Frequently Asked Questions Question: What protection is there against damage to my property? Answer: Our professionalism is your protection. Film crews work on private property almost every working day of the year. They are accustomed to going in and out with all of their gear without causing damage. Question: But what if there is an accident? Answer: Every production company carries a minimum $1 million public liability insurance policy. You should be supplied with a copy of this certificate before the crew arrives: if not, you should ask for it. The rule in our industry is: “no certificate, no entry to the property”. Question: What protection is there against theft? Answer: There has never been an instance to our knowledge of theft from private property by a film crew. The crews are professional technicians, not petty thieves. Theft, by the way, would be disastrous for our industry because we rely so heavily on your goodwill. The best advice we can give you is to ask yourself if you are going to worry more about theft than you are going to enjoy receiving the location fee. If you answer ‘yes’, then location filming and photography is not for you. Question: Who will clean up afterwards? Answer: The film crew will pack up and take away all their gear, including any props or furniture they may have brought in specially for the commercial; occasionally, there may be a pick-up the next day. If your furniture has been moved, it will be put back. It’s our experience that most homeowners will want to clean themselves the day after the shoot: the location fee is designed to compensate you for this. Question: When and how will I be paid the location fee? Answer: The location fee is always paid 7 days before shoot the day, usually by cheque, made out according to the party of your choosing. Question: A friend of mine had to sign a contract from a film company; is this necessary? Answer: Often, a film company will ask you to sign a location agreement form, the main purpose of which is to guarantee to the film company ownership in the copyright of the film which will be shot at your property. Some productions are very complex to organise and schedule and a location agreement adds a degree of certainty to a shoot. You should have a read of it; if you wish, you might like to discuss making changes to it. Alternatively, perhaps a letter of confirmation may be used. This type of letter from the production company contains all the essential information about the shoot and does not require your signature. Question: Do I have to leave my home for the day while you film? Answer: No. In fact, it’s preferable if someone is around to answer any requests that may come up during the day. If you can’t be there because of work or other committments, we suggest another member of the household, perhaps a neighbour, friend or relative might be available to come over for some or all of the day. It’s not unusual for home-owners to leave the crew alone for the day, leaving when they arrive and returning at the end of the filming, preferring to do something else in the meantime. It’s your place: the choice is yours. Question: But doesn’t a film crew “take over” your home? And if I’ve signed a contract, doesn’t that give them the right to “take over” the property for the period specified? Answer: No. Your arrangement with the film company gives them a licence to enter on to those parts of the property they have to in order to film. This includes the rooms or areas to be filmed and access to them and a reasonable amount of space adjacent for camera equipment and lighting. It isn’t a sublet and doesn’t entitle them to “take over” or to use any other area that isn’t necessary for the filming or you don’t want them to go into. Sometimes, putting a large filmcrew with all its equipment into a small place doesn’t leave much room left over. But that is not because the film company expects it. On the other hand, if negotiations are for use of the whole property, then you can expect that to be reflected in the total location fee that you’ve agreed to. Question: A friend of mine had a film crew over and they were in practically every room. Why was that? Answer: A film company may ask you to assist them by providing them with extra space. You are not obligated to provide this. This extra space could be for the actors and extras to change into their wardrobe and have makeup put on; extra space for a home economist if food preparation is part of the filming. One of the advantages of using more space on your property is that it reduces the requirements for extra vehicles in the street, such as a makeup and wardrobe van. This would reduce the impact on the parking outside for your neighbours. By agreeing to provide more space, you will make your property more attractive to most production teams. Question: Will my neighbours be advised? Answer: Yes. It is standard industry practice to advise residents and adjoining occupants of any filming that is going to take place. We regard it as both good public relations and the appropriate community responsibility given that we will be parking approximately 4 - 6 large trucks in the street and unloading equipment nearby. Question: Why does there have to be so many trucks and so much gear spread out all over the place? Answer: It does look a lot, doesn’t it? Each truck belongs to a different technician and contains all the equipment particular to his or her area of responsibility. It won’t all be used, but filming can’t afford to stop while someone travels off to get a missing item. So everything that might be required is to hand. The essential equipment trucks belong to the grip, the gaffer, the camera department, the props person, the sound department, the unit manager, the caterer, the art department, and occasionally, the star’s own van. Question: How do I know my personal information isn’t going to be given out to anyone? Answer: We at Paradise Locations believe in your privacy. The information that you give us is used for internal purposes only and is never sold or given away to outside agencies or organisation. Join The Paradise Mailing List Email: