Scouting Locations for Movie and TV Shoots

   
by KYW's Hadas Kuznits

When it comes to filming in Philadelphia, there's a lot of work that happens before filming happens on location.

Paul Pulver, co-owner (with Michael Lehman) of P&L Locations, says location scouting is the first thing that happens before an on-location shoot. Not only does the location have to fit the script, he says, it also has to accommodate all the equipment:

(Kuznits:)  "Do you go out to the locations with a tape measure for your trucks?"

(Pulver:)  "Basically, yeah, I do."

Pulver says that Philadelphia's neighborhoods and tree-lined streets are in high demand for filming, and he certainly doesn't want to ruin his set with his giant trucks and equipment:

"There aren't many cities in the country that have the small streets, the old houses, the cobblestones, just the flavor that Philadelphia has."

Pulver says that once a site is chosen, he has to make sure the neighbors are okay with it:

"We'll go around, knock on doors, introduce ourselves to people. Basically, you've got to get the neighborhood on your side as much as possible."

Pulver says that once you get everyone on your side, filming is easy. But if the folks around you don't know what's going on, don't count on their cooperation.

Next comes coordination with the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, the police, and the Philadelphia Parking Authority. And then, he says, they have to find a nearby holding location for the staff, extras, and lunch:

"You can have a crew of 150 when you have just your technical people."

(Kuznits:)  "And they all need to eat and change and go to the bathroom."

(Pulver:)  "And stay out of the street, stay someplace safe. But they also have to be accessible within a minute's walk of where we're filming, also."

(Photo by KYW's Ed Fischer)