Jason Tomaric

Shooting on Location

We partnered with the powerhouse Location Managers from Star Trek, Mission Impossible, Transformers 2, Top Gun 2, Spiderman: Homecoming, and Grey’s Anatomy to give you professional guidance on finding, managing, and shooting on location.

Check out a free preview of from “Working with Location Owners”

And as with all FilmSkills lessons, the new location lessons come complete with a 20-30 minute video, fully illustrated companion text, and downloadable contracts and forms you can use on your own productions.

Lesson 1

Scouting Locations

Locations play a critical role in every film production, and in this lesson, learn how to properly break down the script, scout locations, work on cold scouts, how to assess the technical feasibility of a location, and it’s local industry support. (19:13)

This lesson covers:

How to break down a script
How to properly generate a list of locations
How to scout locations
Available resources to help you location scout
How to conduct a cold scout
How to assess the technical requirements of the location

Lesson 2

Working with Film Commissions

Each state has a film commission tasked with attracting motion picture production to that state. In this lesson, learn the services offered by a film commission, how to use their services to find the best location for your movie, liaise with local industry, and what hidden pricing traps.(24:53)

This lesson covers:

What a film commission does
How to use their location libraries
How to use their scouting services
Limitations of a film commission’s services
How a film commission can help you liaise with local industry and local government
How your budget affects the services they offer
How to find a film commission

Lesson 3

Working with Location Owners

Approaching and asking a location owner to use his or her property for your film shoot can be a daunting task. In this lesson, you will not only learn how to approach a location owner, but which contracts and forms are needed, proper protocol, how to deal with problems and how to help a location owner prepare himself for the whirlwind that is the production process. (34:47)

How to approach a location owner about using his or her property for your shoot
How to establish your credibility
How to speak and present your case to a location owner
The necessary contracts and agreements to protect yourself legally
How to conduct a walk through
How to deal with problems if the location owner decides to pull out at the last minute
The location release form and its importance

Lesson 4

Film Permits

In most major cities, filmmakers are required to obtain a permit to be able to shoot on both public and private property. This lesson will guide you through the permitting process, when one is required, how to get one, the costs involved, and common traps associated with free permits.

(22:58)

What are permits
When is a permit required
Shooting guerilla without a permit
The difference between shooting on public and private property
Free permits and their hidden costs
How to use a permit on location

Lesson 5

Community Relations

No one makes a movie in a vacuum – every day a shoot will invariably affect someone, whether it’s one neighbor or an entire community. In this lesson, learn how their film shoot affects the public, how to work with local officials, how to notify residents, how to leave a positive impact on the community when they’re finished shooting, and a general code of conduct for crews when shooting on location. (25:00)

How to secure permission from the neighbors in the community in which you’re shooting
The public impact of a film shoot
How to work with the police
How to shoot in a public venue
How to deal with disruptive people when shooting in public
The proper code of conduct for motion picture crews when shooting on location

How to get these Lessons

These new lessons are included in the following FilmSkills courses

Producing Master Course

leLrn the business of filmmaking – from raising money and hiring the crew, to finding locations and running a smooth set to get the results you want.

FilmSkills Unlimited

Learn the entire filmmaking process! Unlock all FilmSkills Courses for LIFE, plus 75 FREE bonus lessons, FREE new content, personal training, and discounts on top software and gear.

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Join Steven Spielberg and James Cameron’s producers and assistant director team as they teach you the business of filmmaking. In the first section, learn how to build a business plan, develop a budget, raise money, and schedule the production. Then join the Paramount Pictures marketing team to learn how to market and sell your production, succeed at film festivals, and attract distributors.

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Production Design Course

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Improve the safety on set, reduce the risk of accidents, and protect yourself from liability. The FilmSkills Safety Training Course adapts the OSHA and California Safety Pass program for students, independent, non-union, and union crew persons.

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Learn the entire process of making a documentary, how to find the story, the right gear to choose, advanced interview techniques, choosing the right locations, how to shoot effective B-roll, and finally how to build a well-paced, engaging story in the editing room.

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Learn how to properly shoot your footage on set, when to cut from one shot to the next, shot selection, how to create the emotion, data management workflows, building the assembly cut, rough cut, fine cut, online process, and color grading.

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I can't begin to tell you how much your lessons are helping me. I'm probably the brokest indie filmmaker on the face of the Earth, but your lessons have shown me that even with a limited budget, you can get great results by adhering to the basics of filmmaking. Thanks for all that you do.

Wow, this is an excellent demonstration of how topics like this should be taught. Felt like I was there and no detail was left out. Kudos. Truly makes your entire course well worth the price.

I should've skipped film school and just taken FilmSkills. Would've saved tons of time and tons of money.

I learned more from watching this than any other video I've seen. They should do this at film school.

There's something incredibly approachable about Jason's on-screen delivery. The content is top notch, and every single video I've seen here has been a goldmine of info and production value.

Fantastic! Finally, real info from a professional.

Really appreciated the details. This wasn't about a name brand type of light or piece of equipment but meat and potatoes filmmaking. Much appreciated.

Thanks a lot for creating this content. I signed up for FilmSkills Unlimited. Absolutely valuable course. I would go this far and say that this is the best online course on the topic. The catalog is broad and given the range of subject covered, the value is unbelievable. Highly recommended.

Finally, someone who tells the basics, but effective techniques in a simple way and not even losing the detail of the things. Good job, keep it up!

Man, you are seriously helpful. and seem like a super nice dude! Love your passion for light! All the best brother x

WOW! One of the best tutorials and breakdowns I've seen! Thank you so much for this!

😘😘😘😘🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍 Thank you sir for your wonderful efforts. Its almost great practical and theoretical for us. Its more than you get in film schools.

Jason Tomaric

Shooting on Location

Lesson 1

Scouting Locations

Lesson 2

Working with Film Commissions

Lesson 3

Working with Location Owners

Lesson 4

Film Permits

Lesson 5

Community Relations

How to get these Lessons

These new lessons are included in the following FilmSkills courses

Producing Master Course

FilmSkills Unlimited

Share this post

Join FilmSkills Today

Screenwriting Master Course

Camera and Lens Master Course

Cinematic Lighting Master Course

Producing Master Course

Directing Master Course for Television and Movies

On-Set Audio Recording Course

Production Design Course

Safety Training Course

Industry Career Course

Documentary Course

Post Production Master Course

Or get it all and save over 70%

Access everything, and all future content.... for life

Why pay $3,388 to buy all FilmSkills courses individually when you can get it all for only

one payment of $949

Learn about the 6-month Payment Plan

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