<p>So I’m in the AT/Gifted program and every year we have to do a project, and I’m trying to think of a way to make mine work.
So I’m writing a film based on a legend. It’ll be about a serial killer. Fun stuff.
The film is going to follow this girl named Emma, who goes to the grocery store and meets this guy who lends her a few dollars to buy milk. He’s attractive, whatever, she’s a girl, goes home and tells her mom, who doesn’t believe her. The next day, Emma goes back to get cereal and sees him again. This time he gives her a rose. The next morning, her mother finds her dead, stabbed in the chest and abdomen and clutching the rose. She calls the police and it turns out that this is the work of a serial killer.
Does this sound okay/interesting?
I know how to film and set up lights and stuff and I know what I want it to look like, but I don’t know how to get people to act…I also don’t know if there are any rules about filming in public places. I need to film one scene at a grocery store. Are there any laws prohibiting this? I don’t really know. I might upload it to YouTube, with the consent of the actors, if I can find any…
I’m sorry if this seems to much like homework help, but I’d really appreciate the help of any actors/actresses, cinematographers, and budding lawyers 
I’m a writer, and I wanted to write a film, but I need some advice. Thanks! </p>
<p>How to get people to act: ask people around you / classmates, friends, etc. who fit your character description/personality or just have good acting skills and can mold to be whoever you want them to be.</p>
<p>Filming in public places: If you need to set up lights and cameras and the whole deal, then definitely ask the manager of the place first. It’s one thing if you just whip out your phone camera and discreetly film for a few seconds (none of the staff will notice), but if you’re visibly trying to shoot a film then they WILL kick you out. They kicked me out. You need the consent of the manager/owner of any commercial place (Walmart, Stop & Shop, Simon Malls, etc) to do your filming because they may be concerned about the publicity of what your video captures (such as prices, sales, merchandise) and if it leads to issues with spying competitors/accusations of paid advertising/trademark hulabaloo that I don’t understand.</p>
<p>I am not a lawyer, so lawyers feel free to correct me. This is what I remember from when I was stupid and naive and tried filming at a store in the mall, and what the angry people who chased me out told me.</p>
<p>Thanks 
How willing do you think they’d be? It’d be much more than a few seconds and would be a real camera on a tripod, probably. It’s two entire scenes, unfortunately.</p>