Shop used by BBC for filming (facility fees?)

[fleetwood]

Happy New Year to all forum members

Lets hope that 2009 isn't nearly as gloomy for us Indies as the newpapers are making out.

On to my question..

We often receive requests to use our shop as a film location (more often than not its very small scale - documentaries, interviews etc, rather than a major production - although we have had a few requests for sitcoms such as Black Books and Spaced - neither of which we took up).
Up till now we decline most requests, as previous experiences have been disruptive, and have never asked for or been offered a fee.

I just wondered if anyone has any experience and advice they can pass on, regarding facility fees, contracts etc, esp with regard to short, small scale filming eg 2-3 man interview crew, filming for an hour or two inside the shop.

[guccij]

If it's an interview with you or your staff, which will give your business free publicity, then it's highly unlikely you would ever be given a fee. Ask for one, and the chances are, the production company will walk away and find someone else.

If it's filming for a programme unrelated to your business, such as a drama or a sitcom, then you can and should demand a fee.

Start high. £5,000 - £10,000. Be prepared to drop this to a couple of hundred quid in today's climate ...

Source? Former TV news and business producer (me).

[dave_finlayson]

You turned down Black Books!? That's just criminal!

[fleetwood]

Thanks. Thats exactly the sort of advice I was after.

More often that not, they are looking for a location to film an interview, or a piece for an arts program, but not directly about ourselves (for which we wouldn't expect a fee, and would be grateful of the publicity).

For TV drama, film work, I was pretty sure we should be demanding a fee (although we have yet to accept anything that would close the shop), but I was less sure about simply using us as a backdrop for a piece to camera.

I've always taken the view that it would be good for the shop, even if we weren't directly mentioned, although I have started to wonder whether I am being a bit naive in not asking for a fee.

[fleetwood]

You turned down Black Books!? That's just criminal!

we also turned down LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN, who ended up filming a sketch 3 doors down (theres a bit featuring Camden) - at least our A-board made it into shot!

Having your buisness used for filming may sound exciting, but in practice, it can be a less than pleasant experience.
A simple piece to camera can involve camerman, soundman, director, runner, continuity person etc.
The location scout is usually very reassuring and friendly, but when the crew turn up, they don't give a sh*t that its your buiness, and expect you out of the way, whilst the crew lounge around on your fittings (and mess about with your stock!).
Maybe I just had a bad experience (the one I mention above was years ago, and was a simple interview for 'rough guide to...' when it was running on TV), but it made me very wary - we didn't even receive a 'thanks to...' - and whilst we receive requests every month or so, I end up turning most things down.

[pinbrook]

Back in my early working life, before IT, I was a restaurant manager in West Hampstead. The restaurant only opened in the evenings (I only worked during the day, beat that for a cool job!) we had several film shoots take place during the daytime. we earned considerable fees for these, although the precise fee escapes me.

I remember seeing one of the shoots in its final form, it was an ad for shampoo. The girl with shampooed hair came out of our restuarant and stepped into a completely different street, it was very odd

[fleetwood]

The girl with shampooed hair came out of our restuarant and stepped into a completely different street, it was very odd

I wonder if the art director was closet MR.BEN fan

[pixelhaus]

One thing to bear in mind is the sheer amount of mess that your average film crew makes and leaves behind. You'd be finding strips of gaffer tape for months afterwards!