What makes for a Good Filming Location?
Location scouting is absolutely imperative to any video project, and especially so when reaching into larger budget territories.
Your filming location sets the stage for not only the quality of the video, but also the ease of production. This article will quickly overview the most important aspects.
Why is it important for clients to know this?
In many cases our clients use their own offices or properties as a location, with us setting up a makeshift studio using lights and props. Therefore, in some cases, clients do the location scouting themselves! By shooting in your own location you can avoid hefty studio fees and travel expenses, as well as have an easier and more controlled film setup.
What makes for a great location?
Space - In film, an important element is depth, which refers to the space between a subject in focus on camera, and whatever is behind them. When there’s more space in a room, there’s more depth to work with, and in turn, there’s more ease in crafting an attractive image. A video of someone standing in front of a wall, for example, doesn’t allow flexibility in depth, which limits the creative range of the production team. In other words, a large room can almost always lead to a better image. Additionally, it is always important to allow enough room to fit a lot of equipment and staff, as well as make everyone comfortable.
Sound - Sound issues can be volatile for video recording, and it’s well worth considering. Check our full article on sound issues to learn more. To keep it brief, quiet and infrequently traveled rooms are typically the best options.
Natural Lighting - While we do always bring along lighting equipment, it is always beneficial to have natural sunlight at our disposal. In the case of cheaper production prices, we’re often inclined to shoot in naturally lit areas to make up for downsizing in lighting expenses. It is often a producers preference to shoot in outdoor areas when working within smaller budgets. Overall, natural sunlight is a great tool for a video producer.
Ease - Any video production pro will know what you mean when referring to a location as “easy”. It could mean many things. Sometimes some locations have complicated insurance provisions, while others will be more relaxed. Some locations have strict rules about loading times for equipment, while others have no restrictions. Some buildings don’t have loading docks or freight elevators, which are key to overall setup time. All of these things play an important role in the workflow of a project.
Utility - Lastly, some locations offer unique utility such as a selection of available props (like plants and desks), alternate filming locations (such as other office rooms), and helpful tools (such as a range of power outlets.) Having this utility available is just another thing that makes a location valuable.
Closing thoughts
Each of these listed traits have a lot more detail to them, but the 2 most important elements are the Space and Sound, as these are make or break when it comes to your video. If you’re not sure about a location, we offer Location Scouting as a Pre-Production service. In this case, we take a look at the location to get a better understanding of what we’re working with, and in some cases, craft a shot before shooting day!