The definition of “clear” can be ambiguous, but if we think about it in the way it’s most commonly used—usually by someone stressed with a lot on their plate—it’s essentially shorthand for:

“Can I put this on camera without getting in trouble?”

Essentially, clearances are the process of ensuring that any copyrighted material included in a production has the appropriate permissions secured, with all the paperwork signed and logged. Sometimes this means obtaining a formal release signed and countersigned, with fees paid. Other times, it might mean a lawyer has approved the use of a copyrighted item without additional permissions.

When set dec budgets are tight and a request comes in for a “densely decorated and charmingly bohemian” sitting room, it might seem like eBay or local vintage markets are the best place to start looking. However, these can sometimes take you down blind alleys where you end up losing more time and money than you save.

This question comes up quite a bit. There are multiple layers of clearance in graphics made for film and TV - some are easy to spot and others a little harder to untangle. This post runs you through all those concepts so you can get clear on what can - and what can't - be reused across productions.