Getting Your Property into the Movies
The first step to take to get your property into the movies is to send photos of it to your local government's film commission. In California, you would contact the California Film Commission's Location Resource Library. The CFC's library is continually being used by location scouts and location managers to find places to film. Although the focus of the library is on locations in California, they can provide helpful information to anyone interested in having their property used for filming. They are located in Hollywood on the corner of Hollywood Blvd. & La Brea Blvd. at:
7080 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 900
Hollywood, CA 90028
The phone number there is 323.860.2960 x 119 and their web site is:
http://film.ca.gov
Right now, the film location library is in transition from a manual system consisting of notebooks of photos to a digital system being developed for them by the Jet Propulsion Labratory, the same people who handle the photos for the Hubble Space Telescope.
So, the best way to submit your property is to take 4" x 6" photos showing both sides of any interiors or exteriors where you are willing to have filming done. In addition, submit photos showing where the property lies, i.e., a shot from the street, a reverse of that shot from the property looking at the street, up and down the street, etc. Production companies will also need space near your property to park as many as 10 trucks and 50 cars. They will also want a place to set up catering for approximately 60 people. Therefore, it's important to include photos and information about near-by parking and potential dining halls (any huge room will suffice and sometimes just a flat outside area where a pavilion can be set up). In contrast, shoots for video or still photography will have far fewer people and equipment, and their entire crew may arrive in just a minivan.
The 4" x 6" photos need to be glued onto white paper, two shots per page using both sides of the paper. A brief description should be written under each photo, and every page should have the property's address and the date that the photos were taken. The paper and photos need to be placed in clear plastic sheet protectors and three hole punched on the left hand side because they will be placed in a notebook. The photos should start with the exterior, then interior, and ending with parking and catering areas. Pleaes note that only original color photos will be accepted.
Along with the photos, you should include a letter explaining about the property as if you were taking someone on a tour or showing it to a prospective buyer. Be sure to include your name and the best way to quickly contact you - location manangers always seem to be in a hurry.
The best thing to do is to drop off your photos to the CFC's library, where you can also obtain more information about the filming process. Otherwise, mail everything to them at the address listed above.
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