Guidelines For Location
Shooting
If you are interested in production companies using your
property for location shooting, the Bandera Film Commission
would like to help. The following is a guideline to inform you
of typical questions. Although general items are covered in this
outline you may still have questions. Feel free to contact
anyone from the Bandera Film Commission or the Chamber of
Commerce.
Do you have anything to offer a
production company? Our county is so beautiful
and diverse it would be hard to imagine you not having anything
to offer. Any part of your property that you or other people
admire. Consider the exterior or interior of your home or
outbuildings. Do you have views to die for? What about
historical farm equipment, sites or buildings? Or bodies of
water both manicured and left natural. Livestock and exotics are
useful as well. Properties that offer a time period are always
needed. If they are shooting while driving down the road and
your place is in the background they will need you. Even if you
live next to where they are shooting they made need a place to
park all of the production vehicles.
What can I expect from a
production company? They will want to view your
property and take pictures for their records. It is a good idea
to be present or have someone available to answer any questions
they may have. Get to know the Location Manager of the picture;
this person will be your liaison to the production company. If
they do decide to use your property, get as much detail as you
can. You need to know what they will be doing and how long. Do
they plan on changing anything? What kind of heavy equipment
that they may bring on to your property.
How much do I get paid? A
lot of factors are considered when deciding what you should be
paid. The size of the production budget is always considered. If
you property is a hot item it will command more money. How much
of your property will they tie up? If they are shooting in your
home, you will have to be provided a place to stay at the
production companies expense. What kind of changes do they want
to make? Generally the more your life is inconvenienced, the
more they will offer. There will be a fee paid for shoot days
and a fee for preparation days that is sometimes less.
Guidelines for the Location
Shoot Contract
Contracts will vary from production to production. The
following outline is provided to give you things to look for. If
you do not understand what you are signing have you attorney
view the contract.
The contract will start off naming the parties involved,
state what they are using the property for and the duration of
the shoot.
There will be a clause stating that the production company
has the right to bring in whatever they need to complete the
shoot. They may need to build sets or change your property in
some way. It should state that the
production company will restore your property to the same
condition you leased it to them. Sometimes changes can be an
improvement and you may want to leave it. Production companies
don't mind this since they don't have the added expense of
restoration. Again, it should be your
choice.
There should be a clause that states
that they will repair any accidental damage that may occur. It
should also state that you will not be held responsible for
possible personal injury of any crew member while on your
property. This should include personal
property damage to crew members' possessions as well. There will
be a clause stating that you have no rights to any proceeds from
the productions. It may even state that you cannot use the name
of the production to market your own property for future
productions.
There should be a section outlining
the fees you are to be paid and when. Usually fees are paid upon
completion unless otherwise agreed upon. EXAMPLE #1: If they are
using your home for a month or two, you cannot live there. The
production company will need to provide a hotel or rent house
while using your property. They should
pay these expenses directly to the establishment. If they
reimburse you for the expenses, the money is subject to
taxation. EXAMPLE #2: If they are using your business
establishment for the production shoot this will shut you down
while they complete their work. You may want to ask for a
deposit up front to cover your loss of daily income.
There is usually a clause stating that they have the right to
come back and use the property again for re-shoots. It is
usually 3-6 months after the completion date but sometimes more.
This means more money for you but could be an inconvenience, so
keep this in mind. Many times it is necessary for them to come
back and should be expected just in case.
There will be a clause stating that they have the rightful
authority to make any agreements for the property or you will be
held liable for any legal action from the rightful owners of the
property.
*Last and most important, the contract must be properly
signed and notarized for your protection. If you have any
questions about your contract, it is always recommended that you
have your attorney help you.
