Boston film locations for National Film Project?
October 8, 2010 12:46 PM Subscribe
Help me find Boston film locations. Requirements: interesting backgrounds, flexible space, indoors, and available on a Saturday and Sunday two weeks from now for free.
I'm part of a team participating in the National Film Challenge. We'll be writing, shooting, and editing a short film, based on a topic currently unknown, during a 72 hour period starting on the 22nd. The filming will happen Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
The toughest part in the past has been finding locations. The rules require that we have location releases signed in advance. Locations need to be inside, since we can't reschedule for bad weather. They have to be flexible, since we have no idea what kind of story we're telling. Ideally they're interesting to look at, since we don't have much time for set decoration. They have to be available on the weekend, which rules out lots of likely churches and museums and whatnot. And we have no budget, so they have to be available for free.
I know there's some perfect space out there for this kind of thing -- any thoughts?
I'm part of a team participating in the National Film Challenge. We'll be writing, shooting, and editing a short film, based on a topic currently unknown, during a 72 hour period starting on the 22nd. The filming will happen Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
The toughest part in the past has been finding locations. The rules require that we have location releases signed in advance. Locations need to be inside, since we can't reschedule for bad weather. They have to be flexible, since we have no idea what kind of story we're telling. Ideally they're interesting to look at, since we don't have much time for set decoration. They have to be available on the weekend, which rules out lots of likely churches and museums and whatnot. And we have no budget, so they have to be available for free.
I know there's some perfect space out there for this kind of thing -- any thoughts?
For available on weekends I would talk to a high school about using their space - especially if you were willing to have a couple of "interns" from the film club.
posted by aimedwander at 1:35 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by aimedwander at 1:35 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
A great big space is going to play hell with lighting and sound. No matter what story you're telling, you want to be able to control the environment. Are you allowed to use the Film Bureau?
posted by Ideefixe at 3:07 PM on October 8, 2010
posted by Ideefixe at 3:07 PM on October 8, 2010
Response by poster: These are all good suggestions -- thanks!
- I'll try Craigslist.
- I definitely love the idea of using a high school with student PAs -- that's a win for everyone. I imagine some teacher would need to volunteer to keep an eye on us, though.
- It looks like there's no rule against the Film Bureau (which I've never investigated). I didn't consider going through that kind of channel because of the zero budget thing, but it's worth a try.
To clarify, I'm not looking for a single giant room, but a set of rooms with lots of variation. For example, we had access to an office building on a previous shoot with a cafeteria, kitchen, hallways, stairwells, conference rooms, etc, so we could make it look like multiple locations.
Any other ideas?
posted by jhc at 4:20 PM on October 8, 2010
- I'll try Craigslist.
- I definitely love the idea of using a high school with student PAs -- that's a win for everyone. I imagine some teacher would need to volunteer to keep an eye on us, though.
- It looks like there's no rule against the Film Bureau (which I've never investigated). I didn't consider going through that kind of channel because of the zero budget thing, but it's worth a try.
To clarify, I'm not looking for a single giant room, but a set of rooms with lots of variation. For example, we had access to an office building on a previous shoot with a cafeteria, kitchen, hallways, stairwells, conference rooms, etc, so we could make it look like multiple locations.
Any other ideas?
posted by jhc at 4:20 PM on October 8, 2010
What about a camp that's closed for the winter... maybe Cedar Hll in Waltham? That would give you a lot of different spaces and, if the weather held, some cool outdoor shot opportunities too.
posted by carmicha at 7:25 PM on October 8, 2010
posted by carmicha at 7:25 PM on October 8, 2010
Yeah, do you have any university connections? This place is lousy with universities, you may have heard...I work at one, and it strikes me that you could basically walk in and just start shooting if you wanted to, depending on where and when. Dunno how legit your arrangements have to be, although obviously you want to make sure you aren't interrupted at the very least.
But MeMail me if you want more specific information. I can think of plenty of places where I work where no one would bother you, to the best of my knowledge...including some interesting locations therein. And perhaps there's some way to arrange scheduling space with the school if it needs to be more legit.
posted by dubitable at 8:29 PM on October 8, 2010
But MeMail me if you want more specific information. I can think of plenty of places where I work where no one would bother you, to the best of my knowledge...including some interesting locations therein. And perhaps there's some way to arrange scheduling space with the school if it needs to be more legit.
posted by dubitable at 8:29 PM on October 8, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pwally at 1:13 PM on October 8, 2010