Permit for filming movie in public?

[michiganDT]

I am part of the production crew for a small independent movie being made for a local film festival. We are going to have a scene that takes place in an alley where a drunk (pretending to be obviously) man is waving around a gun at a group of people who are attacking him. We figured we would notify the police that we are filming so they don't see the fake gun (which looks real) and intervene. My question though is about the public, the area is well visible to anyone walking by on surrounding streets and we worry that a well meaning citizen might try to intervene and cause problems. Would it be too much to ask to have an officer supervising the scene? It probably wouldn't be for more than a half hour to 40 minutes, and if so, what if any fees could we expect for this supervision?

[Fuzz]

I would think all of the cameras, crew, lights, etc would give it away to the public that it was a movie shoot, but who knows there are some stupid people out there. We have had officers assigned to work "movie" shoots from time to time when they are using roadways, public property and I'm sure the city billed them for the officers time. Im pretty sure they also were required to get a special event/use permit from the city.

[michiganDT]

Thats the thing, it's being filmed with a handheld camera so for all anyone knows it will be an actual fight being filmed for YouTube or something. I guess I will call the PD down the street and ask what they charge.

[Shaver]

Contact the local PD, you will probably have to obtain a permit from the City or Township. Something similar already happened in a City in Michigan. I believe that arrests were made(or at the very least, tickets issued).

[michiganDT]

Contact the local PD, you will probably have to obtain a permit from the City or Township. Something similar already happened in a City in Michigan. I believe that arrests were made(or at the very least, tickets issued).

Who was arrested and/or ticketed for what? Do you have a link? I know the shot Jumper in a local city recently but they had police presence for the shooting.