Highlight every mention of a written or printed object. If a character says, “Hand me that pharmaceutical bottle,” you need a calculated label. If the scene is an airport, you need 50 unique luggage tags and boarding passes.
Practical tip: Create a single "Graphics Binder" (digital or physical) per production containing references, templates, font licenses, and asset naming conventions.
👉 [Click here to download "Designing Graphic Props for Filmmaking: The Complete Field Guide" (PDF, 45MB)]
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This is where indie filmmakers get sued. You cannot use real logos, trademarked fonts, or copyrighted characters in your film without clearance. Highlight every mention of a written or printed object
The Rule: Create "Fakespeare."
Your graphic prop designs must include a disclaimer page for the legal department (if you have one) or your personal liability release. This is where indie filmmakers get sued
| Do | Don't | |----|-------| | Show regional specificity ("This is a Kolkata-style phuchka") | Say "India is like this" | | Explain rituals respectfully | Mock or sensationalize (e.g., "crazy Indian funeral") | | Collaborate with local guides/artists | Use stock images of snake charmers or poverty porn | | Use bright, warm color grading | Overuse sepia or "mystical exotic" filters | | Add closed captions in Hindi & English | Assume all Indians know Hindi |