Location International 2018 featured this story about FilmApp including and interview by Chairman and founder, Andrew Pavord.
FILMAPP STREAMLINES THE BUREAUCRACY OF PERMITTING AND MAKES IT EASIER FOR PRODUCTIONS TO LIAISE WITH RESIDENTS, THE POLICE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Produced by the UK’s Apply4 Technology and subsidiary FilmFixer, Atlanta became the first city in Georgia to use FilmApp in 2016. Among the films shot recently in Georgia to have used the tool are Black Panther and Baby Driver (2017). FilmApp inventor and Chairman and founder of Apply4 was a location manager for many years.
“There are always so many little things involved in getting permits,” he says. “The process can take an incredibly long time and, when you’re doing multiple location shoots, it can be very costly in both time and money.”
The first edition of FilmApp was launched in London in 2009. Filmmakers applied online to the relevant permitting agent, who issued a permit based on the data supplied. Version two raised the bar by allowing online payments to be make and facilitating the cross borough/city transfer of data. Version three included messaging, reminders and advanced document management.
The latest version is entirely cloud-based allowing secure communication between the applicant and administrator throughout the permitting process. Andrew Pavord says FilmApp has proved especially helpful in forging good relationships with residents, who can easily shut a location down if they are unhappy. “But we’ve found that, if residents are informed in advance in the right way, the actual welcome the benefits that can accrue from filming.”
