watch the filming

I live in Los Angeles. Hollywood, more or less. The correct answer to that question is, "No, absolutely not."

Have the filmmaker take you for a cup of coffee so you can learn about the project and get a sense of how responsible he/she is. On one hand, you could be helping out someone on a shoestring budget whose vision would truly benefit from a specific prop. On the other hand, you could be setting yourself up to be disappointed by someone who will be reckless with your bike and cause a lot of damage (and not be able to pay for it). A full-fledged operation would simply offer to buy your bike if it was really what they needed, so this arrangement will be less formal than that. You have to decide how much risk you're willing to take.

You are correct. The bike will be returned with damage, guaranteed! They want it for a movie, they can buy it or find another sucker.

I believe that the request comes from a young person with artistic goals. As the dad of two aspiring actors, I support that quest. I'm considering texting back and asking for more info. Clearly I value my Sports and would insist on being present during it's use if I were to agree.

[MENTION=424205]Salamandrine[/MENTION] No doubt where you stand! Do you have some experiences to share? FWIW, this is playing out in Manhattan.

I would probably go the same direction you seem to be headed. There are lots of talented young people trying to make it in the arts. How about asking to see a sample of their work? If it looks like Johnny Knoxville, the deal's off.

Yeah, no personal experiences, though I've had to deal with this at my job. It's well known here that if you lend anything to a film crew they are very likely to destroy it, and at the very least will not treat it with any respect. Not a good idea to lend anything that you expect to get back in functional condition. It may be different in Manhattan with an aspiring amateur filmmaker. While I strongly commend your desire to support the arts, I would exercise extreme caution. Being present during filming is the only thing I'd consider.

I've made short films before, and I would advise that if you get a sense from this person that the film's artistic integrity revolves around that bike, then walk away. If it involves more than a couple of shots, politely decline, and say thanks for the coffee. If the filmmaker does not recognize (and demonstrate the knowledge) that you are doing an immense favor by trusting him/her with something of great value to you, then walk away. If you get a good feeling, go for it, and as seems to be forgotten lately, trust but verify.

back in the day there was a tale about film crews renting cars, pulling the engine to use in stunt cars, and then putting the engine, trashed back in the cosmetically perfect rental. could be urban legend, but understand your point

on the other hand my son make films, and every now and then I do a double take...... "you put the go pro on the road and then drove over it for the shot?" but so far nothing broken or trashed, so personally I would meet the guy and see what was up

Sure, why not? I'd probably ask for a deposit, but, come on now, it's only a Raleigh Sports!

In LA items are rented out all the time for filming, photoshoots. The cost of the rental is the value of the item, then returned, its condition is assessed and there is a minimum fee Plus wear/tear/damage.

Anything less is just a student film or worse.

As an aside, I got a string of emails from a fellow who wants me to "star" in a 60 sec promotional video… no cost to me.
​​​​​​​My time has value, no dice.

​​​​​​​Somewhere out there is a Hertz Shelby Mustang that no longer has a Posi-traction rear diff...

Ah, but it's my Raleigh Sports!

As the owner of a Sports (three of them, actually) I'd probably offer to meet the person to assess the situation, as described above. If agreeing to participate I would probably also ask for a deposit equal to the mutually agreed value of the bike in case something/anything went wrong.

Yeah, that's more or less the standard deal. People and businesses make money renting stuff out, if they know what they're doing. If that's not your business, I still maintain it's best to avoid. The thing to note here is the default rental cost is the value of the item. That clues you into the fact that lent items very often get destroyed. IMHO don't rent or lend something you're not willing to 'sell' -- or give away.

Most people don't appreciate others' stuff the way they appreciate their own. Personally, I'd pass.

DD

About 15 years ago when I was doing a lot of eBay sales, I was contacted by a gentleman from a film company from LA, they were filming on location about 100 miles from here and were interested in several bikes that I had listed. The idea was tossed around about renting them, but I figured I'd have no recourse if they just kept them and returned home with them. We worked out a deal, and they bought three bikes. One was to be used as a camera platform, one as a static prop, the other to be ridden on a beach in a period correct type movie.
They picked up the bikes on schedule, paid cash, and it was the last I heard from them. I had no idea what the movie was or if it was even ever released.
About 4 years later I get a phone call from a police department in Maine saying that they found my bike dumped along some dunes somewhere. (The one bike had been my personal bike and had a local Police registration decal still on it). Apparently when they got done filming, they dumped the bikes and a pile of other props and left. All three bikes I sold were in the pile, plus a ton of other items. That PD thought that the bike had been stolen and had made it's way up to Maine somehow. When I explained I had sold it, the officer said no problem but if I wanted to claim it I had 90 days before it went to auction.
When they bought the bikes, they paid top dollar, and didn't haggle the price much, only that they needed them asap. My stipulation was to be paid in cash.
I had no interest in retrieving the bike or bikes, with the thought that they had been dumped on an ocean beach for several years I didn't figure there was much left of them.
The officer told me it was probably cheaper for them to buy and dump the bikes rather than to haul or ship them back to LA when they went home.

Like mentioned above, never rent anything that your not willing to sell. And Never rent anything without a large enough security deposit to cover its value in the event of its damage or destruction.
If it were me, any damage should mean they purchase the item or forfeit their deposit. You break it, you bought it.

I think there is a thriving business of vintage car rentals, especially for more secondary roles (drive-bys). But, I could understand how bicycles could be considered props, then just discarded.

I think it might be fun to participate in a film or movie. As [MENTION=280039]Lascauxcaveman[/MENTION] mentioned, however, I'd ask for an actual role. If they want my bike, then they had better take me with it. Although, perhaps they'd be casting young racers, and not want an over the hill bike commuter. Nonetheless, there could be roles of trainer or something. But, of course, you have children that might be interested too.

I think I'd be more incensed by an offer to buy my bike than to borrow or rent (although "borrow" sounds awfully low budget). I.E. Deeming me unworthy of owning a classic or vintage, or nice bike, without even taking the time to get to know me.

They couldn't be bothered to find a thrift store to donate the stuff and littered nature with a pile of stuff that would become someone else's burden to clean up. Sad. Entertainment people are the worst!

Exactly

A family member several times removed left for LA and the movies several years ago and got himself a big Detroit tank for tooling around SoCal. He was approached about renting the vehicle for a movie and insisted on doing the driving. Evidently, he got the deal. I have not seen the Charlie's Angels movie but I've been told that's his baby blue convertible and him in the pic.

I could not find a pic in the IMCDB.org, so that might be a family urban legend.