Commercial Filming and Photography Application

APPLICATION PROCESS

Download the form(s) here: Short Form I Long Form

The National Park Service and Fort Bowie National Historic Site require an application to be submitted for review of the project. The short form is to be used for still photography and some smaller video/film projects. The long form is to be used for more complicated video/film projects where more information is required to evaluate the application. The completed application must be submitted with $100.00. The $100.00 is a non-refundable application and administrative charge. This fee should be in the form of cash (though not by mail) or certified check.

Remember, you are dealing with a Federal government agency and we have guidelines and time lines we must follow when considering projects which involve potential impacts to our park resources. Moreover, we must do this within pre-existing projects and workloads. Do not expect a one-day turnaround. Provide as much lead time as possible. Include us at the idea stage. It is easier for us to adjust to changes as the plan evolves, than for us to try to rush through a review of a finished plan that needs to be implemented tomorrow. Up to two weeks may be required for administrative review of a complex proposed filming activity while smaller projects can generally be reviewed within three business days. Please allow adequate time for this review process as questions may arise that would delay a decision.

If Your Application is Approved

Upon approval of the application, you must present certificate of insurance and a $100 permit fee. If it is deemed that a monitor (NPS employee) is to be assigned to your project, there will be a minimum fee of $154 per monitor for the first two hours and $50 per monitor per hour thereafter. A minimum of $154 per monitor will be charged for any assignment, including the cancellation of a given project, regardless of the reason.

Public Law 106-206 instructs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to "establish a reasonable fee for commercial filming activities or similar projects on Federal lands…" Early in April, 2006, the National Park Service published a final rule removing the prohibition against the NPS charging a fee "for the making of motion pictures, television productions or sound tracks…" Beginning May 15, 2006, a location fee will be charged for all commercial filming and still photography permits. The location fee is in addition to cost recovery charges that are currently being collected.

As of 2009 the following location fee schedule is in effect:

Motion Pictures/Videos Commercial Still Photography

Motion Pictures/Videos		Commercial Still Photography
1-10 people	$150/day	1-10 people	$50/day
11-30 people	$250/day	11-30 people	$150/day
31-49 people	$500/day	31-49 people	$250/day
Over 50 people	$750/day

*Wildlife photographers and videographers with crews consisting of 1-3 people will not be charged the location fee. Permitting and monitoring fees will still be applicable when required.

General liability insurance is required. This is an original certificate of insurance with a rider stating that the United States of America is named as additionally insured and must be provided to the park before the permit is issued and filming begins. Insurance amounts may vary depending on the complexity of the project as well as risks. The general bond schedule is:

• Personal liability: $300,000
• General commercial liability for video or film production companies: $1,000,000
• When using boats, employing stunts or other higher risk activities: between $2,000,000 to $5,000,000

Some projects may require a performance bond or cash deposit. The purpose of the bond is to insure that the natural area or historic feature is left in as good a condition as it was prior to the filming, and to cover any unpaid costs incurred as part of the project. Generally, bonds or deposits will be required in amounts at least equal to the estimated cost to the Government for clean up and/or restoration that would be necessary if the permittee fails to perform the restoration process to the satisfaction of Fort Bowie National Historic Site's personnel.

All filming permits issued by the National Park Service are "revocable" on 24-hours notice or without notice if the terms of the permit are violated. Deliberate infractions of terms contained in the filming permit or the deliberate making of false or misleading statements concerning intended actions in order to obtain a permit are causes for immediate termination of the permit and for possible prosecution. At Fort Bowie National Historic Site : Permission is required; Forgiveness is NOT an option.

Please remember that this is a National Park Service site and we are protecting resources for generations to come. We take that responsibility seriously.

Commercial photographers and their crew, who obtain a filming permit from the NPS are recognized as not being in the park for recreational purposes for the duration and purposes of that permit, and as such, are specifically exempted from paying entrance fees under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCFA) and the current Recreational Fee Demonstration Program.

On-camera appearances by employees are allowed under the following conditions:

• The employee is selected and/or approved by park management, and is depicted performing his or her normal duties, or serving as a subject matter expert.
• The employee's appearance supports NPS goals and has a beneficial effect for the Service.
• The role is not scripted.
• The employee is paid by the park as part of his or her regular working hours. The permittee will reimburse the park for this cost as part of the monitoring cost recovery.
• If the filming requires overtime or back filling of positions, the NPS will be reimbursed for any such additional costs through the permitting process.
• The Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees apply. Generally, employees are forbidden from accepting gratuities from prohibited sources. However, there are exceptions that allow employees to accept modest items of food and refreshment.
• Off duty Government employees may work for filming companies only if they do not perform or appear to perform official duties. Personnel engaged in actual supervision of the permittee are not allowed to engage in off-duty employment with the filmmaker under any circumstance. The Superintendent must approve off-duty employment requests.

GOVERNMENT PROPERTY and SYMBOLS

Government property, including the uniform, will not be used, loaned or rented to a film company, or diverted from its normal use, for filming purposes except as stated in 43 C.F.R. 20.735.15 - Rental of NPS equipment on a reimbursable basis pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1

Government Symbols: Use of the NPS Arrowhead in titles, credits or other deliberate disclosures requires the permission of the NPS Director (36 C.F.R. 11.2 and Special Directive 93-7).

Special Directive 93-7 declares that use of the Arrowhead is controlled through law and regulation. Hence, under 36 C.F.R. 11.2, the Director may authorize the use of the Arrowhead "for uses that will contribute to the purposes of education and conservation as they relate to the program of the National Park Service." The NPS may actively assist filming and photography activities that promote public understanding and appreciation of the National Park Service, and the Director may authorize use of the arrowhead symbol for such filming projects. All other uses are prohibited, such as advertising, promotional or directly commercial purposes.

Incidental filming of the symbol which may include the shoulder patch of an uniformed employee, an NPS vehicle or an entrance or similar sign is not prohibited.