Questions & Answers for owners
1. What are the chances of my property being used?
2. How much can I expect to be paid?
3. What do you charge?
4. When do I get paid for any location hire?
5. What happens if a photographer or film company want to use my property?
6. What happens on the day of the shoot?
7. Will they leave my property as they found it?

Questions & Answers for hirers
1. What budget should I allow for a day’s shooting?
2. Are the locations cheaper for a longer term?
3. How many hours can we expect for a one day shoot?
4. Do you charge overtime?

Questions & Answers for owners
1. What are the chances of my property being used?
There is no rhyme nor reason to the location business. We get get asked for anything from a deserted gasworks to a stately home or from a beach house to a sports club changing room. What ever your property is, at sometime we’ll get asked for it. But the frequency of use can vary from a few times a year to never.

We find that the better a location is photographed the greater the chance of your property being used (See “Photographing your Property”).
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2. How much can I expect to be paid?
Location fees vary enormously, depending on the type of “shoot” and the number of days involved. As a rule of thumb TV commercials and feature films involve large film crews and can be quite disruptive. Consequently, they pay more than other productions such as corporate videos or photography.

So, for a day, the rate can vary for a small property from £750 to £1,500 and for a penthouse apartment or country house from £1,000 to £3,000 a day.

Budgets these days are quite tight and we will always discuss rates with you and recommend what we believe to be a fair fee. Ultimately the decision will always rest with you.
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3. What do you charge?
The Space Men will charge a flat fee of 20% of any location fee derived from an enquiry from us. Payment will due 7 days after the commencement of the shoot.
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4. When do I get paid for any location hire?
You will be paid your fee on the morning of, and prior to the commencement of, the first day of the shoot. The shoot should not be allowed to proceed unless you are in receipt of the fee.
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5. What happens if a photographer or film company want to use my property?
Firstly, someone will come and “recce” your property to make sure that the property still looks exactly like the photos we display on our website (hence the importance of great photography).

If the property is then confirmed for a shoot we will ensure that the production company or photographer has the appropriate insurances and will then arrange a contract between you and them. You can see a sample of this contract by clicking on contracts (you will need Adobe Acrobat to view the contract, click here to install).

A film production company may wish to come in the day before shooting commences to make preparations and it is normal for them to be charged 50% of the daily hire charge. They may also wish to come back for a day after shooting is completed in order to restore your property to the exact state it was in when they started their production. This is known as a “strike” day and is also charged at 50% of the daily hire fee. During this day they will remove any props they may have brought, replace any furniture they may have moved and make good any other changes.
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6. What happens on the day of the shoot?
You should make sure that the photographer or film company have good clear access to all those parts of the house which you have agreed to them using. You should have removed any valuables and particularly precious items. They must have access at the time agreed on the contract.

A film crew normally likes to start work around 8am so they’ll probably start arriving in your street after 7am. Their location manager will have made any parking arrangements necessary with the local authority and advised all your neighbours that filming will be taking place in your property.

It can be fairly hectic on a shoot day and, although the film crew will always respect your property you should endeavour to keep clear of their activity as there will be a good deal of equipment and cables being brought in and out. Children should generally be kept well clear of the activity.

A location manager will be on call throughout the shoot and you should talk to him or her if you have any queries or concerns.
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1. Will they leave my property as they found it?
Yes. The production company, be it film or photographic, are contracted to leave your property as they found it. Before they leave you should let the location manager know if anything is not quite right.
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Questions & Answers for hirers
2. What budget should I allow for a day’s shooting?
Few of the locations on our database are available for less than £750 a day. The Space Men will also charge you a library fee of £250 and, therefore, you will need a minimum of £1,000 for a one day shoot. Certain properties will obviously charge more than this.
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2. Are the locations cheaper for a longer term?
Normally yes. But subject to negotiation.
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3. How many hours can we expect for a one day shoot?
The basic contracted day is for ten hours, normally from 8.00am ‘till 6.00pm, subject to arrangement.
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4. Will I be charged overtime?
You will be charged overtime if your shoot extends beyond the agreed time. The rate is subject to negotiation and subject to availablilty.
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