife mortality.
13. The BLM Program specialist must be notified of any commercial filming involving exotic (non-desert animals and plants not native to the areas such as camels, poppies, and other species). The permittees are responsible for controlling the animals and cleaning up after animals used to avoid dissemination of seeds or diseases in the desert. All manure and hay/feed will be entirely removed from sites and hauled to appropriate dump facilities.
14. Filming operations shall be conducted in such a manner as to avoid creating safety hazards to other public lands visitors and to the filming crews. The permittee shall use whatever signs, flagging, or other appropriate safety devices for the safe conduct of the filming operation. The County Road Department requires a "Special Event" sign or "People Working" to be posted 100 yards from filming site to forewarn visitors of activity- this is only on County operated roads, which includes the main Movie Flat Road, Whitney Portal Road, Tuttle Creek Road, and Horseshoe Meadows Road.
15. The permittee is fully responsible for any permits or approvals required by the State, local and other Federal Agencies. The main Movie Flat road is maintained by the County of Inyo Road Department and if filming will occur on the actual Movie Flat road, you are required to obtain a permit from them. Contact Diane Resien at (760) 878-0202. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power holds land in the Inyo and Mono counties and permits will be required from them to use their land.
16. The permittee will be required to contact the CHP for traffic control on roads during the filming. At times, if the production is minor and does not cause a safety concern, traffic control may be provided by the company. The CHP phone number is (760)873-3531.
17. During the duration of your permit, it is highly recommended that you engage security for the hours the set/area is unoccupied.
18. No dumping of sewage, trash or polluted water is allowed. You must transport waste out of the area to a proper holding facility. No dumping or draining of any hazardous materials, i.e., antifreeze, compounds used in construction, building materials, cement, make-ups, etc. Any "special visual effects" to be used or applied to any surface will be approved prior to filming.
19. If aircraft are used, the following information is mandatory: aircraft make, model and tail numberb. hours of operation each dayc. radio frequency on which aircraft can be contacted
20. THE PERMITTEE WILL PROVIDE A COPY OF THE PRODUCTION IN VHS FORMAT OR IN THE FORM OF ANY 8X10 PHOTOGRAPH, FOR THE BUREAU TO USE IN THEIR PUBLIC DISPLAYS DURING THE LONE PINE FILM FESTIVAL AND TRI-COUNTY FAIR EVENTS IN BISHOP. THESE PHOTOS MAY ALSO BE FEATURED ON OUR BLM WEBSITES; THEY WILL BE CLEARLY NOTED THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED BY YOUR COPYRIGHTS AND NOT TO BE REPRODUCED. THIS SHOULD BE PROVIDED NO LATER THAN 60 DAYS UPON FILMING COMPLETION IN THE AREA.
21. THE PERMITTEE WILL PROVIDE FILM CREDITS FOR MOVIES AND TELEVISION SHOWS. THE CREDITS MUST BE BEFITTING THE STATURE OF THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT.
22. The permittee will understand that the public lands are multiple use in nature, there when necessary, the BLM may authorize additional users in a given area (not close enough to interfere with filming). The permittee must be cognizant of other users needs in relation to each others own uses.
23. Contacts: Your initial contact will be with the BLM Program Specialist listed below:
    Donna McMullen, Program Specialist; (760) 872-5021, BLM Office Fax machine; (760) 872-5050. 

Other Useful Numbers: 

County Road Department (760) 878-0202
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (760) 872-1104
California Highway Patrol (760) 873-3531
Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce (760) 876-4444
Bishop Chamber of Commerce (760)873-8405
Calif. Dept. of Forestry/Fire Protection (760) 387-2565

• Land Use Application Form 2920 (Adobe PDF 59K)

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