Is there any film school online?

Do I need a city-issued film permit to shoot a feature film on the campus of a public high school?

• I am a 20 year old college sophomore and have recently written a feature-length screenplay based on my old high school. In an ideal world, I would love to film this on the campus of said high school. I am aware that I need a film permit to shoot on city-owned property, but whether or not I need one to shoot on a public high school campus is iffy for me. Should I go for a permit, or simply talk to the principal to see if I can film there once school is out for the summer?

• Answer:

  I swould consult the principal first and if he or she agrees, then you're good to go. If you get a no, consult the district board. You should be fine shooting without a permit (or better, with the agreement of the principal/board -- get it in writing!) provided you're within the property boundaries of the school. However, if you were to shoot an establishing shot, say, across the street, then you'd need a permit. (I say that because I don't want it to seem as though I advocate getting shots without permission. If truth be told, my real advice in that situation would be to get the shot and if you get stopped, play dumb)