A location scout or location manager is an important job in any video production agency or creative agency offering video services. It is the location scout’s job to secure locations for the video production agency to film at. The job involves everything from handling permits and coordinating location to managing this location before, during and after the video production. Creative directors and writers at a video production agency usually envision a certain kind of backdrop for every video that they are commissioned for. It is the location scout’s job to understand this vision and then round up a location that fits this vision. Starting from securing the necessary permits, the location scout is in-charge of all logistics related to the location. Sometimes, they may even have to play middleman between the local community and the video production agency present on-site for the shoot.

If you are interested in becoming an independent location scout or a location scout for an agency offering video services, here is a handy guide for you –

What kind of education do you need?

If you wish to be a location scout for companies that provide video services, you might want to have a film school background. However, a film school background is no longer necessary to become a location scout for video production companies anymore. You can expect to land yourself a location scout job if you have some experience on a shooting set.  For eg: If you work for some time as a production assistant, you will be familiar with the dynamics the different departments involved in a video shoot share. Just keep your eyes peeled 24/7 and really look at your environment as it changes. It will acquaint you with more places and you will be able to size up whether one spot suits your director’s vision over another.

Are there tips that you can practice?

If you wish to go into location scouting, you could benefit from the following tips –

·             Take lots of photos – Just, in general. Don’t just take photos when something kindles your attention. You might want to just have an album of photos of various locations. So, later, when you will require a location nearby for a shoot, you can simply browse through these photos and make a pick! It cuts your work down to half.

·             Use location-scouting apps – There are many location scouting apps available which can help you find the perfect location for your next video shoot. Filters are made available in these apps, so you can narrow down your search and settle on only the most suited location for your video.

·             Be mindful when out and about – Oftentimes, we ignore simple details when we are outdoors. Some of these details could be just what your director has been seeking. If you can inculcate mindfulness and be observant of the particularities of your surroundings, you could location scout much more effortlessly.

·             Find out about the property owner – If you want to secure filming rights in a private property, you will need to secure the requisite permissions for doing so. In order to secure these permissions, you will need to track down the owner of said private property. So if you notice a possible shoot location on your drive about town and it happens to be a private property, make sure you try to find out as much information as you can about the owners. If the residents are not home, speak to the neighbors. Otherwise, just search for the property online and this should lead you to some clue about the ownership of the property. You can then easily contact them to request for the permissions you need, to shoot on their property.

Conclusion

A location scout’s role is crucial to any video production company or agency. If you wish to become one yourself, you need to have at least a minimal amount of experience on set. It doesn’t matter whether you have a film school education or not, to secure a job as a location scout anymore. All you need to do is be an observant and aware individual. If you are someone who also likes to travel – this could be just the job for you!