Locations, Locations, Locations

J

Joe Calabrese

Well-known member
So, I'm going to be shooting a film, and part of it requires a bank robbery. Its such a small part, but so essential to the story. I was thinking of trying to use a real bank (you know, going through the whole permit and insurance process to get a bank for a shoot), but I realized that it will be rather difficult and expensive. Do any of you have any suggestions as to something for me to do in the NYC area. We need a bank, sort of like the one in the movie "Inside Man". It has to be something the screams money and wealth. Basically, think of a very high end bank where the mob would do their banking, if any of that large cash flow was legal.

-Joe
 
Shoot the exterior of any building you want as the establishing shot. That will give you leeway with the interior and you could get away with just close-ups. Perhaps cut to the getaway driver a couple of times, with the building in sight.
 
Yeah, Budget is $0.

The scene actually calls for a bank robbery. I found a real bank that perfectly suits my needs. How much do you think I should offer to the bank manager/person in charge to allow us to shoot some stuff during off hours? Does $1k sound like enough? We'd also have all the necessary permits and insurance and such, so that wouldn't be an issue.

I just thought about the green screen option and I think with all the extras and wide shots, I just don't think it will work.
 
They'll never agree. If your budget is $0, how can you offer $1K?

Hmmm...you know, bank managers often acquiesce to guys carrying guns...
 
Your first mistake for a zero budget production is centering your idea around a bank. If you have no money, it's better to write around the places you know you can shoot for free.
 
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Yeah, conflicting messages man. Do you actually have a budget? Insurance isn't cheap ($1000+ for the short I'm shooting without guns, stunts, etc) and location fees are running me from $1200 for 2.5 days to 350 for a single day for outdoor private land use.

I thought having $40K to shoot a short would make it a cakewalk.. Not even close! We're over budget already and are paying people 1/3 to 1/4 their normal day rate and its only a 4 day shoot.
 
How much should you offer? Nothing. Because you can't possibly pay what it's worth, so don't even bring money into the equation.

Your only chance at this is to play the charming struggling indie fimmaker card. If you're a student, ride that to the hilt. And you HAVE to have insurance, they won't even talk to you without it. So make your play. Talk to the bank branch manager. Be passionate and complimentary, talk about how great the location is, and how it'd add so much to the film, and you'd be soooo grateful if they'd let you shoot there (key phrase: LET you shoot there), and that they'll all be invited to the red-carpet premiere gala... Offer if there's anything you can do for them in exchange, can you do a commercial for them, or film their company party? And then, let them know that if any of their people want to be in the movie, you'll need people playing bank tellers and things like that (obviously you aren't giving away your major acting/speaking roles, we're talking about background players here). If the manager likes you, likes your enthusiasm, likes your project, and can maybe make a fun weekend out of it for her/his employees by letting them be in a movie together, then maybe -- MAYBE ... they'll entertain the idea. Bankers are extremely conservative, so if you don't have insurance you're dead in the water. But maybe they'll let you do it. Maybe.

If money comes into play, it'll be because they don't want to take a loss on the event, so if they have to hire a security guard (and YES, they'll have to be paying a security guard and maybe more than normal) then you may be expected to pay that. And maybe it'll all add up to a thousand bucks for the weekend. Which is the money you had available to offer in the first place, right?

Play it right and you might stand a chance. But don't be surprised or disappointed if they say "no". Back when I was starting out, I used this technique successfully to get million-dollar mansions, huge real estate offices, lawyer offices, medical plazas, pawn shops, restaurants, and even free shooting at a hotel/casino in Vegas, including on the casino floor. But admittedly it works much better in smaller communities where film is a novelty and not a regular event; you might not get anywhere with these techniques in L.A. or New York City, but in a smaller community or one without much of a film presence it can be quite effective.
 
Barry, would you recommend seeing them in person and asking them in person, or would you write them a formal letter with all the information, or even both (the letter being so they don't forget as soon as you walk out the door)?

I will definitely take your advice. You always know what your talking about and your information has never let me down. Thanks!

EDIT: Do you think it might be worth it to travel a little bit away from New York (maybe New Jersey, or Long Island) to find a place where a film shoot would be a novelty. My only problem is that we wanted a bank that looks "grand" and extraordinary. We have insurance already, and all the equipment. When I said my budget was nothing, that means none of the people are getting paid. We obviously have money for food, transportation and the like, but would rather not have to spend money to use an actual location.
 
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See if you can find a disused bank building somewhere in your area that will suit your needs. Commercial realtors and Location Managers are the people to talk to.

Last year we shot a bomb-and-robbery-in-a-bank sequence in a magnificent old marble-and-bronze-everything bank in downtown LA, with a gorgeous full-size walk-in safe, that has been out-of-use for a few years now.

What with banks failing at the rate they presently are, empty bank-looking spaces should not be that difficult to track down.

As for 'grand and extraordinary,' since you're contemplating travel think Illinois, Indiana and Ohio (maybe Wisconsin, too). A lot of location work, including the banks, was done around those areas for 'Public Enemies,' and they for-sure found the kind of look you're describing.
 
or would you write them a formal letter with all the information
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A letter will get tossed in the trash. You have to have a charming, engaging personality, you have to be excited, you have to get them excited by your excitement and your passion for the project. A formal letter isn't going to accomplish that.
 
Sad Max said:
See if you can find a disused bank building somewhere in your area that will suit your needs. Commercial realtors and Location Managers are the people to talk to.

Last year we shot a bomb-and-robbery-in-a-bank sequence in a magnificent old marble-and-bronze-everything bank in downtown LA, with a gorgeous full-size walk-in safe, that has been out-of-use for a few years now.

What with banks failing at the rate they presently are, empty bank-looking spaces should not be that difficult to track down.
Click to expand...

That is an option I had been considering, and was definitely my first approach (but I just asked friends and such). I will be calling some commercial realtors and look into that. Thanks.
 
Sad Max said:
See if you can find a disused bank building somewhere in your area that will suit your needs. Commercial realtors and Location Managers are the people to talk to.

Last year we shot a bomb-and-robbery-in-a-bank sequence in a magnificent old marble-and-bronze-everything bank in downtown LA, with a gorgeous full-size walk-in safe, that has been out-of-use for a few years now.

What with banks failing at the rate they presently are, empty bank-looking spaces should not be that difficult to track down.

As for 'grand and extraordinary,' since you're contemplating travel think Illinois, Indiana and Ohio (maybe Wisconsin, too). A lot of location work, including the banks, was done around those areas for 'Public Enemies,' and they for-sure found the kind of look you're describing.
Click to expand...
Yeah, listen to this guy. This is excellent advice, especially about looking in a less film-saturated place.
 
....And if all that fails, maybe you can create a set that looks bank-ish. Look in a real modern bank (creating an elaborate old type bank would cost a fortune) and see what makes it look like a bank. Maybe you know someone with a restaurant, for example, that could look like a bank if their counter or bar was modified (these days, teller windows are nothing more than vertical laminate countertop with gaps in it) and the tables and chairs moved.
 
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