Location: it’s the one thing that real estate and video production have in common (well, besides negotiations, contracts, and anxiety). Effective location scouting requires more than just finding an aesthetically pleasing, logistically feasible backdrop, however–it also requires the scout to juggle several details such as parking, shooting permits, power sources, light, weather, local residents/businesses, traffic, and more, all while keeping the production on time and on budget, of course.
Successful scouting begins with in-depth communication between the location and production departments. In this stage, the group defines what kind(s) of locations are needed and begins either sourcing its roster of locations or researching new ones. Depending on how specific the location requirements are (“pre-war classic New York City apartment building with ivy and an external fire escape” versus “urban apartment building,” for example), this process may be quick or may become very difficult and call for extensive research.
Once a list of candidates has been compiled, the scout visits each location to determine its suitability, take pictures, create maps, and make notes. Some scouts prefer scouting on specific days–a Monday or Tuesday if it’s an urban location, for example, when there are fewer crowds in heavily trafficked areas. In the reconnaissance stage, the scout must accomplish a number of interrelated tasks in addition to appraising the location itself. He or she must determine the location’s availability and fees; inquire about restrictions, insurance, and film permits; find out how to distribute filming notifications; and other administrative and legal duties involved in clearing the location.
The scout must also take into consideration proximity to other filming locations (if applicable), parking and electricity availability, natural light, weather, and more. In addition, scouts try to envision the maximum potential of a location. If the back of that same apartment building can also double as the exterior of an office, for example, the versatility increases the location’s value.
Reconnaissance may also involve talking to locals and businesses to gauge whether the site is film friendly. Good location scouts can suss out the general attitude toward the production and gain a sense of whether filming will be easy or difficult in terms of getting cooperation from people not involved in the production.
SolidLine location scouts are skilled at juggling all of these details and finding the prime location to enhance the overall quality of the video production while staying within the client’s budget and timeframe.