The location sheet
| Topic | What to check and note |
|---|---|
| Identity | Name of the place, address, owner or manager, phone, visit date |
| Look | Photos in every direction, at the hour you plan to shoot |
| Light | Where the sun rises and sets, windows, what can be blacked out |
| Sound | Traffic, ventilation, neighbours, flight paths, a school at recess |
| Power | Outlets, breaker panel, available load, room for a generator |
| Space | Room for camera, lights and crew; ceiling height; a place for cast to wait |
| Access | Truck parking, loading path, elevator size, stairs |
| Comfort | Washrooms, heating or cooling, a place to eat |
| Rules | Hours allowed, areas off limits, what must be protected |
| Permits and cost | Fee, deposit, municipal permit if the street is used, insurance required |
| Safety | Hazards, exits, nearest hospital |
During the visit
- Go at the planned hour. Light and noise change through the day.
- Stand still and listen for one minute. You will hear what the microphones will hear.
- Photograph the practical things. The panel, the parking, the door the gear goes through.
- Ask what is happening next door on the shoot date. Construction and events are not visible on a quiet Tuesday.
Comparing and deciding
Give every candidate the same sheet, so the director and the producer compare like with like. In CrewDesk, Location scout is its own stage: the production carries its visits on the calendar, the sheets and photos in its documents, and the follow-ups, such as a permit to request, as tasks with an owner.