By Geoffrey Kinsey-Christopher

Movies are all about escape, taking viewers from their real lives and familiar spaces to mythical lands, futuristic cities, olden-day slums and ghettos, hotel lobbies — the options are limitless. The choice of a movie scene’s location not only determines the producer’s ability to tell the story effectively but also the degree of enchantment the movie has on viewers. I know I’ll never forget Luke Skywalker’s home in the Tatooine desert. 

Location scouting is a technical process that requires an eye for detail, proper prior planning, and a high degree of professional engagement. It is gaining traction as a potent skill, which inspired me to raise awareness of its importance. It can be an entry-level position or a life-long career. Either way, specializing in this skill enhances the production quality and can provide steady work. 

Workflows

From the technical elements of the filming process and how the location enables them, to the bureaucratic, ethnographic, and creative dynamics, there is a lot that goes into scouting a movie’s location. It’s a laborious process, there is no question about that. For this reason, it is necessary that location scouts commence their job as soon as the script is out. With the script, the location scout will have an idea of how different settings will enhance the movie’s production process and, possibly, based on a perfect choice, become a hit in the box office.

A location scout will focus on a number of factors when determining the suitability of a location. First, the scout will be on the lookout for locations with an aesthetic view that meets the set requirements or standards of the movie directors and producers. It’s important to understand the nature of the location scout’s relationship with the scriptwriters, directors, and producers. The decision on the general scenery is left to these individuals, so the scout needs to find locations aligning with their needs. The budget of the movie will also determine choices. 

Technical considerations that go into the choice of a film location can easily fall through the cracks if location scouts fail to actively keep a checklist. For instance, it would be important to take note of the logistical feasibilities like accessibility, climatic conditions, lighting, parking, and power supply. To any other individual, these could be minuscule details that have little bearing on the movie’s production, but to a location scout, these are factors that determine the comfort of actors and their ability to perform optimally. 

Location Scouting Resources

The embrace of technology in the location scouting process can also help. There are, currently, a number of location scouting websites with databases of locations worthy of consideration. Peerspace, LocationsHub, and Wrapal, recently acquired by Set Scouter, are some of the popular location scouting sites. Additionally, Google Maps can help location scouts get lots of information about a site by simply keying in the address. Photos of the location could also be available online, simplifying the decision-making process. 

Happy Scouting!

Location scouting is not as simple as looking at the script and finding the next available point to shoot. For instance, a scene set in a jungle does not necessitate the selection of any forest. A location scout should know that there is more to a location than just the appearance and resemblance to the scene. For this reason, a location scout should be well informed theoretically and practically. I encourage freelancers and students taking filmmaking courses to consider location scouting as a specialization. It will make all the difference over the course of a career.

Find out more about Geoffrey Kinsey-Christopher on his Instagram, Vimeo, Letterboxd pages.

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