Location scouting is critical in film production, ensuring the chosen site enhances the narrative and meets logistical needs, as well as finding permits and licenses, crew amenities, and the correct lighting, it can be a highly demanding role.
Did you know that selecting the right filming location can significantly influence the film’s budget and schedule? This post explores how to scout for film locations using a real-life case study and how to maximise your search time efficiently in pre-production.
Permits and Regulations Needed When Location Scouting
Obtaining permission to film in a train station typically involves navigating a complex process with local authorities and station operators. This often includes contacting the police department, coordinating with local authorities and the train operating company to handle contracts, risk assessments, liability issues, etc. This can be a lengthy and complicated procedure, even before confirming the availability of the location.
Simplified Process with Rail Estate Search
At Rail Estate Search, we simplify this process through our partnerships with film-friendly train operating companies like Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). We manage all logistics, including permissions, fees, and risk assessments, ensuring a streamlined process for location scouts.
Extensive Filming Opportunities
We advertise over 230 railway stations, including unique filming locations such as catacombs, arches, award-winning stations, carriages (moving and static), platforms, and concourses. Our extensive experience with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) facilities allows us to be adept at preparing filming locations to meet your demands for diverse filming projects. Our expertise ensures a streamlined process, transforming what can be seen as an arduous task into a smooth experience.
Ensuring a Seamless Production
By leveraging our expertise and partnerships, Rail Estate Search makes location scouting and filming in railway stations significantly easier and more efficient by providing unmatched support. Contact us to learn more about how we can assist with your next film project.
Considering lighting as a film location scout
Lighting is a fundamental aspect of filmmaking, and location scouts play a crucial role in finding or assessing locations that can provide the right lighting conditions to achieve the director’s vision.
Natural lighting is essential for the look and feel of a shot. Scouts must evaluate how the sun’s position or other natural light sources will affect a scene at different times of day. This helps filmmakers plan their shooting schedules to achieve the desired lighting conditions.
Weather conditions are also crucial when evaluating a location. Weather can affect natural lighting, and scouts need to assess how variable conditions like rain, fog, or overcast skies might impact the shoot. Some scenes may require consistent lighting conditions that are only possible in certain geographic locations as well as the space to facilitate artificial lighting.
Blackfriars train station exemplifies an ideal filming location for achieving perfect indoor lighting for artistic shots. With a unique glass roof that spans the Thames River, this distinctive feature can be incredibly atmospheric, particularly during sunset or sunrise. This station was the subject of a memorable shoot where one of the world’s most celebrated action stars, Tom Cruise, runs across the roof of the station in a nail-biting chase for the filming of the sixth instalment of Mission Impossible.
Key Points for Location Scouts:
- Natural Lighting: Evaluate sun position and natural light sources.
- Weather Impact: Consider how weather conditions affect lighting.
- Consistent Conditions: Identify locations that offer reliable lighting.
Finding a place with amenities for the crew as a location scout
When location scouting for film or TV, ensuring the site has essential amenities for the crew is crucial. These include:
- Car parking – Adequate parking space for vehicles.
- Toilets – Accessible toilet facilities.
- Crew Space – A designated area like a green room or pop-up tent for crew members to rest when not on set.
The challenge arises when, after securing permits and licenses, you discover the location lacks these amenities. This would mean sourcing portable toilets, external car parking, or setting up green rooms yourself.
To avoid this hassle, verify amenities before finalising the location. Using a platform such as Rail Estate Search, you can view listed amenities before choosing a station for filming, saving time and ensuring a smooth production process.
For example, in this instance, you can see that Brighton train station holds sufficient amenities for film crews, with toilets, Wi-Fi, vending machines, and a significant amount of experience with hosting film and TV crews. Most recently, Bill Nigh’s 2023 Oscar-nominated performance in ‘Living’ was filmed here.
Scouting locations for films by this process is highly beneficial for time management, as it ensures that you are chasing access to the right location, before realising too late that it will not have what you need for your crew.
How to scout locations that are a certain distance from production office
In the film industry in England, you need to have a location that is within a 30-mile radius of the production office. If your filming location is further than 30 miles away, then you will need to pay for hotels for the crew to stay in.
Since most of the crew tend to be based in city centres, choosing a location within 30 miles can significantly reduce costs.
Continuing with our case study example of a train station location for filming, somewhere such as Wandsworth Common train station would be ideal in terms of location, since the crew could travel there from London production companies without needing hotels.
If you have a particular location that needs to stay within a certain distance of a city, please contact us, and we can look at our database of over 230 train stations to find a filming location in that area.
Location scouting for film rehearsal days
Typically, filming locations don’t need to be near a town centre, as catering is typically arranged for the crew. However, for rehearsal days, proximity to a town centre is beneficial for food and breaks.
This means that when location scouting for film rehearsal days, you may need to also consider the proximity to a town centre, where the crew can buy food, and take a break.
Consider Brighton Train Station as an example, this is a five-minute walk from the town centre, It’s only a five-minute walk from the town centre and close to the beach, offering the crew easy access to food and a relaxing environment away from the set.
Key Points:
- Proximity to Amenities: Ensure nearby access to food and break areas for rehearsal days.
- Example Location: Brighton Train Station, close to town and the beach, is ideal.
Please contact us to discuss areas or locations that you are considering for your film rehearsal days.
Find your perfect location for filming today!
Get in touch and we can get the ball rolling with your location search. At Rail Estate Search, we understand the requirements of filming and location scouting, and can walk you through your different requirements that your cast and crew will have.