Georgia Aquarium Commercial Filming Guidelines
1. Permission. The Georgia Aquarium’s vision is to be the world’s most engaging aquarium experience, and that vision extends to all members of the media. Requests to film and photograph at the Georgia Aquarium will be evaluated on an individual basis. We will try to accommodate any request that is made, but given the nature of operating an aquarium some requests may be denied.
The Georgia Aquarium reserves the sole right to grant or refuse access to any media organization based on the advice or request of staff members and to determine under what terms shooting may take place.
2. Request and Authorization. If your organization wishes to photograph or film at the Georgia Aquarium for any use other than private, you will need to get authorization from the Georgia Aquarium public relations staff. Formal requests to photograph or film should be submitted at least two weeks in advance. Last minute requests will be evaluated on an individual basis. No organization will be allowed to photograph or film the day of their request (no walk-ups).
The public relations staff will contact all desiring parties after their request has been submitted to discuss the nature of their shoot and what accommodations will be necessary.
The more advance notification your organization gives us, the better we can prepare to make your shoot as easy as possible. Please feel free to ask any questions or discuss any special needs you may have.
3. Location Fees. Location fees are determined by several factors, such as the intent of the project, its potential impact on the Aquarium, the potential promotional value to the Aquarium, the amount of support required by the Aquarium and the extent to which rights to the final product are shared with the Aquarium.
The 2008 basic fee schedule is as follows:
$10,000 per twelve (12) hour day
-or-
$3,000 for the first two (2) hours (two hours minimum)
$750 an hour for each additional hour needed
Additional aquarium staff or trade personnel may require additional hourly fees based on the nature of your project.
This fee schedule is a benchmark to which all projects will be evaluated. Depending on the details of your project and potential impact to the aquarium, the site fees may be more or less than the standard schedule. Any changes will be discussed before any agreement is signed.
4. Access. Production companies will have access to all public venues. “Behind the scenes” access is subject to approval by facilities’ personnel, husbandry personnel, veterinary staff, public relations staff and/or management and may be denied at any time.
The Georgia Aquarium’s responsibility is first to our collection and then to our guests. If at any time any Georgia Aquarium staff member believes the actions of the production company, or the actions of any individuals associated with the production company, threaten the well-being of any of the Aquarium’s animals, patrons or exhibits, the production company will alter or discontinue production until the threat is alleviated.
Any media or production personnel who interfere with any guests’ experience will be asked to leave, along with the rest of their organization. Re-admittance to the Aquarium will be at the discretion of the Georgia Aquarium staff.
5. Crew Approval. Crew size and equipment size must be negotiated and approved before the day of the shoot. Crews have until twenty-four (24) hours before their scheduled shoot to make changes to said agreement. Any deviations upon arrival of the crew will be allowed or denied at the discretion of the Georgia Aquarium staff. Each member of the crew will be held to the terms of this agreement upon its signing by a representative of the production company.
6. Lighting and Equipment. Due to the nature of Aquarium exhibits, auxiliary lighting, including flash photography bulbs and strobes, may not be allowed in designated areas of the Aquarium. Certain species of fish, birds and aquatic mammals are sensitive to their environment, including light and temperature. If there is reason to believe, by any member of the Georgia Aquarium staff, that the addition of auxiliary lights may in any way harm the collection at the Aquarium, or the exhibit they inhabit, said lighting will not be allowed, no exceptions.
Large filming equipment, such as cranes or dollies, must be approved by facilities’ staff before they will be allowed in the Aquarium. Any equipment that may interfere with Georgia Aquarium operations, restrict public access or potentially present a hazard to the general public will not be allowed in the Georgia Aquarium.
7. Filming in Exhibits. Some animals at the Georgia Aquarium are delicate along with the life support systems that maintain their environments. Requests to film inside any of the Georgia Aquarium’s exhibits will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please know that anyone requesting permission to dive must be SCUBA certified and medically capable of such activity. Certification is a preliminary requirement and does not guarantee dive access. Final approval will be at the discretion of husbandry and dive operations staff.
8. Damages. The production company will be held responsible for any damages to Aquarium facilities caused by any member of the shoot/film crew or induced by the actions of the shoot/film crew as a whole. If necessary, the Georgia Aquarium will repair or replace damaged areas, or contract for the repair or replacement of damaged areas or items, and bill the production company for the expense. The production company will have up to twenty-four (24) hours to reach a payment agreement with the Georgia Aquarium before legal action may be taken.
9. Insurance. Any organization wishing to film or photograph on Georgia Aquarium property must first secure a valid certificate of general liability insurance for no less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) listing the Georgia Aquarium as an additional insured for the date and location of the shoot. Any agreement between a media organization and the Georgia Aquarium shall be dependent on securing the certificate of insurance.
10. Parking. On-site parking at the Georgia Aquarium is contracted to Lanier Parking Systems. Any discounts or special accommodations must be negotiated directly through Lanier Parking Systems.
11. Catering. The Georgia Aquarium has on-site catering courtesy of Wolfgang Puck Catering/Restaurant Associates. Any catering, food or beverage needs must be negotiated with and serviced by Wolfgang Puck Catering/Restaurant Associates. No outside catering services will be allowed in the Georgia Aquarium.
12. Ownership. Photographs and footage taken at the Georgia Aquarium shall remain the property of the production company. The production company will provide a copy of the final product to the Aquarium for archive purposes at no cost to the Georgia Aquarium.
13. Credit. The production company shall acknowledge the Georgia Aquarium in its production for any photographs or film shot at the Aquarium.
14. Trademarks. Use of Georgia Aquarium trademarks including but not limited to images, logos, slogans, titles and names must be done so with the express written consent of the Georgia Aquarium.
The terms of this agreement must be agreed upon by the Georgia Aquarium and the production company before shooting may commence. The product of any shooting done at the Georgia Aquarium outside the terms of this agreement shall be forfeited to the Georgia Aquarium without compensation. Violation of one or more of the terms of this agreement by either the Georgia Aquarium or the production company may result in the termination of this agreement without compensation to the party at fault.
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