How Do You Know if a Film Location Scout Is Legit

The right locations can be a real boost for your film, but finding and securing those locations has the potential to be a real drain. Withal, it doesn't have to be. Allow's take a look at the process from beginning to stop.

Location Release Agreement

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Kickoff With The Script

Every creative aspect of your motion-picture show should start with your script. Read that script, re-read it, then read it again; know intimately the story y'all are telling. From your script, you should be able to put together a comprehensive listing of all needed locations.

This can be the dreaming stage of the process. Make full in your location list with your absolute dream locations. This will help to ascertain the top of your "expectation scale." However, be prepared to reign it in. All productions have to exist realistic — very few films (no matter how big their upkeep) take the opportunity to shoot at all of their dream locations. Pick a few that you can aim for, then work down your list identifying places yous can compromise.

It'southward A Great Big Earth

Now that you know what locations you demand, brand some cardinal decisions nigh where in the world your production should actually exist shot. The basic factors to keep in heed are:

1. Cost | The manifestly truth is that some places in the world are cheaper to work in than others. Look for a locality that encourages film product and offers fiscal/tax incentives.
2. Available Resources | You are going to need to tap into local resources in the surface area that y'all are filming. Brand sure to a pick a spot that has good access to things like available crew, accessible gear / rental stores, nearby airport, and a supportive community that would be happy to share infinite & perhaps testify up as extras.
3. Workable Properties | Observe that this particular was not listed first. Information technology's the one that we want to put start, only don't give in to that temptation. Remember that if you tin can't beget it and the resource are limited and so it doesn't thing how perfect it looks, filming in that location will suck. Nevertheless, the locality you choose should contain a big clamper of your needed venues.
4. Should We Build It? | Filming in a controlled environment on a staged set has huge advantages because you tin be in accuse of all of the variables. It's not always the all-time option, just yous should e'er at least consider it.

Time to Spotter!

Once y'all've selected a full general region (i.e. a state, city, or land) look around and encounter what that area really has to offer. If you don't live there, then become visit. Recollect when you're scouting locations to take detailed notes, lots of pictures, and even video footage. Also enquire every bit many questions as you can think of.

Hire a location scout. This should exist someone who knows the expanse, can recommend properties, and make introductions.

Employ a service like SetScouter. This is specially helpful for finding and securing private properties. Local & state film offices should also be a skillful resource. This varies A LOT based on where yous are and how active their customs is in the film manufacture.

Allow'due south Make A Deal

When you lot take a location that you lot'd similar to utilise it's upwardly to you to make the ask… in the correct manner. Make sure you find the person with the authority to actually grant you access to the infinite and sign a location understanding. If the infinite is privately owned, it could be every bit elementary every bit approaching the holding owner. Notwithstanding, if information technology is owned by a business organisation, nonprofit, or other organisation yous will probably need to beginning with the holding director and then seek final approving from their leadership or lath. A similar procedure will probably apply if yous are trying to film on public property, except you may need to seek additional permits or insurance beyond a standard location understanding.

When presenting your location request to a property owner/manager, be honest most what you actually demand and how y'all would like to use the space. Be clear nigh the number of people you would be bringing in, how much equipment would be included, and how long y'all would actually demand the space. Filmmaking is an invasive activity and the property possessor should have a clear understanding of what they are like-minded to. Don't make assumptions and talk through everything possible. There is no such affair every bit over-communication when it comes to motion picture locations.

PRO TIP: To salve money or get access to a hard to secure space, consider reducing the amount of time that yous demand the space and/or limiting the number of people you bring on location. The less you are request for the easier it will be to secure a location.

Practise The Paperwork

Once you lot strike a deal, become it in writing. Your production should provide each location with a written location agreement. This should be sent to them before shooting begins and so that they accept enough time to review, sign, and return it to you lot. Y'all should NEVER begin filming at a location without a signed location agreement.

When writing up your location agreements, be clear about how you are really going to use the belongings. Spell out everything that was discussed or verbally agreed to. Write the understanding equally if the whole thing is going to go badly… basically, set up for the worst.

It is ever wise to have an attorney write your location agreements since they are legal documents. However, if that is beyond your upkeep, check out our Location Release Agreement Template.

Location Release Understanding

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Hold Up Your End Of The Deal

Congratulations! Through strategic planning, skillful negotiation, and precise deal-writing y'all've secured locations that are going to brand your motion-picture show look amazing! Now all that's left to do is actually stick to your location agreements. This may seem like a given, simply trust me, in the stress and anarchy of production it is easy to forget promises, harm property, and overstep your premises.

Starting time and foremost brand sure that your product has a Locations Manager. Someone whose sole job is the care/keeping of locations and guiding how the production interacts those locations. Among a myriad of others job duties, the Locations Manager should…

• Take pictures of everything at every location earlier whatever other work is washed.
• Protect annihilation that is delicate, valuable, or heavily used. For example, always protect the floors, they are going to exist walked on and could easily exist damaged.
• Make sure parking, restrooms, trash cans, arts and crafts services, and staging/waiting areas are available, conspicuously marked, and well maintained.
• Secure, mark, and monitor areas on location that are specifically off limits.
• Routinely scan the entire location looking for damages, safe hazards, or violations of the location agreement. Stepping in to right problems as they arise.
• Make sure an emergency/safety plan is in identify and posted at each location.
• Graciously communicate with property owners/managers as things alter or if amercement or issues arise.
• Be the concluding person to leave any location, assuring that everything was left in the status that it was constitute in.

With intentional effort, your product should be able to have a positive experience at every location you lot use. And when things do become messed upward remember to start with the elementary words: "I am sorry…"

Special thanks to Alex Kolodkin from SetScouter for sharing his location insights & expertise with me for this blog post.

Leslie Ruiz

Leslie is a filmmaker, artist, and baron; she'south too a devout list maker, shops for relaxation, & has a strong aversion to the color red.

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Source: https://www.setheroapp.com/blog/location-scouting-for-film-shoots/

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