Locations
By Jessica O'Byrne
When it comes to finding a location, independent filmmakers are presented with a variety of challenges from the onset. The most basic question that needs to be answered is whether to shoot on location or in a studio. Obviously, both of these options have their pros and cons. Shooting on location lends an air of authenticity to the film that is difficult to replicate, although it can be prohibitively expensive on an independent budget. Studios, on the other hand, offer precise control over cameras and lighting that cannot be found with outdoor shooting and, thanks to the advent of green screen technology, can faithfully replicate almost any environment. Still, green screens are not perfect and in many cases the discerning viewer may be able to tell the difference.
Nonetheless, at first glance shooting in a studio seems like the obvious choice for making a film on the cheap. Everything is there for you, there is very little chance you are going to break someone's 18th century heirloom grandfather clock, and many studios such as Digital Film Studios and Gosch Productions offer package deals that help you to not go over the all-important budget. Robert Gosch explains of his studio: "Shooting on a green-screen can offer you unprecedented audio control that you can't get on location. You don't have to deal with wind, you don't have to deal with weather." Additionally, studios offer the attractive one-stop shopping option of not having to deal with moving equipment from location to expensive location. Danny Toback from Digital Film Studios sums it up by saying his studio is "a low-cost alternative for independent filmmakers requiring the feel of a large studio while still being in a smaller studio." Still, in spite of this, studios can come with a long list of concerns.
Which studio should you use? Will your actors be able to convincingly and naturally convey what you want them to be conveying while standing in front of a green screen? And what about the often time-consuming process of correcting green splash that goes hand in hand with shooting in a studio? Maybe it is better to go on location, although this too presents a number of issues. Should you use a location scout or go through an service? Who is going to secure the permits? What is a permit? Who gets to ensure that whatever space you may be lucky enough to secure remains in its original condition after shooting?
Going through a service such as Five Star Film Locations can alleviate many of these concerns, as they provide everything from a location search engine down to securing the permits and acting as a liaison to location owners. An additional benefit of going with a younger company such as Five Star Film Locations is the emphasis on customer service, as Operations Manager Henry Nelson explains: "Location services that have been around for a long time tend to use outdated practices and not be as geared towards customer service. My background is in the mortgage industry, so I have a background of being extremely detail oriented when it comes to dealing with clients." Perhaps most importantly of all, location services are always available to secure your location in an extremely timely manner-something anyone who has ever tried to shoot a film can appreciate.
When shooting on location, the last (but most certainly not the least) concern is the clean up. While it may seem easy to worry about this ultra important step when the time comes to strike the set, clean up should actually begin the moment the set begins to be built. Services such as Board Patrol can provide both materials and manpower so that your crew is able to focus on the job that they were hired to do, and also to make sure that the carelessness of a well-meaning PA doesn't result in your film going astronomically over budget. "You wouldn't believe how many times I've had someone call and say 'I had a PA do what you did, and he messed it up,'" founder Steve Lax says, stressing that while the materials themselves are available for sale, it is strongly encouraged to allow his company to handle site protection and clean up to avoid damaging expensive locations.
Even with all of these services that are in place to make the process of shooting on location easier, it can still feel overwhelming both in terms of coordination and budget. Fortunately, there is a third option. Thanks to the magic of editing, most films can benefit from a combination of in studio and on location shooting. This match made in low-budget film heaven allows filmmakers to stay on budget while still giving their films the air of believability that can often be achieved only through shooting on the actual location of your dreams, whether it be the Playboy Mansion or the Brooklyn Bridge.
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