Scouting for locations is not the easiest of tasks. In fact, it's probably one of the trickiest pieces to aquire in putting the 'video puzzle' together.
Now that you have the story, or an idea of what the story will be like, where does your story take place? Here are some things I take into account when scouting for a particular location:
- Start with the easiest first - I advise this immensely! If you have a location that you know will be tough to get, save that for last. It may seem more reasonable to do the hardest first, but tougher locations take the most time, and usually the most money. Better to know what you do have in place, and what money you'll have left over.
- Take a camera along - Video or regular digital. I get a record of every location I'm interested in..inside and out. And I ask for the manager or the owner, and explain what I'm doing, and ask to take the pictures. Some places may work for the interiors, some just for exteriors. I may want to mix and mingle different interior and exterior locations to create an effect of a 'made up" location, provided they can match up effectively. It's all about making it work visualy, but at the same time finding ways to cut your costs.
- availability - Very Important!!! There's no point in even thinking about calling people to a set if there isn't going to be one! The availabilty of a specific location is everything to a video shoot! I always make sure that I have an agreement on paper with the building manager or owner of the specific location. You really don't want to show up and find that either they've gone back on their word or just simply 'forgot' about you. Oh, and try to aquire a location legally! It's not a good idea to show up unanounced and start filming...police showing up or other events that may occur will just get your production shut down fast...and possible fines.
- power - I always look for the power source at the location and where breaker boxes are, light switches,etc. You need to be able to provide electricity for lights, camera batteries, playback, etc. Generators also work, but not indoors....poisonous fumes and whatnot.
- size - will the cast and crew fit? I take in factors such as the # of crew, amount of lighting, height of the ceiling, camera movements, the artist/band and the set, as well as props or other staging. Bringing us back to the camera idea - take a camera with you to EVERY prospective location so that you have a record of what that location looks like inside and out, and compare them to the others you've seen. Find what works for you and go for it.
- Know your area - If there was one thing that I can take from my experience scouting locations, it's that prior lnowledge of specific buildings and other locations I was familiar with was key! When I put the story together, I already started to get an idea about where I'd wanted to shoot, and set out to look them over. But is a specific location always feasible? Not a chance!! Writing a story where you're playing on the runway of a major airport is all fine and dandy, but be realistic about it. Can an abandoned road do the trick? Maybe a smaller airport outside of your area? Find the places that are easily attainable, and one's that you're familiar with.
- Cost - free or not so free?...that is the question....When I look for a location, I have to take into account that I just may have to pay someone to (a) let me use their property, (b) stay out of your way (c) be quiet. I have seen too many examples of people showing up to a location without paying before hand, or just refusing outright, and getting shut down, or thrown out..literally! And any property owner has every right to, unless there is a signed agreement &/or a deal regarding payment. Use locations if you know you can get them for a cheaper price, and talk to freinds...word of mouth is great for scouting, and sometimes people offer up their places for cheap or even free!! Maybe even pitch them into being an xtra if there's room for it...whatever works! After a while you'll notice that some people can be quite accomodating!
- Explain what you're doing - I find it easier, and just plain common courtesy, to let the people at the location know what I'm filming - especially for music videos. You don't want to have issues during production about loud noise, or crew running around, or fire/flash effects, or even with playback. If there is a drummer being filmed, the banging can be quite annoying take after take. Also, if you want people from a particular location out of your way, invite them to set to watch. I have worked on A LOT of sets and find that most will come and see what's going on, and after a short while, get bored and leave. I've learned that it's probably the best tactic to get someone out of your way, without actually asking them to.
- Be nice/organized/clean - If you are talking to someone about the possibilty of using their location for a shoot, be professional about it. Noone will take you seriosly looking like a dirty ripped rag. Would you ? Probably not, unless they gave you a crazy amount of money! If you really want that location, looking clean and acting professional will get you that much closer. Believe it.
For the Devoid video in particular, I used a building I had known as a former location for some films I've worked on. A fairly large warehouse (4000+sqft) on the 3rd floor. There was a shipping elevator - good for moving people, gear, and instuments up and down, which is obvious as a very important factor in scouting for a location - access. Now, because the owner and I were familiar with each other because of prior films, we managed to bargain a much cheaper price on a per day basis than I had planned - freeing up more cash for other things that were needed. The INT. of the "psych hospital' was a different area of the warehouse, and the EXT. of the hospital was a different building entirely outside the city! I used a local hotel for the "dorm halls"( actual dorm halls looked 'wrong'), a dorm room for the dorm room ( haha go figure!), 3 seperate schools played the INT of "the college",with different hallway shots of lockers and students(xtras)"...the actual EXT of the "college' was a local university, and the main warehouse was used for the performance parts. Quite the bit of work, and it wan't easy. But will a little luck, some leg work, and not alot of moolah, it got done.
So, once you have the locations you want, it's time to go search them out. If you take into account the 9 steps I gave you, you should have no problem aquiring a location that suits your needs. Just look around and you'll find it.
And have fun with it! You're making a music video! Having the energy and enthusiasm about your work will only brush off on the people you approach, and can only work in your favour.
If you have any questions, let me know and I'll be happy to answer them!
Vince
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