So your house is unique, you'd like to make a little extra cash and you don't mind if you and all your stuff are displaced for a few days, a few weeks or a month or two (you're escaping town for a while or trying to sell your home or moving in with your significant other). If you're prepared for the challenges, you might want to consider a career in the movies. For your house, that is. After the jump, a list of some of the agencies that may be interested...
- Cast Locations
- Malibu Locations
- Real to Reel Locations
- Toni Maier - On Location
- Universal Locations
- Madison Locations
Each of these location agencies has their own guidelines and types of properties they handle, running the gamut from splendid architectural wonders to apartments, from photography shoots and commercial shoots that run a few days to movie shoots that run a few months. Most location agencies will ask for good digital images that clearly show the property, inside and out and if your property looks promising, may arrange for a visit to photograph your home for their porfolio. Be sure to read their guidelines and look over any rental agreements carefully.
[Image: JimW's Flickr, with a Creative Commons LIcense]
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Comments (8)
I don't know what kind of special arrangement they had, but the office building I worked in two years ago had stuff being filmed in it all the time. It was a pretty boring building architecturally, so we never could figure out why. It was kinda fun, though, as we got to be extras in a few TV shows during our lunch breaks. I can't imagine giving up my home to do this, though ... unless like you said above ... that you weren't using your place for a few months or something.
Hey that's me!
I'm a daily reader and fan of AT and I work at Real to Reel. Thanks for the mention!
One quick note: If you live in an apartment building, we'll need to get your building owner and manager on board for filming. It may also help if there were a handful of film friendly tenants.
ridge_van_winkle,
well, often a scenes are set in "boring" office buildings. and sometimes it's because the building might be easy to work in (easy access, large rooms, cooperative management, etc.) or be well located. if you don't mind a little disruption in your routine, it can be fun! i had one friend was put up in a hotel for a week while her apt was being used for a commercial AND she was paid on top of it. talk about a staycation!
Abby, I guess that makes sense. I also remember my best friend from childhood was an extra a half-dozen or more times as her school was featured in many After School Specials! ;-)
A friend of a coworkers had her house used in the movie "Youth in Revolt" because they wanted a purple house, and lo and behold, her house was painted purple. They displaced her and her family for an entire month, put them up in a hotel, ripped out one of the exterior walls to put in an old classic car, and then rebuilt the wall after shooting had finished to her specifications. And on top of that, they recieved a TON of money for it. Michigan just signed a bill that allows a big tax break for movies to be filmed here, so I expect that this is gonna start to become more common around my home.
My home has been used in photoshoots, which aren't quite as disruptive or long-term as a movie. It's fun, though a bit unnerving, to watch the action from the sidelines. If you're really lucky, your stuff gets moved around and actually ends up looking or working better for you! If not, everything gets put back. The easy money is the best part.
On the other hand: film crews often have little regard for your belongings, and though they may be willing to throw money your way to "fix things" that have been damaged they will not have the same respect for your personal property that you do. Sorry to be negative but I'm married to a film guy who has witnessed some horror stories over the years.
This post couldn't have come at a better time. There's a shoot going on down the street from my building (again!). If it's for a commercial, then it's not too bad because they'll be out of there quick, but movies are a different story. I couldn't even park on my street today or else it'll be towed. huh? Who's responsible for assigning the film permits and putting up tow-away signs? Aren't production companies more interested in filming outside of LA now anyways? Sure doesn't seem like it.