LISTING OR RENTING YOUR PROPERTY TO FILM PRODUCTIONS? (In the Entertainment industry.)

Albert and Victoria’s Wharf Cape Town SA Table Mt / Photo Credit: Bruce Bisbey

LISTING OR RENTING YOUR PROPERTY TO FILM PRODUCTIONS? (In the Entertainment industry.)         

Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductions.com/

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Listing or renting your property to film productions?   

Film location services are essentially the middle-man between property owners and production companies and studios – they schedule, negotiate fees, and basically make sure the production is doing everything as agreed upon. 

Filmmakers often create elaborate sets that recreate scenes from locations all over the world. Because the creation of sets can be extremely costly, some filmmakers prefer to film on location in public spaces or on private property. Individual home owners can make their homes available to filmmakers for rental by using services provided by private individuals or local governments. In addition to having their owners compensated, properties featured in films typically are easier to sell because of their "star power."

Use a film location website to register your home for filming. A number of different websites keep a catalog of available filming locations. The websites typically require that homeowners provide many photos of their property as well as basic information about the location of the home.

Work directly with a location scout to have your home included with the properties offered to filmmakers. Location scouts are always looking to add interesting properties to their portfolios and are happy to include privately owned homes. However, be aware of scam artists operating as location scouts. Fake location scouts will seek compensation for adding a property to their portfolios.

Take advantage of the online directories created by film-friendly cities and states. Cities such as London, New York and Los Angeles maintain directories of homes available for filmmakers to rent. The local governments in these cities want to encourage movie filming and production as both lead to not only increased revenue but also a higher profile for the city.

The owners of homes featured in films and television shows are often well compensated for allowing filming to take place. The amount of compensation varies and depends on the length of filming and the qualities of the individual property.

Only a limited number of properties are selected for filming. In order to increase the chances of your property being selected for filming, always ensure that unique characteristics or features are highlighted and photographed. Additionally, update all listings to reflect any recent additions or renovations.

Homes and businesses are desired for movies, photography, events and television projects. Scouts are constantly on the lookout for homes and unique filming locales of all types. If you have been considering listing you’re to generate income from your home or business, simply signup and list any property worldwide including: 

• Apartment Buildings and Condos…
• Beach Houses, Log Cabins…
• Country Homes, Mansions, Estates, Castles, Attractions…
• Islands, Castles Exotic and Unique Location Venues…
• Resorts and Hotels – Crew accommodations…
• Businesses – Office buildings, restaurants, retail stores, hair salons, spas, hospitals and more…
• Unique Venues – Acreage- Back Yards, Alleys, Warehouses, Roof tops…
• Abandoned Vacant Buildings (beach, mountains, lakes etc.)…
• Props- Vehicles, clothing, antiques, collectibles and more considered… 

1.       GOOD EXTRA INCOME

If you often wonder how much your home or place of business can earn you income as a film production, the quick and general answer is anywhere between $1000 to $15000 per day. This is general and what you make can vary in the extreme based on location.

How to arrive at that number? Again a general industry rate per day is generally your monthly mortgage payment. For example, if your monthly mortgage is $2000, then you rental income as a film location is $2,000 per day. Other factors such as production size, how long the film crew need to be in your house, whether filming occurs outside or inside your home, your property’s ZIP code, etc., may even bump up the earnings for you.

2.       TAX-FREE EARNINGS

What’s better than making additional income without having to do much on your part? Not having to pay taxes on it at all. If the house you’re renting is your personal residence and you rent it for less than two weeks a year, you may not have to pay federal taxes on the additional income - depending on the current tax law. In many states, including California, homeowners don’t have to pay state taxes either.

3.       UNEXPECTED HOME IMPROVEMENT

Industry regulations demand that production companies treat your property with care. They should leave the rental site in the same condition as when they found it. If not the property should be properly reimbursed monetarily.

Often than not, filmmakers leave the film location in even better condition than before. Depending on the director’s visions, the production may needs to make structural changes to your home. If they do, they most likely will leave you with a fresh coat of paint, new landscaping, even a new kitchen or bathroom. Basically, any changes the director deems necessary to accommodate the authentic look of the film.

To that end, it’s not surprising that there are some homeowners who are uneasy with handing their homes over to strangers.

You’re signing away control of the interiors of your house, or the exteriors, and you’ve got to be OK with it. You’ve got to be OK with mistakes being made. Things are going to happen.

4.       FREE HOTEL STAY

When a production is filming in your house, you need another place to stay for the duration of the filming.  If there are no other viable alternatives, a hotel stay is often included in the rental contract.

5.       CONTINUED SOURCE OF INCOME

Once your property is used as a film location and the experience is a smooth one for all parties involved, it won’t be long until another production comes calling. If the crew and filmmakers like you, they most likely will recommend your place to other industry professionals. This in turn can attract more film bookings for your home or business.

6.       ECONOMIC BOOST FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

When productions come to film in your home, they also eat, shop and possibly even stay in your neighborhood or town. This in turn will have a positive economic impact for the entire communities.

For production companies

Film location services specialize in matching and providing resources to help your production companies obtain exactly what they need to film on-location in a timely and cost effective manner. Before and during the film permit process, we will keep your production updated on potential challenges, special conditions, and projected costs.

A film location service will ensure the production is fully aware of all requirements, from insurance to additional jurisdictional permits. They will coordinate paperwork and payment for contracts, vehicle rentals, housing, medical services, fire regulations and on set emergency vehicles, bus re-routes, electric tie-in permits, beach reservations, animal regulation permits and helicopter landing permits.

When looking for a specific location – a pool, gated entrance, a house with high ceilings, an office building with cubicles, a large industrial location with loading docks, a commercial kitchen, a golf course, a gym, a theatre, a church, railway yards, military facilities, etc. – looking for locations that fit the projects specifications.

A location service can save time and money. Helping to narrow the project needs and costs of the production.

As a property owner.

As a property owner a location service will list your property and location for film, TV, commercial, documentary or research for production use. They will help with all aspects from insurance, scheduling, prep times and strike. Making sure that the property owners property is returned in the condition it was or even cleaner.  The work on a percentage basis with the property owner and will make sure all payments are made.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, Careers Hub, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Blurb, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Chron, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Studio Binder, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, UCAS, Frankenbite, Realty 101, Careers Hub, Screen Play Scripts, Elements of Cinema, Script Doctor, ASCAP, Film Independent, Any Possibility, CTLsites, NYFA, Future Learn, VOM Productions, Mad Studios, Rewire, DP School, DGA, IATSE, ASC, MPAA, HFPA, MPSE, CDG, AFI, Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes, Indie Film Hustle, The Numbers, Netflix, Vimeo, Instagram, Pinterest, Metacritic, Hulu, Reddit, Locations Hub, Luther Blissett, Home Guides, Film Locations Wanted, Set Scouter, Splacer, Market Match, Money Pantry, Money, Market Watch,

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Albert and Victoria’s Wharf Cape Town SA Table Mt / Photo Credit: Bruce Bisbey