Locations

Once you have a pretty set version of your script , you need to scan it for the locations you have written about. Compile a list of all of these locations and write down potential real life locations for them. If there is anyway to eliminate a location in your script, do it. For one, you will lower the cost of using a location. Often times, producers pay homeowners or businesses to use their property. You can’t really do this when you have such a limited budget. You need to be able to use your locations for free. Additionally, transporting gear, crew and cast members gets expensive depending on where you are shooting. It also takes time. And in the filmmaking world, time is money.

After you figure out what locations you really want and need, start scouting. I recommend asking friends and family members if they would be willing to let you shoot in their homes or businesses. While I was Location Manager on the weekend, we did have to worry about moving trailers and three truckloads of equipment. Moves from one location to the other could take up to five hours! To help eliminate this, I used 7 houses on my block for the film. This saved TONS of money. For one, since these were my neighbor’s homes and I have a good rapport with my neighbors, they had no problem letting me use their homes. I saved the production even more money since we did not have to worry about transporting all of the equipment and trailers. Like I said, time is money and we saved a full day’s worth of moving time. While on Exit 117, we only had four locations with multiple rooms used in each house. We used my house, the director’s house and two of the actor’s houses. Again, all for free.

Once you have chosen your locations, it is time to secure them. Make sure the homeowner or business owner signs a Location Agreement prior to shooting and a Location Release after shooting. This will ensure that you will not be held liable in case anything goes wrong.

Now go start scouting!