asking to use a location?

C

crazycatz

Well-known member
hi,
i am doing pre-production for a short film i wrote which i will be filming in august, and need to find an office building and a cafe to film in, but i need some advice on what to say when i go into one and ask if i can use it. its a no budget film so i won't be able to pay them anything for thier locations...
i dunno, how should i go about asking them if i can film there?
thanks for the advice!
 
It comes down to having connection. If you know someone who works there then they might be willing to sneak you in after hour. If not it's tough since most offices/business are wary of strangers with cameras in their establishment.
 
Need a certain company's office space, find out who the big man there is and call them up. Want to film in the lobby or hallway or something, research and find the owner of the building. Call him up. Same deal with the cafe. If you're good with people go visit them and ask to speak to the appropriate people. Maybe hand deliver them a copy of the script or an outline at least with your contact info. Always invite them to be extras in the movie if they want. Sometimes that helps.

For the actual filming, probably for all of these, you're going to have to come in before or after hours or weekends. Just know your movie (which you should) so that when they ask you questions you'll be the man.
 
Once you find out the owners like John said, you just have to go ask. I had to secure several locations for my last short and was amazed at how excited people got when I asked them to use their place in my film. I'm by no means an extrovert, but you have to go out and put on the charm. If you act like you know what you are doing, people will usually be pretty receptive. Good luck!
 
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