Tag Archive for 'talent'

links for 2008-06-19

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links for 2008-06-10

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links for 2008-05-17

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Creative Directory (Chicago / Midwest)

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Last edited: July 23, 2008
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Creative Directory

“The midwest’s leading source for the creative community | Creative Directory Services provides an umbrella site for all aspects of the production community servicing the Midwest”

…read more…

Category Headings of resources (visit Creative Directory for links):

  • Computer / Print / Prepress / Animation / Systems Design
  • Photo / Photographers / Assistant Photographers / Stock Photo / Footage / Images / Photolabs / Service Bureaus / Finishing / Make-Up / Hair Stylist s/ Food Stylists / Home Economists / Photo Stylists / Location Scouts / Sets / Props / Costumes / Stunts / Special Effects / Photo Reps / Illustrator Reps
  • Art / Design / Retouchers
  • Print / Color Separators/ Proofing / Comps / Finishing / Converting / Binding / Direct Mail / Fulfillment / Printers / Promotional Products / Specialty Imprinting
  • Photo / Photolabs / Service Bureaus / Finishing
  • Multimedia / Foreign Language Services / Subtitles / Staging / Exhibits / Trade Shows / Meetings / Location / Sites / Events
  • Film and Video / Production Companies / Studios / Producers / Video / Film Crews / Production Company Reps / Director Reps
  • Audio / Sound and Music Studios / Composers / Sound Design / Music Libraries / SFX / Production Music / Location Recording / Sound
  • Post / Production / Film Laboratories / Captioning / Duplication / Replication / Distribution
  • Equipment / Sales / Rental / Service / Film Stock / Bulk Tape / Recording Media / Teleprompters / Grips / Lighting / Rolling Stock / Studio Rental / Stage Rental / Art Supplies / Photo Supplies
  • Talent / Model Agencies / Performing Talent / Casting / Coaching / Choreographers / Dance Companies / Talent Payment
  • Media / Creative Staffing / Freelance Writers / Marketing Communications / Public Relations / Advertising Agencies / Associations / Organizations / Media Buying / Messenger Services / Business Services / Caterers / Hotels

    • …visit Creative Directory…

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    Filmmakers Guide

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    on May 9, 2008
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    Last edited: July 31, 2008
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    Filmmakers Guide

    “Filmmakers Guide is a free directory for production companies Actors, Actresses, Art Directors, Audio Technicians, Boom Operators, Camera Crew, Camera Operators- Cranes, Jibs, Camera Operators- Film, Camera Operators- High Definition…”

    …read the rest…

    Areas of Interest (follow the links on the Filmmakers Guide website sidebar):

  • Crew and Union
  • Digital Format
  • Education and Training
  • Equipment
  • Events
  • Film Festivals
  • Financial and Business Services
  • Organizations and Publications
  • Post Production Companies
  • Production Companies
  • Support Services
  • Talent Services

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    links for 2008-05-02

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    links for 2008-04-29

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    WheresSpot

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    on March 25, 2008
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    Last edited: August 11, 2008
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    WheresSpot

    “WheresSpot.com is The Internet Community for Prisoners of Advertising. Using email and the Web, it connects an enormous gang of talented people to one another.”

    …read more…

    In addition to its website presence, WhereSpot used to be a free Yahoo Group discussion list*, with somewhere in the neighborhood of 8,000 members at one time. Sometime around May 2007, Wheresspot moved its discussions off Yahoo Groups on-site to its self-hosted website, having added many other features to the self-hosted site such as a member map, resource directories, classifieds and blog and became a paid-subscription portal. (visit WhereSpot if you are interested in joining as a paid member)

    WheresSpot Website Menu (you must be a paid subscriber and logged in to access all features)

  • Home
  • Messages
  • Classifieds
  • RepDB
  • WS Members
  • Resources
  • Links
  • Community Blog
  • Post an entry

    • *(IF you were a member of the old Yahoo Group, at this writing, archives prior to Thu May 3, 2007 2:14 pm can be accessed at the old Yahoo url but new posting is not allowed)

    In a number of posts on the old list, as well as continuing on the new list, the moderators explained (in as many words) that in order to move the discussion list and add the other features to a self-hosted site as well as create self-motivation to continue putting the effort into maintaining an active community as diverse as WhereSpot, they needed to change to a paid-subscription model. At one point I remember reading that they felt the community had actually grown a little too big and the content of discussions had become all too redundant at times - I can personally remember receiving somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 posts (or more) over the period of a day and feeling annoyed at a lot of what was asked and discussed as the content often involved subject matter that had been visited multiple times before or seeming like people were simply too lazy to use a search engine (i.e Google or Yahoo) to find the answers to their questions; the moderators further defended the changes (in as many words) saying the community was smaller, yet comprised *only* of serious professionals, which I take to mean the people willing to pony up the subscription fee were really serious about wanting to be there.

    WheresSpot is relevant for location professionals (i.e. location scouts, location managers) as the diverse scope WheresSpot’s community and discussions covers pre-production and locations with a focus on tv commercials and productions as might be used in other areas of advertising such as print ads, trade videos, marketing events and other types of media production.

  • WheresSpot elsewhere on this website
    • feed Yahoo! Search: Wheresspot

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    update 3/25/08 | general cleanup | original timestamp: February 10, 2006 @ 11:30


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    Minor Talent / NY / Child Labor Laws

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    on February 5, 2008
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    In New York (as well as most, if not all, states), there are specific requirements regarding use of children as performers / actors / models / talent.

    I had to contact the New York City Mayors Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcast (MOFTB) for this info. Here is the New York State Department of Labor web page they directed me to.

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    Estimating

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    on January 11, 2008
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    As a producer or production coordinator, when asked to estimate production costs for a specific shoot, there are almost always some of the basic line items that have to be covered…

    The following laundry list is presented with the caveat that, every production is uniquely different and can, in fact (and often does) change on the fly. The following should be used ONLY as a very basic jumping off point:

    1. assumes the shoot is for commercial / advertising or editorial / corporate still photo shoot with high production values
    2. local (no overnight travel) location shoot
    3. a. specific in some cases to the New York City area
    4. assumes there is professional talent (models) to be involved
  • Note: Does not attempt to cover photographer’s production fees or photography licensing fees.
  • Rates: Fees vary significantly from market to market - if a stable of familiar crew used on past jobs does not exist, best to call as many qualified candidates as possible and get a range of day - rates.

    • Basic Line Items to Consider:

    • Crew

    1. Producer (you!;-)
    a. PrePro Day(s) (research, crewing, coordination…)
    b. Shoot Day(s)
    c. Strike / Wrap/ Returns Day(s)

    2. Location Scout
    a. Research / File Pull Fees / Clearing / Permitting
    b. Location Scouting - Photography / Organization / Presentation / Storage
    c. Tech Scouting with Photographer / Client
    d. Location Management - on set presence on shoot day

    3. Casting Director
    a. Research / Booking Day(s)
    b. Casting Day(s)

    4. Stylist(s) (Wardrobe / Set / Prop Stylist(s) as appropriate
    a.Research / PrePro / Prep Day(s)
    b. Shopping Day(s)
    c. Shoot Day(s)
    d. Wrap / Strike / Returns Day(s)

    5. Hair and Makeup / Groomer
    a. Shoot Day(s)

    6. Digital Tech
    a. Prep / Research / Rental Equipment Pickup / Returns Day(s)
    b. Shoot Day(s)

    7. Assistants
    7a. First Assistant
    a. Research / PrePro / Rental Equipment Pickup / Returns Day(s)
    b. Shoot Day(s)
    7b. 2nd Assistant
    a. Research / PrePro / Rental Equipment Pickup / Returns Day(s)
    b. Shoot Day(s)
    7c. 3rd / 4th Assistant(s)
    a. Shoot Day(s)
    7d. Stylist Assistant(s)
    a. Research / PrePro / Prep / Shopping Day(s) / Returns Day(s)
    b. Shoot Day(s)
    7e. Casting Assistant(s)
    a. Research / Prep Day(s)
    b. Casting Day(s)

    • Talent
    • Location(s)

    1. Photo Location(s)
    a. Prep / Wrap Day(s)
    b. Shoot Day(s)
    2. Casting Studio
    a. Casting Day(s)
    3. Stylist Prep Space
    a. Prep Day(s)
    4. Talent Holding / Equipment / Prop Staging Space(s)
    a. Prep (Staging) Day(s)
    b. Shoot Day(s)

    • Equipment Rentals

    1. Photo Equipment (often as coordinated btn and specified per photographer / digital tech / assistants)
    a. Cameras
    b. Computers / Accessory Hardware
    c. Lighting / Grip

    2. Stylist / Misc Rentals
    a. Steamer(s) / Clothes Rack(s) / Hangers/ Iron/ Ironing Board/ Tools (some items may be part of kit?)
    b. Folding Tables (as may be needed for equipment / props / wardrobe / catering / client workspace)
    c. Folding Chairs (as may be used by idle crew / talent / client workspace)
    d. Golf / Sun Umbrellas / Folding Canopies / Tent(s) (if outdoors)

    • Props / Wardrobe

    1. Possibilities to be either/ or purchase(s) / rentals. Coordinate with Photographer/ Stylist / Client

    • Set / Prop / Model Construction

    1. Set Building is more often related to a studio shoot but probably worthy of mention / consideration here

    2. Prop or Model / Miniature / Mock-Ups

    • Catering / Food Service / Refreshments
    • Transportation

    1. Motorhome (if needed)
    a. Shoot Day(s)
    2. Equipment Truck(s) / Van(s) Rental
    a. Prep / Pickup PrePro Day(s) (if equipment not delivered by vendor)
    3. Crew Transportation (Cabs / Subways / Auto Rentals as might be used by crew - could be mileage paid if crew owns vehicle)
    a. Photo Asst(s) Equipment Rental Pickup / Return
    b. Stylist / Stylist Asst(s) Shopping / Prep / Returns
    c. Location Scout
    d. Casting Director (i.e. Street Casting)
    e. Talent (especially if location is outside Manhattan)
    4. Trucking and Deliveries / Pickups (if not done by crew as may be appropriate)
    a. Product/ Merch (if not arranged by client)
    b. Equipment (Cameras / Computers / Lighting / Grip)
    b. Props / Wardrobe
    c. Couriers (client / crew production hard copy correspondence as may be appropriate)
    d. Catering Delivery / Pickup (often part of Catering Fee from caterer)

    • Misc

    1. Shipping (i.e. hard drives / merch / props to / from client)
    2. Gas / Tolls / Parking
    3. Copies / Printing/ Misc Office Expenses (i.e sundry call sheets / production books / other office correspondence
    4. Long Distance Phone Charges / Faxes

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    Kewl Vid on thelot.com

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    Update 7/2/2008 | A short clip from MoonCake, a short film by Marty Stanos, is available on Youtube (below). Marty is obviously very busy these days shopping and showing the film.

    The Lot “is a wrap”.

    Sometimes talent and inspiration shines as this video on thelot.com does.

    The short film, shot in film noir-ish black and white, is titled Moon Cake and was directed and produced by University of Michigan film student Marty Stano. The film is set to a catchy obscure pop song the title and band I have not yet been able to place other than a comment for the film that alludes to a bootleg record called Rabbit’s Moon, all of which adds to the intrigue.

    The film was produced for less than $500 and it’s like a train wreck- I cant look away! I delight in replaying the video over and over! It’s this grungy avant-gard wonderful five minute, forty-five second bit of film wack and it’s just lots of fun to watch.

    The Lot is a new tv joint by reality tv kingpin Mark Burnett and producer-director Steven Speilberg (who needs no introduction) whereby filmmakers submit films online for consideration for a $1 mil development deal prize with Dreamworks.

    The Lot has been all the chatter recently over on the Wheresspot Board, wherein a number of participants have submitted film projects to The Lot.

    Update 3/1: Music mystery solved :-)- The song is It Came in the Night by Andy Arthurs/A Raincoat from around circa 1976. This page pretty much tells it all. Also, see a reference to the music used in this video here.

    Update 3/5: Up to now proving ignorance of certain aspects of film school curriculum, it has come to my attention that the music used in Moon Cake is the same score used in one release of director Kenneth Anger’s classic avant-gard short film, Rabbit’s Moon.

    Anecdote: There have been several releases of Rabbit’s Moon, the most recent release, on The Films of Kenneth Anger, Volume One, in fact uses a number of ’50’s doo-wop titles as the score for Rabbit’s Moon.

    I know all these things now because the intrigue compelled me to order the The Films of Kenneth Anger, Volume One DVD online to check out Rabbit’s Moon!

    The Japanese folklore of the Rabbit In The Moon, (the view from Earth of the surface of the Moon is different in the far east than that visible in the western hemisphere and to many resembles a rabbit- part of the celebration of this lore is having children put out rice cakes for the rabbit;-) is present in many areas of film and music around the world including a house music trio from Tampa, FL named Rabbit In The Moon.

    There are certainly similarities in the style of cinematography used in Marty Stano’s Moon Cake and Kenneth Anger’s Rabbit’s Moon, in fact, now having more background about both films I daresay Moon Cake draws a heavy influence from Rabbit’s Moon, but dont feel the results have been presented in a way that could be construed as plagiarist or improper. Instead, I might suggest that Moon Cake pays tribute to Rabbit’s Moon in a very flattering way.

    Now, all of a sudden I’m a film reviewer- and here I thought I was just a location scout ;-)

    Moon Cake Screenshot
    Moon Cake Screenshot

    Rabbit's Moon screenshot
    Rabbit’s Moon Screenshot

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    Performers, Unions and Advertising Industry Tentatively Agree

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    Performers’ Unions and Advertising Industry Tentatively Agree on Two-Year Extension of Commercials Contracts
    “Joint Study to be Conducted Over Next Two Years

    New York and Los Angeles (August 4, 2006) – Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the advertising industry’s ANA/AAAA Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations (JPC) today announced a tentative agreement on a two-year extension to the Commercials Contracts that cover advertisements appearing on TV, radio, the Internet and new media, that would run through October 29, 2008. The extension agreement must now be ratified by both unions’ joint national board and approved by both union memberships through a joint referendum, as well as approved by the boards of both ANA and AAAA.”

    By way of Wheresspot and AdCritic

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    New York Location Scouts to Lose Scouting Tag Priveleges

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    MOFTB: Scouting Tag Program Discontinued

    “May 23, 2006- Effective June 30, 2006, the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting will no longer issue production scouting tags and all existing scouting tags will expire. Due to the success of the “Made in NY” tax incentive program, the City has accomplished its goal of attracting increased production business and employment for New Yorkers who work in the entertainment industry. In an effort to balance the needs of production and the communities in which they work, the MOFTB will no longer issue scouting tags. Easing the impact of parking upon neighborhoods will serve to keep locations film friendly, and allow the City to attract even more employment for our local entertainment professionals. The MOFTB will continue to issue tags to essential production vehicles with the shooting permit.”

    Cinematical | NYC Cuts Film Industry Perk | Posted Jun 13th 2006 8:01PM by Christopher Campbell | Filed under: Newsstand

    “Just when the city of New York is enjoying a surge in film production, hopefully cutting down on movies set in NYC but shot in Canada, a new decision is pissing off a lot of people in the movie business.”

    …read more…

    “The Reeler | Tag, You’re Out: NYC Location Scouts’ Parking Perks Revoked | June 13, 2006

    “AM New York’s Chuck Bennett today has the “latest” on the troubles affecting New York’s location scouts, whose liberal, city-sanctioned parking privileges will expire June 30–never to return. The news is kind of old–the Mayor’s Office for Film, Theater and Broadcasting made the announcement May 23–but in case you wanted to hear location scouts bitching on the record, here you go:”

    …read more…

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060614/ap_en_mo/film_scout_parking_2 (dead link) | By SARA KUGLER, Associated Press Writer Tue Jun 13, 8:11 PM ET

    “NEW YORK - Film scouts trolling New York City for its picturesque stoops and street corners won’t be free to park wherever they want now that officials are halting a special parking-permit program.”

    I was interviewed by phone today (but evidently, not quoted by name) by Sara Kugler from WABC-Radio in New York City. Here is some of what we discussed and points I tried to make:

    Looks like we location scouts might be losing our location scouting tag priveleges come July.

    “And what exactly is a location scouting tag privelege?”, you say?

    Well… upon completing a New York City filming permit application at the New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcast (MOFTB), requesting scouting tag(s) and approval of MOFTB, location scout(s), (for the duration of time allotted on the permit) have considerable leeway and freedom to park anywhere in the five boros in order to see locations with potential for use in their production.

    This is indeed a gift in a city the size and density of New York. Public parking is scarce at best and fraught with not only arcane parking restrictions, but sometimes those arcane parking restrictions are obscured further by the fact that the parking signs that contain those arcane parking restrictiction are, in fact, often absent, whether it be by theft/vandalism, perhaps having been in a spot where an auto accident occurred… there are a lot of reasons a parking sign could be missing in a town the size of NYC.

    The location scouting tag basically gives you the privelege to park wherever you can (with the intention of performing your duties as a location scout), provided you dont place human life in jeopardy (i.e. obvious no-no’s like parking in front of a firehouse driveway, or in an ambulance exitway) and be immune to the city’s ubiquitous “Brownies” (NYPD Traffic Enforcement) and the quite pricy parking citations they are employed to hand out (the last parking ticket I got some years back cost something like $85). If you receive a ticket, you turn it in with your scouting tag- it goes away.

    Doctors and foreign diplomats, as well as some members of the press (this could be an incomplete list) are eligible for many of these same priveleges.

    Alas, reports of abuses as well as the fact (per the excerpted article above) that the city has achieved its filming incentive goals combined with the undebatable fact that parking in New York is scarce in the first place may spell the end to scouting tag priveleges for NYC location scouts.

    I had a scouting tag once; I was working on a feature film, 9A several years go. The shooting schedule was tight, we were facing significant challenges regarding fulfilling locations required by the script, including scouting for night shots (at night) in what most would consider “less than desirable” parts of town; the scouting tag helped. A lot.

    Another argument for continuing the scouting tag privelege in NYC:

    New York is a world-class city. Some of the world’s most famous films (including tv shows, commercials, videos and photgraphs) have been made in NYC.

    As a location scout, one of the reasons you live in the NYC area is to have an opportunity to work on projects of this caliber.

    It is not unreal to assume that you could, in fact, find yourself driving around NYC (showing locations) in the same car together with an Oscar-winning director or acclaimed director of photography, a producer you just read about in a tabloid and a bazillion-dollar net-worth executive producer or financier, with the power between them to give the nod or say no to bringing $100 million or more in jobs or business to the city. (This is “economic development”. It’s good for cities. Production is good at that. And production doesnt pollute the air and water.) Anyway, I am sure you can see the motivation to let these people feel special and get their jobs done quickly and easily.

    In contrast, the film industry has changed a lot in the past few years, nowadays, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of smaller budget films in production in New York each year, thanks to the advent of the internet and digital imaging, which have effectively taken content distribution out of the hands of a few big-money players and put it into the hands of anyone with a passion to tell a story and can afford a camera, a crew, talent and their locations. Individually, these types of productions dont always spend that much, but as the sum of the parts, this group represents a sizable chunk of change in New York’s annual production income. It is this group that will be most affected by the scouting tag change, as they will have to figure into their budgets that their scouts will either have to pay for parking or for parking tickets. New York is already a fairly expensive town just to exist in, period; discontinuing the location scouting tag privelege could be one of many ways that production might have an incentive to go elsewhere. This is what is known as “runaway production”

    It’s a couple of more weeks till the scouting tag priveleges are scheduled to go away. It’s been good.

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    Movie Maker Magazine Article

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    R. Richard Hobbs
    on May 22, 2006
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    Last edited: October 13, 2008
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    Note: The following is a draft of “Securing A Great Location”, published in Moviemaker Magazine’s 2005 Beginner’s Guide To Making Movies

    MovieMaker Magazine | Securing a Great Location | By © R. Richard Hobbs 2004

    Chances are, before too much time goes by, you, as a film maker, will be forced to reckon with venturing out of the cozy, controllable confines of a studio/soundstage and into that great wild beyond known as a location.

    If you are a director, your job, (among a plethora of other tasks, of course!), is to think of creative ways to bring a story to life visually.

    If, like me, you are a part of the locations department (location scout and/or location manager), your job is to help the creative team toward this end, and while hopefully thinking equally as creatively and presenting actual real-world location possibilities, at the same time you are obligated to pay quite a bit more attention to the practicality, logistics and nuts and bolts of actually pulling the shot off at the location(s) you might suggest and following up on same.

    Depending on your budget and/or method of working, even though your title may be Director, Assistant Director, Production Manager or even Executive Producer, you may be required to deal with some of the issues yourself that by rights are normally the Locations Department’s; in any case a little “cross-training ;-) ” and insight into what some of the other crew does cant be any less than a good thing!

    All this said, my story will attempt to offer some useful information toward securing the perfect location from the locations department’s point of view.

    As mentioned before, (the aesthetics aspects notwithstanding), there are a number of practical aspects to consider when choosing a location. What follows is by no means complete, but here are a few items in no special order:

    Does the location you are considering work from all technical & logistical points of view? Some questions to ask yourself:

    Where will I put all those trucks and people?

    Is there room for (if not normally legal, then permitted) parking? It is imperative that you or someone from your crew scout the area adjacent to the set beforehand to make sure there is room and to be sure that room is not in front of a hydrant, fire department or bus stop, etc.

    If parking is “tight “ (in high demand) you need to be sure that parking will in fact exist when your crew arrives! Having a permit to park there is one thing, actually “owning” the parking space(s) is another! (As we all know possession is 99% of the law;-)

    In New York City (where I work) there are specialists called Parking Coordinators or Coneheads (for the orange cones they put out). Hire them.

    You need to be sure you can meet the electrical requirements of your shoot. Be sure there is sufficient house power or you can get your genny truck close enough, and be sure you have sufficient electrical cable in any case!

    Is there holding? (a comfortable place to “hold” people while they are not on set) If you are using SAG actors, a requirement is that they have a separate, private area for changing clothes. Be sure there is air conditioning or heat if the weather requires it!

    Does the location work logistically?

    Be careful with scheduling! If you are shooting a scene on one side of town in the morning and it takes an hour to drive to the second set, another hour to set up and then an hour of shooting, you are probably already into meal penalties. Try to find locations close to each other when scheduling scenes to be shot/ talent on call on the same day.

    Is there room to work?

    The most gorgeous room in the world is useless is there is not enough room to get the camera/dolly/lights/actors in there for the angles needed to make the shot.

    What if it rains?

    Do you have a “Plan B” in your pocket? Be careful with weather and cancellations of locations, talent and equipment. It can get expensive.

    Is there light there?

    Is there the correct lighting for the mood you are trying to achieve (or can you make it?) A location can look significantly different on a cloudy day from the day you scouted it and there was daylight streaming thru the branches casting patterns on the ground!

    Are you absolutely sure you have permission to be there?

    Does the owner understand that it won’t just be someone with a camcorder stopping by for a few moments? We become so used to our own world that it sometimes ceases to occur to us that people outside the film industry most often have (or have any reason to have an) inkling about what is actually involved in making a film. You need to be straightforward and accurate about all those trucks, equipment and people that will be showing up for 12-14 hours.

    You should have also prepared in advance a synopsis of the story and the specific scene(s) you are shooting and explain this in detail to the owner. Sure, we love our story, but everybody has their own views and what seems perfectly normal to us may seem controversial or blatantly offensive to someone else (for no apparent reason to us) yet it is they that will have to live with being associated with the film. This is a very large, diverse, very politically correct world we live in today!

    You should always use a property release form and get it signed by the location owner. A property release, in a nutshell, is written permission for you to depict a property to the public on film. Without it, you may leave yourself open to claims of invasion of privacy or other damages. Just do a Google for “property release”, there are standard forms around you can use.

    You should always find out beforehand if there are any local or municipal permits or fees required where you are filming and comply fully with those requirements. A local film office, the city clerk or police department for a given municipality should be able to tell you what, if any filming permit requirements may exist.

    Q: What could suck worse than finding out you don’t have time or money for a permit? A: Getting your production shut down in mid-shoot because you don’t have a permit.

    There a few other general suggestions I might offer that may help you in your quest for the perfect location:

    Never underestimate the power of a film office!

    Local film offices are some of the most underutilized FREE resources available to film makers. A film commission can get you “in” places you could never touch on your own. They have the credibility of being associated with government plus can be an advocate for your project! They can be a godsend if you are filming outside your home turf- They most often have listings of local crew and location ideas for you. They know the local customs and any permit requirements that may exist! Be nice to film offices!

    If you want to find out if there is a film office in your area try here first: www.afci.org

    Leave time for permitting/getting permissions

    I can’t begin to tell how many great locations have been aborted (or lost!) because there was insufficient time allowed to get permission or secure permits. This malady seems to especially afflict film makers just starting out for some reason (?).

    Q: Hey, can you get me and my crane on a rooftop in NYC to shoot tonite?

    A: Sorry, ain’t gonna happen, bubba.

    If time is tight one option may be to use a location agency. These are people/companies (often scouts or location managers) that have an archive of existing pictures of locations that have often been previously used (or scouted and not used for one reason or another) Sometimes time can be saved this way, but don’t expect miracles- permissions must still be obtained and fees negotiated on your behalf.

    Do you have insurance?

    I personally won’t go on a shoot or book locations for a production without insurance. You should have a minimum $1,000,000 (standard now actually seems to be $2,000,000) commercial liability policy that allows for additional insurance of third parties. If you are using payroll and have employees then you should have workmen’s comp. Some locations require proof of this.

    Use the right tool for the job!

    You wouldn’t use a screwdriver to drive in a nail (or maybe you would ;-) ! Anyway, hire a location scout/manager! We are there for u!

    Adios, good luck and p.s. please invite me to the Oscar Party!

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    Wikipedia Location Scouting

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    Location Scouting / Wikipedia

    “Location Scouting is a vital process in the pre-production stage of filmmaking and commercial photography. Once scriptwriters, producers or directors have decided what general kind of scenery they require for the various parts of their work that is shot outside of the studio, a search is begun for a suitable place or “location” outside the studio. Location scouts will also look for appropriately spectacular or interesting locations beforehand, to have a database of locations in case of requests.

    Location scouts are also often tasked with negotiating legal access to filming locations.”

    …read the rest…

  • Note: I started this article and contribute to it regularly.
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    Many Hats

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    Many Hats: Alice Stevens, location scout and manager, talent and props in the Big Bend of Far West Texas:

    “Alice Stevens, under the name of Many Hats, scouts locations from Alpine, Texas throughout the larger Big Bend area of Far West Texas. She is a location scout, a location manager, a talent scout, and can procure props and even livestock as needed.”

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    Baseline Hollywood

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    Baseline Hollywood

    About:

    “Baseline StudioSystems is the world’s preeminent provider of film and television information. Baseline’s flagship product is The Studio System, a subscription database of premium film and television information.”

    …read more…

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    Production Services in Moab

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    Production Services in Moab - film and photo shoots, rigging, location scouts, adventure races, models and talent:

    Film Shoots, Photo Shoots, Rigging, Location Scouts, Adventure Races, and Talent.

    “Moab Desert Adventures provides specialized rigging, production services, talent and location scouting for film and photo shoots, television, and other productions such as adventure races. Our background is rock climbing, and we have the skills and equipment to get your production to some very unique places. We also have a in-depth knowledge of the area, and alot of experience working with various productions, so we know where to go and how to get those spectacular and ‘unachievable’ shots.”

    …read more…

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    Planet PrePro

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    Planet PrePro

    “Library with over 31,000 digital location scouting images, Digital Location Scouting, On-Line Image Posting Tools, Digital Pre-Production Research Tools, Talent, Props, Sets, Digital Scouting Software, Broadcast Emails to Film Commissions, and more”

    …read more…

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