The film crew apologizes! Filming an idol drama on location, angrily smashing a student's drone
[2] Compiled from: Red Star News, Xiaoxiang Morning Herald
On September 13, the production team of the TV drama "Hidden Love" issued an apology statement regarding the incident of "smashing a student's drone at a school," stating that "during preparations in the filming area, a crew member mistook the student's drone for a paparazzi device and threw it." They expressed that "after the incident, they immediately contacted the student through the school, and will subsequently compensate for the drone through the school."
Case review
The drama stars Zhao Lusi, Chen Zheyuan, Ma Boqian, and others. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Zhu Yi, it began filming in August 2022 and is currently shooting at Xiamen Institute of Technology.
The incident began on the evening of September 11, when a student at Xiamen Institute of Technology posted a video on Douyin, claiming that his drone, which he was using to film the campus, was struck down by a crew member, with the caption “Come and see how classy some film crews are.”
[6] The student also stated that he had not leaked any spoilers, the building he filmed was not the filming location, and the crew had already finished work for the day.
Criminal Law
Article 275
Whoever intentionally destroys public or private property, if the amount involved is relatively large or if there are other serious circumstances, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, or a fine; if the amount involved is huge or if there are other especially serious circumstances, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years.
Public Security Administration Law
Article 23
Whoever commits any of the following acts of infringing upon public or private property, if the act is not serious enough for criminal punishment, shall be detained for not more than 15 days or given a warning, and may also be fined not more than 200 yuan, either singly or concurrently.
(1) Stealing, defrauding, or forcibly taking a small amount of public or private property;
(2) Forcibly seizing public, collective, or personal property in a mob;
(3) Extorting or blackmailing public or private property;
(4) Intentionally damaging public or private property.
[1] The author's perspective
Although the behavior of obsessive fans is now disgusting, and the acts of secretly filming or taking photos on behalf of others harm the interests of the crew and actors, this does not mean that crew members can arbitrarily smash others' belongings. Even if it is a drone belonging to an obsessive fan, the crew cannot intentionally destroy it, let alone when it is the property of an unrelated student. According to what the student said, he was not conducting drone filming at the crew's work location or during work hours. If this is true, then the crew's behavior is simply unreasonable and ridiculous.
Based on the above legal provisions, if the value of damaged property reaches 5,000 yuan, criminal liability can be imposed under the Criminal Law. If the value of the drone damaged in this incident does not reach 5,000 yuan, the Public Security Administration Punishments Law also provides corresponding penalties. From the perspective of civil liability, the actions of the film crew members also constitute a tort and they should bear corresponding liability for damages. It is hoped that this lesson will make the film crew understand that while the school's decision to lease the venue to the crew is an act of goodwill, the school is first and foremost a place for students to learn. The film crew should not only observe campus order but also respect every student.
