Glossary of film location terms

Like every industry, filming and photography has a language of its own. Learn the terms of the film location industry, and feel like a pro when you welcome your first film crew into your property.

A recce is a viewing of your property and typically takes place after the location manager has drawn up a shortlist of properties that could work for the brief. There may be many recces before your location is hired. Recces usually involve the location manager and then increasing numbers of the production team as they assess your location's suitability and develop their plans. 

The tech (technical) recce takes place at the end of the process, usually, once your location has been selected but not confirmed. A tech recce can be a long meeting with the location manager and other members of the crew to sort out all the technical requirements of the shoot - including the sound and lighting and where to put the green room and the catering trucks. Having a tech recce is an excellent sign as it shows they are committed to your location. Still, it doesn't always go as planned - sometimes they will find obstacles that mean they cannot go ahead. 

A honey wagon is a portable toilet for the cast and crew to use. Small shoots and film crews would expect to have a bathroom or cloakroom in the house allocated for their use. For big crews, this often isn't practical, and they will use a honey wagon on-site or close by instead. 

"Small shoots and film crews would expect to have a bathroom or cloakroom in the house allocated for their use."

A unit base is where the production team will base itself while they are filming on location. Unit bases can be big, empty buildings, or often, are outside spaces (carparks or playing fields).  Winnebagos and catering trucks can be parked there during the duration of filming. 

Prep days are for setting up a location before the shoot. If the location doesn't need much dressing, then half a day of prep may be all that's required. Big productions which are transforming the property might need many days to prep.

Prep days fees usually are half those of film days. 

Striking a location happens when filming finishes and the property is cleared up, cleaned and reinstated to how it was before the film crew arrived. Most crews will take detailed photographs of the property before they prep it so that they can put it back with everything in its original place. A crew member will invite the location owner to inspect the property to report any damage or missing items.

Fees for strike days usually are half of the agreed film rate. 

A location manager typically works freelance and is employed by production companies to source and then manage all the locations for the film. Location managers will work to a brief and will have a budget for locations. They will shortlist locations, negotiate fees, agree on the usage, notify neighbours and any relevant authorities, and ensure that everything is in order at the end of filming. The location manager will be the main point of contact for the location owner during filming.

"The location manager will be your main point of contact during filming."

A location scout is often a freelancer whose job is to find a location that fits the client's brief. The brief might be for an outside space with a specific feature or a property that may not be on the books of a location agency. They should take into consideration the logistics and feasibility of a location when making recommendations. Location scouts typically work under the supervision of the location manager.

Once a client has created a shortlist of potential locations, they will want to reserve them for the dates of the shoot. They do this by putting  "options" on the locations. A 1st option means that they have the first refusal on the property; a 2nd option means that they have the second refusal. Once you have agreed to a 1st option you can't just change it if a better offer comes along. It means that clients can plan their production safe in the knowledge that their locations will be available on the dates they need them.

"Once you have agreed to a 1st option you can't just change it if a better offer comes along."

"Pencilling" a location for shoot dates is another word for "optioning" or reserving the location. If you have a shoot pencilled in for a particular time, it means that you have reserved it until the client has either booked it or released it.

A confirmation means that the client is confirming that they want to book your location - it is the thing we've all been working towards! A confirmation can come very quickly for a small photoshoot. However, for a feature film, it can happen after weeks or months of recces, tech recces and negotiations. Now it's down to the fine details where we agree on all usage and fees, and draw up a contract.