Before you ask for free location recommendations from professionals online, please read this! (UPDATED 2021)

When folks ask online for location recommendations, this is my standard reply:

Need a location for a film/tv/photo/commercial shoot or event? I have 100’s of thousands of clearable options in my databases!

Please contact me and include as much of the following info as possible!:

  • Do you have film insurance?:

  • Shoot/event date(s) / time(s):

  • Total number of people (ie. how large of a footprint---total cast, crew, agency, client, etc):

  • How many vehicles and what type, and size?:

  • Specific Areas for filming?

  • How many total hours?

  • Prep/Wrap needs?

  • Approx times for each day?

  • Budget for both scouting and securing the location(s) and for the location(s) themselves

  • Budget for permit fees (if applicable)

  • What type of project is this? Please list name of company and include website, the name of client, etc.

  • IMPORTANT: Any high-profile talent? stunts? pyrotechnics? driving shots? picture cars? animals? minors on set? prop weapons? actors in law enforcement uniforms? Anything out of the ordinary that could alarm the public?


    Please call/text/email me for fastest response!

    Thanks!

    David Brotsky
    212.863.9665
    dabrotsky@gmail.com
    davidbrotsky.com
    Location Manager & Scout

    #production #locations #locationmanager #locationscout #nyc #nj #tv #film #filmproduction #commercials #events #specialevents

Contact me with the answers to all or most of these questions and I may be able to help you!

Please keep in mind, if your project does not have proper insurance, I will not be able to help you. This is because no location that I have in my databases will allow a production shoot without film insurance. Also keep in mind that no professional location manager, scout, or rep will work with a project that does not have film insurance.

Thus, if a project does not have insurance it’s not in anyone’s interest to recommend places or be a part of such productions. Also, those who haven’t been properly trained on how to deal with locations should not approach them. Inexperienced people trying to handle locations hurts the business as a whole.

Professional well planned projects have proper insurance and reasonable budgets for the locations themselves, permits, and for a professional location scout, manager, or locations department to handle things the right way.

Too many smaller productions are trying to cut too many corners and it hurts the entire industry. No one who cares about basic professionalism and doing things the proper and safe way for all should even want to be a part of production that cuts such corners in my opinion and certainly should not be offering location recommendations for places that oftentimes don’t even allow filming and certainly won’t allow it without insurance.

Lastly, on average, locations needs for a day of filming in NYC are typically no less than $3,000. And that is low balling it. People asking to film for a full day for $500 should stick to asking friends and family only for recommendations, not film professionals.

The long term viability of the film industry in NYC partially depends on fair wages being paid to location scouts, managers, and to the locations themselves. So please work these numbers into. your budgets as you are bidding. Thank you!