Locating Production Sites
Finding a good site for production is necessary if your video isn’t an animation. This might be one site or multiple locales, depending on your idea. The kind of video being made will have a significant impact on how difficult the search is. Locating a venue should be quite simple if you are filming a client testimonial or interview. The person’s house or workplace could be used.
However, scouting a wide range of options to identify the best place or locations will be a part of the process if the movie features multiple locations, both indoors and outdoors, or focuses on a specific activity or business. As you look for the ideal spot, keep the following points in mind.
Take a camera with you when you visit different places. If you choose to reserve the location, photos will assist the crew organize the shot list and give them a solid understanding of the space.
- Be aware of noise, especially if you are shooting exteriors. Parks and streets can be noisy. Also consider the location of the location. For example, is it near a school where foot traffic might be an issue? Does the space make it difficult to load the video equipment?
- Keep parking in mind. If the location itself has limited parking for cast and crew, you’ll have to make arrangements nearby or arrange a shuttle.
- Set aside money for permits and rental payments. Rates for employing a production studio can change based on your needs and location. Because hourly fees are typically higher, you would usually rent by the half-day or full-day. The benefit of owning a studio is that the video production company frequently offers amenities and/or equipment rentals. You can bargain for private location fees. You should find out if a permission is needed if you are recording on public property.
- Remember to include B-roll locations, which are different shots that are intercut with the main shots. For instance, you might wish to use footage of surfers on a public beach as a cutaway when interviewing a surfing champion. If the beach is a county beach, obtaining such b-roll footage normally requires a permit; if it is privately owned, the owner must provide permission to film.
- Are your production dates subject to any weather warnings? Have a fallback location in case the weather changes, especially if you have an outside shoot scheduled. Pre-production should take this into account.
