5 Tips On Choosing a Film Location Agency

If you are about to start filming, you have quite a lot to do to get the production ready to go. You have to work with the actors, talk to the writers, connect with the film crews and do many other tasks.

The list almost seems endless. You simply do not have time to go out and look for the best sets and locations for filming. However, having great locations is crucial to the success of your film. Many huge films that grossed incredible amounts of money were pushed forward because the locations were beautiful and stunning. Fans could not get enough of it. Best of all, these locations really made the story come alive, helping the audience to suspend their disbelief. The key to finding these settings is to hire a location agency that will pick out the ideal spots while you work on everything else.

Tips on Choosing a Filming Location Agency - Shootfactory

1. Takes Care of Legal Paperwork

There can be a lot of paperwork that goes along with using a certain location. It may be a private residence, for example, so you need permission from the owner. It could be a forest that is owned by the state, so you need government permits to film inside of it. When you film a movie, you are taking over land that does not belong to you, and it is all but impossible to do that without paperwork and red tape. Get a company that handles this side of things so that you have less on your plate.

2. Really See the Locations

You should not have to pick the locations for your movie, in which so much is invested, off of a computer screen or out of a brochure. You really need to be able to see the places in person. This is the only way to truly get a feel for everything that they have to offer. You need to stand there and look at the rolling mountains or the deep blue water and decide if it looks exactly like your vision for the movie. You should only hire a company that can take you to sites in person.

3. Variety of Options

The next thing to look for is a film location agency that gives you plenty of options so that you can find exactly what you want. You may need to film in the forest, in a bus station, at an old castle, or on a stretch of shoreline that runs into the ocean. You might have some scenes that will be located downtown, with the bustle of the city, and other scenes in a quiet diner. The more options the company offers, the better off you will be. They should have access to many different types of buildings and structures, along with natural landscapes.

4. Multiple Locations

Similarly, you want a company that has contacts all around the country or, if you are lucky, all around the world. You should not be stuck with just a single area or a single city. If you try to film things that are supposed to be happening in exotic locations without ever travelling, the audience will know it, and they will not be impressed. This is especially true for movies that are based off of novels, where the novels tell the audience where the characters are supposed to be.

5. Values Your Budget

Finally, you should look for a film location agency that will stick to your budget. You only have so much money to spend, and there are many costs that go along with filming. You cannot afford to massively overpay for a location, and you need the company to understand that. This way, you do not waste your time looking at locations that would never be practical or possible anyway.

 

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