Where should you film your next production?
and all the things to consider....
I used to get calls to produce movies in towns in the middle of nowhere. The primary reason we would film in “said” town was because the director or producer lived there. Sometimes this made sense because of their connections in the city, and other times it proved to be a challenge. Typically there was no crew base and occasionally no incentive.
In today’s market this line of thinking would need to be re-evaluated.
When thinking of where to film your next production, you must be open to alternative locations and ideas and be willing to shift plans when things don’t go as planned.
Just because a true story took place in “said” town does not mean that you have to film it there.
The primary reason to film any film or TV show in a certain location is the material. If you can’t make the locations work easily, then chasing a film incentive may be counterproductive.
A few questions to ponder when choosing your next location…
Is the timing right?
If the film involves water scenes such as people in a pool, lake, river etc then chances are you will need to film in the summer. Yes, you can film in certain states with warm weather; however, you may need to find a heated pool or limit how long actors can be in the water.
Is the crew base sufficient?
Depending on the time of year, certain markets could be crowded or plentiful. Oftentimes if you speak with the film commissioner from the region, they will have a handle on how busy things are during certain seasons. Most regions that have a film crew will have a database of crew members. Generally you can judge how many crew live there based on the number of people on the database.
Are the locations affordable?
If you have a tiny budget, then filming in a small town could be ideal. In most small towns, I can get a location for free or in the $300-$500 range per day. If you aren’t sure of the price for certain locations, you can always use giggster or Peerspace to check estimates for the types of locations needed. A house in Los Angeles can cost anywhere from $1k to $10k easily per day.
How close is the major airport?
If your closest airport is 3 hours away this could be a problem. You're not only having to travel cast from Los Angeles, but then they have to travel another 1-3 hours to the destination. When thinking of airports you want to see if they have direct flights to Los Angeles as this will be a huge ask from agents.
Is the film incentive viable?
Some film incentives may look great on paper, but in reality, they could be out of funds for the year or recently changed their legislation. It’s critical to have an open line of communication with the film office you are considering and be aware of all the rules/regulations.
Does the incentive include ATL?
What about Resident vs Non-Resident?
Is there a cap per project?
Is there an annual cap?
Are there sufficient funds?
Is it a tax incentive or rebate or mix?
How long does it typically take to receive?
How does it compare to other regions?
Are there any uplifts for filming in certain regions?
Do 1099 contractors count?
Do businesses have to be registered to qualify?