Finding tough locations

[Lance Tang]

Has anyone had the problem of needing a tough location and not being able to find it? Is there a website where you can find locations for films?

 

For example, I really need a shot inside a prison. How would I go about getting that shot?

[Adrian Sierkowski]

Best bet would be looking for older prisons no longer in use. Here in Phila we have one which is often used. Else it might be better/easier to do it as a set. Speak with your local film office, they normally have some location resources.

[Brian Drysdale]

Yes, the film offices or your penal people. We filmed prison scenes for a short at a training prison officer's training centre, which had a small cell block for training.

[John Sprung]

Also check the various rental stages. Back when I was doing this, there was one in Culver City that had a nice two story standing prison interior set.

 

 

 

 

-- J.S.

[Phil Rhodes]

Locations are easy if you have money. If you have a lot of money, you can go to an agency and they'll do it all for you and make you feel very big and important while they do. Even if not, almost everyone has a price; I'd be absolutely astounded if there wasn't a standing prison set as John says.

 

If you're poor though...

[Guest]

Oddly I rented an ENTIRE prison for my first feature, super cheap!

 

It's a hospital that's a real bugger, don't ever set a scene in a hospital, ever!

 

R,

[John Sprung]

It depends where you are. The old Queen of Angels hospital, up on that hill East of the Hollywood freeway, has been used as a location for years. More recently there's been a sign on the top of the building that says "Dream Center" -- not sure what that is, or if it's still available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- J.S.

[Raj Kumar Macwan]

For my short I had inquired mayor's office film and theater department (NYC) to rent prison cell and the fees with crew of not more than 10 people (including actors) was $144 per hour.