Police
From my experience, the police are
not too concerned about mobmov activities. It is very clear at a glance what we
are doing, and that it is safe and legal. But I always bring along any licensing
documents to prove myself just in case of inquiry.
In the course of
running my own mobmov, there have been two police drive-bys. Both times, the
friendly cop slowed down for a harrowing few seconds, took shape of the scene,
and then drove on their merry way. Once a policeman approached me after a show
and asked me what station we transmit on, so he could tune in next
week!
I suppose that at 10pm at night in a dark area of town, we really
are the least of their worries. If anything, our presence makes it safer.
However, there are three main points to keep in mind to minimize the possibility
of attracting (negative) police attention:
Noise pollution: One of the
important features of a mobmov is there is usually a very low level of noise
generated. Walk-ins, on the other hand, must blare their audio over
loudspeakers. This sort of distraction is the kind of thing that will attract
the attention of the police, but as a mobmov owner you can be less wary. Even
still, a mobmov showing can be very noisy depending on the environment and the
patrons. Keep an ear on it and you should be okay.
Light pollution:
Always be very keen about where you show your movie. I'd highly recommend
against showing in a residential area or worse- on a residential building. This
can generate some very strong complaints, and might get you fined for disturbing
the peace.
Trespassing: If you will be inviting cars into a parking lot
or other space owned by someone other than you, make sure you get permission to
show there first. We've had reasonable success projecting onto dimly lit walls
from the street, so that no one is parked on private property. As far as I'm
aware, there is yet no law prohibiting trespassing with light. Please be aware
that any public property, such as schools or parks, are usually heavily guarded
against after-hours trespassing. You will very likely be dispersed and
questioned if caught showing a movie on public grounds (this happened to the
Santa Cruz GDI). When in doubt, check with the city or your local police.
If you'll be showing where there's neighbors, invite them to attend. Not
only may you grow your audience, but if people know about it and feel included,
they'll be less likely to cause a fuss.
That's It! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any questions or
suggestions, mail me here on instructables or leave a comment and I'll be sure
to get back to you!
Also, check out mobmov.org, where budding urban projectionists
like yourself can join our growing movement. Now, go light up the
night!
