Tips & Tricks

Location scouting for independent films

The first in our series of ‘Tips & Tricks’ for independent filmmaking, we bring you some useful guidance and links for how to find a location; what you should be noting at a recce and legal documents you will need once you find your location. There is lots of more info on the web, or through your local borough or regional film office, but we hope this will get you started.

Film London have a very good and free location library, as do most borough & regional film offices. If you would rather get a Location manager, they will be responsible for dealing with any issues and they are highly experienced at finding the most appropriate place for your shoot - however it depends on your budget.

There are hundreds of other libraries out there, here is a list of a few I recomend:
www.locations-uk.com
www.locationworks.com
www.locationpartnership.com

When you go for your first recce, take as many photographs of the rooms you may use, stand at the corners of the room to take the picture, also take pictures of doorways whats behind you as well as what in front of any scene/corridor etc.. take a tape measure to take measurement of a doorways and heights of floor to ceiling – this will help with organizing lighting and moving equipment/dollies around.

Make sure you consider noise from air con, flight paths, busy roads, industrial units, playgrounds, noisy neighbors, crowds or any public who may get in the way of your filming. Check out the electricity and that it is ok to use it – or how much you it will cost to use their electricity. If not, then you may require a generator.
It is worth making sure there are usable toilets and water on location or nearby, and of course any local cafes or food places. Ask what is the earliest or latest times you can access the location and how much overtime if you go over. Check what parking is available for the amount of vans, trucks and cars you are expecting.

It is advisable to have public liability insurance, - you often cannot hire equipment, locations or get a street permit unless you have this. AON are very used to the film industry, and it is important that you discuss your needs with them. You may need to undertake a risk assessment, without this your insurance may be invalid. It will be cheaper to buy public liability insurance for the year rather than per shoot. Other insurances you may need are: employers liability; equipment hire insurance; errors & omissions insurance; props & sets insurance. These will be necessary for bigger productions and it may be cheaper to buy as a package.

If using a public street - it is advisable to contact the police and get a permit from your local council – (you can’t get a permit without public liability).

Last but not least, always respect the location you are working in, and leave it in the state that you found it - or better, unless you have arranged otherwise with the owner. I hope this guide has given new budding filmmakers some useful tips.

Good luck and happy scouting ……