Film Locations — Choosing Wisely
“I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills.”
So spoke Meryl Streep’s Baroness Karen Blixen in her opening line of the film, Out of Africa. The accompanying panoramic shots set up what is a 161-minute cinematic feast for the eyes. Throughout the film, audiences are treated to breath-taking African landscapes that layer under the rich story, all the while lulled by some of the best musical scores ever written for the visual arts. It was this very motion picture’s lyrical location’s landscapes that seduced me into making a career in the entertainment industry.
Five years ago I sat at a Moroccan seaside fortress, Essaouira, realizing just how motivating locations are for writers and filmmakers. Location often informs the interior of its characters; the driving force of the story; the selection of native music that moves the soul; the awe-inspiring backdrops; and “scene business” insertions of cultural customs.
Location can additionally become the single element that catapults the independent filmmaker to success — the crafting of a film more highly regarded, with superior visual storytelling.
Securing locations that increase the value of a production and further complement the picture can be easier than one thinks. Recently, a few friends of mine traveled up to Michigan to make a low budget film. To their delight, the county’s residents offered a lot more than expected. Film permits were obtained at a low cost, and municipal government locations were offered in which to shoot. The filmmakers were given the use of a small airplane and a pilot to capture breath-taking aerial shots. The costs saved by getting the support of an entire community were well into the tens of thousands.
With production costs falling and resources becoming more readily available, be smart about your location scouting. Choose places where the community will welcome your production with open arms and a world of support. All you have to do is ask.
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