Picking the Best Filming Location

Being a location scout is no mean feat. Choosing the right location for films, TV shows and photoshoots can make or break the success of an artistic project, making it imperative that the right location is found. 

There are thousands of filming locations in the UK, with a plethora of options to suit every type of project. With so many different options to choose from, it can be tricky for scouts to narrow down their search, but that’s where Locations Direct can help. 

Film Locations London

We have a vast portfolio of film locations in the UK, with the majority of our properties being concentrated in London and the surrounding areas. If you’re looking for a film studio in London, we more than likely have a suitable solution within our catalogue. 

How to Choose a Filming Location 

As mentioned, finding the right filming location is not an easy task by any means. If you’re working on a media project and are looking to source a suitable location, we’ve put together some notable tips to ensure you pick the right place the first time around. 

Space

First and foremost, you need to think extensively about the amount of space a certain location has to offer. Not every media project will be based in a grand mansion or office block; sometimes, a humble space is what’s needed. That being said, when scouting for a smaller location, you need to be conscious of the amount of space needed to accommodate equipment and cameras. If a room is too small, there won’t be enough space for the lighting equipment, cabling, sound system, props, cameras and actors, let alone the crew. The last thing you want is for your crew to be getting in each other’s way and various members having to vacate the area to avoid being in shot. 

Sound

In contrast to finding a suitable space indoors, scouting the right outdoor location is just as easy. Whilst you don’t need to consider size, you do need to think about noise. This is something so few scouts pay mind to, only to turn up to the location on the day of filming to find it’s directly under a busy flight path or plagued by travel noise. When you are considering an outdoor location, make sure to look at a map and contact the building owner to establish what the surrounding area is like. Also bear in mind that just because your ears can’t pick a noise, your sound equipment likely will. 

Permits

Depending on the type of property you are renting out as a filming location, you may need to obtain certain permits. For example, when you’re filming outside and may require traffic to be diverted or access to nearby businesses to be temporarily halted, you might need to seek authorisation from local authorities. This could also apply to public buildings. 

Generally speaking, when you choose a private property as your filming location, you don’t need to worry about permits as written consent will be enough. 

Access

It’s common for location scouts to look at suburban areas for their projects, especially for residential scenes. The issue arises when you opt for a small residential street with less than desirable parking facilities, meaning your crew have to walk a considerable distance with their equipment as the property has limited access. 

In a similar fashion, you may need to think about access when filming in locations like blocks of flats and shared spaces. You might find you need to ask the permission of the residents as their access may need to be restricted for the duration of the project. 

Find a Location 

Here at Locations Direct, we have an expansive catalogue of properties to use as filming locations. We have everything from derelict properties and public parks to housing estates and commercial spaces. We also have grand country manors and loft apartments, as well as houseboats and recreational/leisure facilities. To make finding a film location easier, you can use our ‘refine’ tool which allows you to filter by category, property type, ownership, parking facilities and area. 

If you need more assistance in finding what you need, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help you pick the best film location for your media project.