Hollywood North?

September 28, 2005 2:42 PM

My company has been propositioned by a Canadian film company to use approximately 2500sq.ft (a lab, our main hallway, lunchroom and boardroom) for a TV mini-series. They will be working around our staff, during the day. They anticipate 5 days of filming, with a couple of days of prep-time. How much should we expect to be offered? Any realistic number would help before we go into negotiations. Thanks
posted by strangelove to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

What kind of place is it? Slick corporate office with lots of glass, computer displays, decorations, and birds-eye view of the city? Or a dull sheetrock & frame office with file cabinets and papers? I think the "uniqueness" and class of your place is really what will set the figure that is reasonable -- i.e. whether it's realistic for them to go elsewhere for this shoot.
posted by rolypolyman at 2:53 PM on September 28, 2005

Response by poster: It is an award winning laboratory with beautiful architecture; a modern facility. I understand that it is difficult to create a realist faux-lab...so needless to say, they love the space.
posted by strangelove at 3:03 PM on September 28, 2005

If it turns out to be a shoot for Smallville, say no. They have a nasty habit of accidentally using too much pyro.
posted by headspace at 3:59 PM on September 28, 2005

Google turns up a range of examples:

Until they started to tear it down, LAUSD used to charge between $3000 and $5000 a day to film at the Ambassador Hotel, depending on the location. Back when the hotel was owned by Trump Wilshire, they charged $5,000 a day for filming at the Coconut Grove or Embassy Ballroom, while smaller rooms went for $1,200 a day and up. I don't know how representative these prices are, but I suspect that they're on the higher side.

Rutgers University charges $2000 to $3000 a day for commercial feature film/television productions.

Rowan University charges a commercial film location fee of $1,000 a day, with fees for set-up days decided on a case-by-case basis.

As an example of the lower end, a cached copy of County of San Mateo's website indicates that they charge $600.00 a day plus permits, documents, and any other actual costs including staff overtime to film in a county park.
posted by RichardP at 4:55 PM on September 28, 2005

The Nova Scotia Film Dev. Corp. says $500-1000 a day (pdf file, it's on the last page...) is reasonable for private property or a business where access by customers/ability to do business is not impared. Add your staff costs and lost business if that will be an issue.
posted by jaysus chris at 5:13 PM on September 28, 2005

Since (I presume) you're not represented by a location rep, be sure you get a contract stipulating terms, overtime options, insurance (bond) coverage, repair/replacement for any damages incurred, etc.

This looks like a good site for general location info, and here they provide a worksheet and sample contract.

If this goes well, and you're close to Toronto or Vancouver, you might wish to consider listing with location agencies. It can be a good source of outside income, and the agencies should take most of the pressure off of you and your staff.
posted by rob511 at 2:19 AM on September 29, 2005