How to be a Good Location Manager and Scout

How to be a Good Location Manager and Scout

The Role of the Location Manager and Location Scout The Location Manager is responsible for the finding and securing locations to be used and coordinating the logistics involved for the production to successfully complete its necessary work. They are also the face of the production to the community and responsible for addressing the issues that may arise due to the production's impact on the community. 2

The location manager will work closely with the director, the production designer and eventually the director of photography during preproduction to find and secure their expressed creative vision for the script. The location manager is also responsible for staying on good terms with all the residents and businesses near the locations being filmed and for staying within the budget that has been allocated for location rentals and support services (permitting, parking, catering area, etc). 3

Here are most of the things that both a location scout and a location manager need to be aware of before submitting a location for approval: The locations budget Permitting costs and regulations Camera and lighting requirements Convenience to other locations Crew, extras, catering and production truck parking Direction of the sun Traffic in and around the location Airplane flight paths Weather patterns Road work 4

Once a location has been determined to meet the criteria for the production designer, director and director of photography, the location manager must work with the first assistant director (the one who manages the shooting schedule) to schedule dates for art department preparation, the shoot days, and the wrap and strike (tearing down and cleaning out of sets). 5

The location manager must negotiate with the property owner an appropriate fee as well as fees to any neighbors and tenants that may also be impacted by the production. The location manager will also arrange for the necessary permits with the city or county, arrange parking for trucks, equipment and crew, prepare temporary facilities for holding talent, crew and meals, and ensuring the security of the location. The location manager strives to accomplish all this while impacting the neighborhood as little as possible. 6

The locations team (location manager, location scout and assistants) is the first and last point of contact for the public with the production. It is to this team that the public and property owner s complaints will be brought. It is this team s job to keep everyone happy (which we know is impossible!) and resolve all issues within the limitations of the production s budget. 7

The location team also knows how to best accommodate the needs of the production members. They seek to diplomatically ensure that the requirements of the production will be met, from the producer, director and production designer to the grips and electricians lighting and rigging the set to the transportation department with all the trucks, trailers and vans.

The Location Manager s Union In Hollywood, location managers and scouts are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 399 and in New York and Chicago they are represented by the Directors Guild of America (DGA). Local 399 is the teamsters or transportation union. The DGA members include directors, production managers and assistant directors. Location staff members are commonly associated as part of the production management part of the film crew.

Hollywood Teamsters Local 399 The Teamsters are also the union of many other positions... Accounting Clerks Animal Trainers Assistant Location Managers Automotive Service Personnel Camera Car Drivers Casting Directors Chef Drivers Computer Operators Couriers Crane Operators Dog Handlers Dog Trainers Dispatchers Drivers Driver Captains General Office Clerks Local News Coordinators Location Managers Location Scouts Mail Messengers Master Mechanics Motor Home Drivers Order Entry PBX Operators Photo Clerks Production Service Clerks Production Timekeepers Production Van Drivers Purchasing Clerks Radio Sales Assistants Receptionists Script Coordinators Stunt &/or Blind Drivers Tram Drivers Transportation Coordinators TV Production Clerks Warehousemen Wild Animal Trainers

If it s got wheels. The transportation department on a film crew, whether union or non union, is responsible for all the vehicles, getting them to where they need to be and maintaining them for the production. Trucks Trailers Motorhomes Parking Fuel truck Honeywagon Picture vehicles Insert car Process trailer

When Looking for a Location Create a location list, include INT/EXT with times of day to be shot Call Film Commission Ask around Drive and look Have business cards and letters on stationary to leave with potential location owners

What To Look For Proximity to cover sets Truck parking Crew, cast and extras parking parking Extras holding area Rest rooms Make-up and hair area Cast holding area Lunch area Check for sound 13

Once You Have Found a Location Make sure they are willing to let people shoot there!! Don t show an unavailable location to the team Take pictures at same time of day that you intend to shoot Make picture files with all the pertinent contact infomation Show pictures to the team 14

Picture files Include: The name of the set (or sets) that the site can be used for Complete property owner contact info Time of Day photos were shot Time of Day script calls for

It s Perfect! Scout with director, DP and production designer Get location agreement signed Provide owner with certificate of Insurance Get permits if necessary Arrange police if necessary Scout with crew on Tech Scout Prepare maps, directional signs Arrange for security if necessary - prep, shoot and strike 16

What s a Tech Scout? A tech scout is when you take the crew out to show them the LOCKED locations - meaning all the decisions have been made, it s just about working out the logistical or technical details. 17

What s a Tech Scout? This scout should include all department heads and assistants and keys as needed and should include but is not limited to DIRECTOR and Producer(s) Director of Photography Aasst directors (1st and 2nd) Production manager LOCATION MANAGER GAFFER KEY GRIP (they may want to invite the Best Boys/Girls) PRODUCTION DESIGNER SOUND MIXER VISUAL EFFECTS (VFX this will probably only be on a show that is heavy CGI or post-effects), SPECIAL EFFECTS (SFX, again, probably only if the show is heavy on SFX TRANSPO CAPTAIN 18

What s a Tech Scout? Click here for an excellent definition of the different kinds of scouts: http://michaelschandler.com/blog/talktechs-baby-what-happens-on-a-techscout-part-1-of-2/ 19

Locations During Production Use layout boards and furniture pads to protect floors, doorjambs and walls Put out butt cans filled with kitty litter for ashtrays Lots of garbage cans - and one for recyclables Tents if you need weather protection - use at least a pop-up or two to protect crew and actors from the sun Portable heaters and fans Arrange security for art dept while prepping and during the shoot, especially overnight. Know the location of the nearest hospital Do a final walk-through with property owners to make sure everything is as you found it - bring the pictures from initial walk through for reference on this final look

Sound Stage Work 21

Shopping for a Stage The main criteria when looking for stage space to rent is to know what size you need. The Production Designer can tell you the square footage required and in what dimensions to accomodate the sets. The gaffer and grip can tell you what they need in terms of power and rigging capabilities. 22

Sound Stage They call them sound stages for a reason - they have been built and insulated to be soundproofed. Noises outside the stage do not interfere with the sound recording going on inside the stage. If you decide to use a warehouse to save money, remember - it will be very noisy and very HOT. And portable AC units are really expensive...and noisy! 23

Stage Prep Clean and prepare dressing room(s) Arrange for tables and chairs for lunch and on stage. (Nothing exhausts a crew faster than never being able to sit down) Set up an area for background actors to hang Make up and hair need a quiet, private room Parking for everything one - crew, trucks, extras Power - how do they charge for plugging in your lights? Is it included in the daily cost or is it extra? What about air conditioning? Trash removal? See next slide for typical advertisement for sound stage space...

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