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THE WAYS TO FIND Filming LOCATIONS : LIFE HACKS, TIPS AND NUANCES

admin · April 12, 2020 · Filming, Locations · 0 comments

Searching of the necessary locations for shooting – is the first and the most important point, which has an impact on the commercial video, film or clip perception. The style, art value, the presence of lighting, high or low ceilings, a sufficient number of meters and parking spaces for the crew are the main location specifications.

We can divide all the locations for shooting into three types:

1.Film studios and paid filming locations

Such locations provide a large number of people with an access, a bathroom, a make-up room, power 380 or 220 V, high ceilings of 3 meters or more for lighting devices. It is comfortable to work there. Also, there is an additional space for the group, clients, agencies to have a rest, for example, the chill-out zone, which is a perfect place to drink coffee and discuss the shooting process.

Disadvantage: it is necessary to allocate a budget for the construction of additional decorations, because these locations are very popular and can be seen in another advertisement video.

2.Location for shooting, where you can «reach the agreement»

You should spend time to find such locations or order the service of location scouting in professional agency. The art value is due to their rare appear in another’s works. Mostly, these are apartments, offices and houses. It is also possible to search of other options for specific tasks of the script or video.

Disadvantage: some buildings have low ceilings, these places are rarely suitable for shooting – there are few parking spaces, the location for shooting is high up, it is difficult to drive or get inside, there are neighbors side by side.

3.Street and nature

If the street is not located in the city center and the shooting scale is small, so it is possible to manage without heavy expenses. As for nature, you can avoid a rent if the area isn`t a private property. But, there are such disadvantages as a lack of power for lighting, a kitchen and a place for clothes changing. 

Against this background, the location manager will help to obtain permits from the Forestry department or park area. It is necessary to include the minimal sum into shooting budget.

Price of locations

The Film studios and paid specific locations are the most expensive options. They will cost a thousand dollars per shift. There is a cheaper option-to rent a photo studio from $ 50 per hour for shooting video. Renting a building, it is necessary to take into account prices, location style for shooting, technical equipment and the need for sound recording, the wishes of the director and operator.

Scenes for shooting where you can «reach the agreement» are rented constantly. Due to this fact, payment for the rental of premises and obtaining a permit to shoot can be minimal, or fixed for a full shooting day.

As a rule, shooting outdoors or in the city is free, but there are exceptions. Sometimes the need to reach an agreement with the City Administration or municipal structures. Unfortunately, there are no ready-made solutions, you will need to busy yourself for a while, spend at least 5 working days to write the letters, get contact with responsible persons and obtain a permit. In order to save your time, contact an agency of locations, which will take care of searching and rent of exclusive place.

The way to search of location

Location search agencies or the location manager will significantly ease this task. They have several options in advance and many necessary contacts to solve the most challenging issue. It is better to have a previous idea of what you expect from this site before contact with agency.

Try to search for a place on the Internet, pay attention to the daily rent, try to negotiate with the owner. The price depends on the time, the number of crew and task complexity. That`s why, it is better to let the professionals do their job.

In order to select the required location in nature, you need to take a car, drive and look around. If there is no transport, take advantage of 3d tours on Google maps or contact the location agency.

The way to find a free shooting scene

There are almost no free premises to be found.  In general, these are locations that you can get on a barter basis and subject complying with the certain nuances (student films shooting or shooting up to 10 people). If you fond of the area or premises, you can negotiate with the authorized decision-makers.

The main free options in nature are:

  • Burial mound, plains
  • Beaches, ponds
  • Forest

Also, look attentively at schools, villages, abandoned buildings, offices of small companies. Ring up the school of photography. Sometimes they are ready to provide a platform and even shooting equipment for a nominal fee for the sake of mentioning themselves.  

Make sure to consult with the d.o.p, director or gaffer to avoid the case when the perfect site is not suitable due to technical nuances.

Why it is better to contact your local manager or location agency?

Due to the contact with specialist you will be able to avoid a such number of problems as:

  • Save time.
  • It allows you to choose the best option from the hundreds to be offered.
  • It will solve the issue of presentation preparing, fresh photos scouting of the selected location or searching of new ones, preparation of official documents or obtaining the permits.
  • Taking into account the professional experience, it minimizes the shooting disruption and guarantees a professional approach to negotiations.

Our location agency Kinopoint offers filming location service for commercial videos, big-budget films, movies, videos, TV programs. The location managers of our agency accept applications for tenders and organize the selection of information according to your request. Also, they are ready to provide you with location service and support the crew during the shift. A lot of companies have used our services.
We guarantee you the unique shooting opportunities, including economy and luxury versions of the sites, exclusive cooperation terms, security and cost minimization for shooting processes. The loyal customers can be provided with the discounts. 

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