Forum Topic

Your Home As A Film Location?

Hi. I am a long time contributor to both this and the Chiswick forum. I live locally and, after a few years climbing the ladder, have just got my first job as a Location Manager on a small film coming out of Ealing Studios.I am on the hunt for a family home to use as the home belonging to one of our main characters in the film. I am looking for somewhere with a nice size kitchen and garden (I only say this because of the logistics of filming in houses), and preferably, but not essential, a teenage boy's bedroom. We are a small production of approx 20 people and will not be coming with all the trucks, catering etc. that some of you may associate with crews that have filmed in this area before.We would need access to the property for 2, or maybe 3 days, (dates not confirmed but shooting commences on 19th August). I do have a budget for this and we have all the necessary public liability insurance in place - copies and contracts will be provided.This is not for everyone, some people hate the idea, but some people enjoy it, or some may have a rental property standing empty they may consider hiring to us.Please PM me if interested and I will give you my phone number so we can discuss.Many thanksSam

Samantha-Jane Hunt ● 4655d12 Comments

Hi JoolsI did try to PM you, not sure if it got through. I think I may have found somewhere this morning that the Director likes, but, I would still like to talk with you. Please call me on:0208 758 8405 (this is my work phone at Ealing Studios, will be there after 08:30 tomorrow).Many thanks.

Samantha-Jane Hunt ● 4653d

Joolsto PM a member, simply click on their name at the top of any post they have made.

Nigel Brooks ● 4653d

Hi - I have got what you want!  Fine by me  ....  am near Drayton Green.  Don't know how to PM on here so if you prepared to leave your phone number, do so and I will ring.

Jools Lewis ● 4653d

Ready when you are Mr de Mille!

Gerry Tan ● 4654d

Much appreciated Nigel. Thanks.

Samantha-Jane Hunt ● 4654d

Always tough when starting out, every success to you.

Nigel Brooks ● 4654d

No, friendly is good, always rather assume friendly first, but, sometimes hard to tell with the written word or text message. Thank you. I think it will be ok and I will find somewhere good. Obviously, I am  freelance and in 2 months time I will be on another job. I'll come back when I have £2500.00!

Samantha-Jane Hunt ● 4654d

I was wishing you luck in a friendly way, if you wish to construe it as sarcasm, that, with respect, is your problem and not my intent.So, good luck with finding a location at a lower rate.

Nigel Brooks ● 4654d

As stated before - depends on who, what, where. I do not want to get into a debate about it on this forum. I am local, post here regularly, have taken on my first 'proper' job in a position I have been working towards for a while, (do not have £1500.00 in my budget), so was using my initiative. It's a chance for people to earn some extra money. My budget would comfortably pay for a family holiday abroad. As with the written text I'm not sure how to take your comment:Good luck with finding one at a lower rate!I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or if you are just wishing me luck in a friendly way. Anyhow, I have also done a letter drop of the area and have had a very good response despite not being able to offer the highest rate. I now, in the space of a morning, have viewed two potential properties and have a third one to view this evening.

Samantha-Jane Hunt ● 4654d

Seems that that is the going rate from all the location agencies that I have looked at (net of their booking/management fee). £1800 net per day is also the rate that a friend near Lammas Park was offered to use their home as a location.Good luck with finding one at a lower rate.

Nigel Brooks ● 4654d

It depends on so many aspects Nigel, you cannot just blanket the cost like that - in reality it doesn't work like that....Would you need to use the power supply, toilets, rooms for green rooms etc. Are you filming exterior only, interior only, or a mixture of both. Is the crew size 20 or 70. Do you need upstairs access. Is parking provided. Is the shoot a night shoot or a day shoot. Do you need access for only a couple of hours, and so on... All this is discussed with the home owner first. A documentary crew will only pay a minimal fee, a TV drama will pay more, and a huge feature film will pay massive amounts.As I said before, some people enjoy the experience, others couldn't think of anything worse.I am not going to discuss money on a public forum, but I can certainly confirm that I DO NOT have £1500-£2500 in my budget.

Samantha-Jane Hunt ● 4654d

What kind of budget? Seems that £1500-2500 per day or £200/hour with a £1000 minimum is the going rate for a domestic home shoot inside the M25.It might attract me people if you told them what you were willing to pay.

Nigel Brooks ● 4654d