Location Scouting For Your Independent Film

What is ‘location scouting’

Location scouting takes place during the pre-production phase of a film and it’s when you go out there and try to find the places where you’re going to go out and shoot the movie. Location scouting is really about approaching businesses in the city where you’re shooting the film, or wherever that scene is taking place. Who’s responsible for that space? Is it someone’s house? Is it someone’s restaurant? Is it an office building? Is it a public place? A great location scout is able to go out there and find things that the movie needs creatively, that work with what’s on the page. They can actually go out there and make it happen. Anybody can write a scene on top of the Empire State Building, but unless you speak to the city of New York and the people who own the Empire State Building, you’re not going to be shooting there and that scene’s not going to take place there. Does the scene have to take place at the Empire State Building, or can it take place at another tall building in New York City? That opens you up to millions more possibilities than that specific location. A great location scout is able to do what’s best for the movie and what’s actually possible in terms of it being made. They’re able to have a little bit of flexibility in choosing the locations where the film is shot.

What should I look for when location scouting

When you’re scouting for a location for an independent film, you want to look at something you can manage on the resources that you have. Chances are that you aren’t going to have a huge crew and a huge security team that can really lock something down. That’s going to be your space, that’s your place of business. Is there power available there? Where can I set up food? Are there going to be people there? – Strangers there watching and distracting us, getting in the way of the shots? You want to look at a place that is your space, that you’re going to feel comfortable in, that you’re not going to have to sneak your way into. If you’re going to be setting up shop there, you want it to be yours, you want it to be legit, you want it to be able to fit in what you need creatively. That’s the most important thing: does the location work for the story you’re trying to tell?

How can I find a location for my independent film

Every major city in the country has a great film department that’s run by the city for people who want to shoot things on city property or within the city, and they can help you find locations. Certain restaurants are more open to it, or certain hotels are known that you can go and shoot there. The city offices, wherever you are at, can help you do that.

How do I ‘book a location’

The producer is there to negotiate everything and oversee the location scout on a project and they’re going to cut a deal with the location. Whatever it is; whether it is a restaurant or a stadium; wherever it is you need to shoot, the producer and the location scout are going to work in there to try to get rights to shoot, whatever the cost may be. It’s all negotiable

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Tags: Ben Lyons, Empire State Building, food, Hospitality/Recreation, Location scouting, New York, New York City, producer, Scouting