A Film-Location For Your House?

This can be a relatively painless way of earning money from your home. You must obviously be prepared for a degree of upheaval, but having said this, the rewards can be great.

First of all you will need an Agent. This is a wide open market, so play the field and enrol with more than one agent. A selection is given here:

The first is Sara Eastel Film Locations at http://www.film-locations.co.uk.
The second is Locations Works at www.locationworks.com
Then Lavish Locations at Lavish Locations
Finally The Collective at The Collective

Approach the Agent, find out how many photographs they require and what type. Make sure there are no pets or children lurking in these photographs. The Agent will just need a good, clear view.

Working through an Agent is advisable. They will draw up a water-tight agreement between the home owner and the film company, which includes the company taking out insurance against damage to your property on any film-location.

Although these Agents take a commission of 15%, this does ensure your safety and removes any potential worries or concerns from your shoulders. So probably well worth it in the long run, particularly if you are a newcomer to the business.

No matter if your property is small, large, palatial or just bog-standard. You do not have to own the proverbial mansion to make money out of your house. The Agents usually have classifications that run from stately to down-to-earth and even derelict. As you may have seen on TV adverts, film-locations vary enormously.

You will be placed on the Agent’s list and when there is the likelihood of your property being required for a film-location, be prepared four as many as four or five visits from their production team/scouting crew before a decision is made.

If a decision is made to use your property make sure you are around on the day of the shoot as the production company may need to know where such essentials as power points etc. are available. Can they dismantle your garden fence? Can they move certain items, etc? BUT keep a low profile, don’t be a nuisance, just helpful when needed.

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Remember that although they are doing the hiring you need to keep a reasonable eye on your property. Keep away from the cameras and don’t try to chat up the stars.

Your contract may specify redecoration of a specific room. If there are any such alterations needed to your property make sure you get re-instatement.

Clarify what ‘benefits’ the camera crew etc. will require, i.e. use of your loo.

Make sure all such items as this are in any contract you sign and that you are covered for re-instatement where necessary. If you can, make sure the contract is ‘slanted’ in your favour.

Yes, you are getting paid, but remember this is your home and you do not want your life to be made a misery in the process.

On large shoots the company may often arrive with trailers for catering, loo’s and all the other requirements. Some bring their own generators if the electricity supply needed is large.

In addition, when filming has stopped you will find that most agencies negotiate for 50% of the normal day hire rate for the set-up and take-down days.

Obviously some locations are more sought after than others, and favourite at the moment is within striking distance of London/M.25.

Parking space is fairly important, and depending on the filming brief, so are high ceilings and large rooms to accommodate all the crew whilst the shoot is in progress.

This does not automatically rule out smaller properties.

Many agencies have large towns on their books such as Cardiff, Norwich, Manchester and Birmingham.

A look around Google for film location agencies may bring up some more very interesting results.