KEEPING LOCATIONS AVAILABLE FOR SHOOTING

1. Pay prevailing location rental fees. Throwing money around will "spoil" a location for later crews with less budget.

2. Live up to your agreements.

a. Arrive when planned. Or make sure the owner and neighbors know that you have changed your plans.

b. Be conservative about the amount of space and facilities the director will use.

c. Make previous agreements about overtime. Many businesses have to make arrangements for their employees, suppliers, etc. if you go late. Maybe they have already have made a lot of schedule changes to accommodate you.

d. Be conservative about the time needed to accomplish the shot.

3. Make parking arrangements that don't interfere with the location's employee and customer's parking. Consider their neighbors too.

4. Use every day English. Assume they don't understand movie language.

5. Assume that people are not as punctual as we are. "Should we give you a call?"

6. If people are changing their schedule for you, ask about what arrangements they must make; doors and gates opened, equipment or stoves heated, lights turned on or OFF, trucks or equipment moved,

7. Ask about deliveries, equipment movement, construction etc. when you will be shooting.

8. Treat neighbors politely. Have the business owner smooth ruffled feathers.

9. Have the owner warn neighbors about noise and commotion. You might offer a little to compensate the neighbors too. Ask the owner.

10. Be ready with an alternate location bluff if you get "held up" by a location. Be subtle. Whisper loud enough to be heard.

Thank everybody when you leave. It means a lot if from the director.

© Copyright 1999-2004 Ron Dexter. All Rights Reserved.