How can you choose the perfect location for your film?

Location scouting is an essential part of filmmaking, as essential to the texture and feel of the film as the casting of the characters or the musical score. A location often becomes a character in a film. You should devote a significant amount of time and energy to finding the perfect location that truly inhabits the world of the script and brings the story to life. With a little brainstorming and a willingness to approach different venues and use electronic resources, locations often aren't as expensive as filmmakers imagine they are. On a practical note, if you are working with a demanding local permit office, parking and transportation may evolve into a key concern for a smaller venue.

Engage the services of an experienced Location Manager and/or Location Scout. Look for the credentials, LMGI. Hiring a professional will save you in the long run. As well, you get to tap into their own local connections and knowledge that you’d never get from just a digital library.

In my experience, location matters. It sets the energy of the story you are telling. Location and the set design of that location immerse you into what you are telling the audience. To me, location is should be treated like a main character. Imagine your favorite film, for me it's The Way Way Back. This teenager boy works at an outdoor water park in the summer, and that set the entire aesthetic of that film. If they didn't go with the outdoor water park and instead went with something like an indoor pool ... it just would have not been the same at all. Definitely not my favorite! Location is a vital part of the story and should be treated as such when you're creating something no matter how big or small and in television or film.

This is such a wide question. I want to believe that aesthetics is the driving force on this decision but often I think it's budget that decides the location. If you have a low budget finding one space that can be used for multiple scenes and purposes is the best move. That's why major productions use a soundstage because they can make anything possible there without tearing down their operation. When budget is less of an issue you can film in multiple real world locations and take advantage of the uniqueness in each space.

Reach out to your local film commissioner and see what sort of resources they might have for you that can aid you in picking the perfect location. They might also guide you to a place that is more film friendly that you wouldn’t have known of until you asked.

A lot of digital sites that list locations for filming are highly effective and bigger money and time savers than approaching the traditional lists for filming that often have a significant markup for the entertainment industry, but this does depend a lot on location. If you are working outside of the bigger production hubs, you may find much more reasonable venues and even local businesses willing to let you use their spaces in exchange for promotion in the film. Don't rush the process. Location scouting is extremely vital and it requires a lot of time and legwork to find that ideal location that tells the story the way you envision.

When considering location and film commissions, I highly recommend exploring the tax credit incentives offered by the state. In the case of New York State, the film tax credit program provides significant benefits and eligible productions can receive a substantial credit on qualified expenses, helping to reduce risks for investors. It's worth leveraging these tax credits to mitigate financial concerns and enhance the overall feasibility of your project.

Noise and parking are two of the biggest issues that come in scouting real world locations. It's ideal if you can visit the venue at different times of day and see what the noise is like in the daytime (often louder in commercial districts) and nighttime (often louder in residential districts). Random things like barking dogs can become a much larger problem than they seem initially. Parking can become a huge issue if your local permit office requires you to have parking for all cast and crew. In that case, you'll need to research nearby lots you can use or rent, or transportation via shuttle, which can add a lot of logistical hassles, time sinks, and budget increases. In urban areas, the parking alone can become a deal killer.

It's important that when you secure your location that you are sure to know what the expectations are of those renting or letting you use the space. Make sure they know what kind of equipment, set dressing, and changes you will be making to the space and that you know exactly how to leave the space when you wrap. When you wrap a shoot everyone is in a hurry to get out of there so be sure that some of the crew is already dedicated to returning the location back to it's owners in the way that you found it and that will satisfy any and all their requirements. Just like renting a car, take photos of each area before you bring equipment in to ensure that everything is as it was and to protect you from liability if a problem were to arise.

“Simplicity” often proves to be the best approach in the entire arena of film production. Considering the origins of your core team and their equipment availability can streamline logistics. Avoiding numerous distant locations helps minimize transportation costs and time commitments. Achieving a balance between artistic choices and practical considerations when selecting locations enhances the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the production process. The art of simplicity in filmmaking allows for focused storytelling and more effective use of resources.

I feel whatever you’re writing/filming, location needs to be true to the genre. I prefer real locations instead of green screen and CGG. Science fiction is one area I do agree CGG is necessary. Before you film, you need to imagine how you want your work to be presented on the big screen. Make it as real as possible …