Filming Porn – location rules (UK)

Where is OK, where can get you into trouble.

Also : Very incomplete list of porn friendly locations

I am NOT a lawyer, but this is my understanding.

Also, this isn’t about FSSW or paid gang bangs. (Paid gang bangs, TLDR is that, IIRC, you can’t charge for an event at a location unless the location has relevant planning permissions. This was because back in the day people would organise crowded house parties, and, shit happened. Think houses burning down).

See longer notes about Location Releases.

Your home, that you own.

So long as you don’t disturb the neighbours too much, you’re all good. (Nothing daft outside…)

You CAN disturb them a bit. A party (gang bang shoot where no one has paid to attend, and the neighbours can’t quite tell what’s happening) every couple of months is just a party. One every week, is a nuisance.

You can sign Location Releases.

Your home, that you rent

You are entitled to Quiet Enjoyment of the property.

To cut some complexity, you can make porn and sign Location Releases, BUT ALSO your landlord can Section 21 evict you at any time anyway. (And even if S21 is banned, there is the argument that you breached the agreement by running a business without informing the landlord. IIRC landlords can’t stop you running a business that causes no issues, but they do have the right to be informed, so, fi you didn’t…)

So, practical advice, stay under the radar.

Anywhere with owners permission

With their permission you can do anything you can reasonably expect to be allowed to do in your own place.

Getting a Location Release from the owner is proof of that permission.

Outdoors

You must not be visible from ANY neighbouring property or right of way. That means roads, bridle paths, footpaths that no one uses but are on the map.

You will need a Location Release from the landowner.

TBH, yes you can get away with all sorts of stuff so long as you go off the beaten track, but that’s at your risk, and selling it will be restricted to “no location release required” platforms.

UPDATE : July 4 2023, a model reports OF deleting a load of outdoor content for which she HAD A LOCATION RELEASE. Apparently OF can’t verify it. I know, you’re ahead of me, and so I won’t do the rant about “wait until the notice they need them for indoors as well” , but have somewhere else to sell your outdoor stuff. Anyway, seems to be an OF only issue ATM.

Studios

Do what they allow, get a Location Release from them.

Hotels, Apartments etc

Assume you are breaking their T&Cs and stay under the radar. Most commercial places don’t care that you’re shooting porn, so long as it’s not obvious that it’s their place, and no one notices that you’re doing it.

SOME DO CARE. And you don’t know without asking, and if you ask, they say NO.

The basic rules are :-

• Stick to corporate bland – they almost certainly don’t care.
• Avoid AIRbnb – they’ll flat ban you for life if they catch you.
• Avoid unique or special properties. Sure, porn in the Cave House would be amazing, but will get you sued.

Also, none of these places will give you a Location Release, and if LR’s become more of a thing, that’s a problem.