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Dahling
Mansion Owner
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 200
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 Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:36 am Post subject: California house used as movie set |
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Just read this article in the Corvallis Gazette. Apparently, they are filming part of the show - particularly the scenes in the neighbor's home - in this guy's house.
| Quote: | He also gets to interact with some of the actors, including Eddie Izzard, which has been a real pleasure, he said.
“Eddie was great,” Patterson said. “He came marching in here and said he loved the house.”
In fact, Izzard told him, “Of all the houses we’re using, I’m giving your house the best house award.” |
Anyway, thought some of you might like to read it.
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Steve
Home Owner
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 169
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:55 am Post subject: Yeah |
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| I'd like to give someone my house for a change, and they can pay me a nice apartment in New York. I think I could go for this for a while.
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Janet
Traveller
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 24
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:39 am Post subject: Re: California house used as movie set |
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| Dahling wrote: | | He also gets to interact with some of the actors, including Eddie Izzard, which has been a real pleasure, he said. |
Oh wow. How lucky can one person get. I bet he gets a lot of money for this AND he gets to meet and talk to the actors.
Not only did this person live in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. Guess I am jealous.
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thorjansen
Condo Owner
Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 69
Location: Los Angeles, CA, US
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:39 am Post subject: Re: California house used as movie set |
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| Janet wrote: | | I bet he gets a lot of money for this AND he gets to meet and talk to the actors. |
I used to work for a location manager, and the listings we had back then (this is 12 year old data so it's probably better now) were generally $5,000 a day for interiors or exteriors, or $7,500 a day and up for both. This was for features, and television does pay less. My sister-in-law's house is used a lot (the American Pie series, for one) and when she takes a TV job (show or commercial), they generally only pay $2,000 to $3,000 a day for interior and exteriors.
But hey, that's usually a mortgage payment, so it's nice pay for just a few days of inconvenience.
Yes, you do get to mingle with the crew, but usually not the cast, unless they are approachable and their handlers don't bar your way. The stars usually have their own crafty (food service) or personal chefs and Starwagons, so they usually eat apart from everyone else, which is generally the only time you can get to talk to the cast and crew. But you do get to eat with the crew and extras, who are generally pretty friendly and approachable.
And of course there's no talking or moving when the camera's rolling, or much movement even if the cameras are off and they are busy setting up for the next shot. So I think you can see that there is actually very little time for chit-chat.
And it's not all glamorous, either. From the time the setup crew comes in, till the breakdown crew leaves, the production company pretty much takes over your whole house and life, even if they are shooting in just a room or two. It really does disrupt your life in a huge way.
You've got generators on the street in front of your house, and electrical wires running all over the place, and tracks for tracking shots, and lighting and sound setups, and they usually move your own furniture out and put theirs in, which is a good thing in case of breakage, and to prevent accidental intermingling of their stuff with your own.
And of course they take up all the street parking for a block or two (both sides, too), which makes your neighbors peeved even though they agreed prior to the shoot to allow it in their neighborhood.
And sometimes, the production company will pay for you to just go to a hotel for the duration of the shoot, but this only happens if it's a movie and they're going to be there a week or longer. Most of the time, they're setting up on day one, shooting on day two, and breaking down on day three, which gives you three days of pay. They are pretty efficient at it, in and out, to keep costs down to the bare minimum.
And you'd be amazed at the number of crew that are used, even for a small shoot. You might have three or four people (the "talent") in front of the camera, and 30 to 50 crew members behind. It's really amazing to see, and it becomes apparent to see why production costs can easily spiral out of control if they go over time and budget.
The biggest secret to being allowed to watch is to make yourself either invisible or helpful (usually the former rather than the latter), and you're all set to stick around to watch as well as enjoy crafty service. If you become an a** about things, or are constantly in the way, they'll kick you out quick even if you're the property owner, and you go on a blacklist and your home will never be used again.
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Steve
Home Owner
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 169
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:30 pm Post subject: Thanks Thor |
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Thanks Thor, that was very informative. I have always wondered how these things work.
I am somewhat surprised about the amount of money that can be made from this.
You describe many inconveniences, but even if they didn't pay for the hotel, I would simply go on a short trip to some interesting place.
Heck with that kind of money you could even go on a vacation and leave them the keys. After all they should have insurance and if they break anything you can ask them to pay for it.
I think it would also be very interesting to get a first hand look at how these things are taped.
I think the worst case is dealing with your neighbors and make them take all this so you can make money and have a good time 
Thanks again Thor. That was very informative.
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Dahling
Mansion Owner
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 200
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| Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, thanks thor, that was very interesting. I am not an "in awe of all things Hollywood" person, but I also always wondered how this works. I have a couple of friends down in LA and their house is used for commercials and such. But it's quite different from what you've described, as it's usually only for one day and the crews are much smaller and the neighborhood invasion is not really an issue.
As to the money, I think that's pretty good for "only" having to deal with them taking over your house for a few days. I mean, if you agree to something like this, you know your life will be disrupted, so you gotta be a pretty easy-going person who doesn't care too much about it. And if that's the case and you get paid what others don't even make in a month, I'd say that's a pretty good deal.
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thorjansen
Condo Owner
Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 69
Location: Los Angeles, CA, US
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:53 am Post subject: |
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| Dahling wrote: | | But it's quite different from what you've described, as it's usually only for one day and the crews are much smaller and the neighborhood invasion is not really an issue. |
You're right. The bigger crews come with larger productions, like hour-long dramas and ensembles, and movies, of course. Commercials are definitely small by comparison, and so are non-profit spots and documentaries.
And yes, the folks who get their homes used more often than not are easy going, do go with the flow and stay out of the way, and take the little problems in stride.
One commercial (for a car, I think it was) was being shot at my sister-in-law's house a few months back, in the driveway mostly, and showing the front of her house (she has a Cape Cod type, kind of rare for Los Angeles but ideal for east coast airings).
For some reason, the director didn't like the way the driveway shot was working, so he sent the location guy next door to do a quick on-the-spot negotiation with the neighbor, to use her driveway instead.
After some haggling, the deal was made, but the lady was a real pain about it all through the shot, and she really screwed them on the price too. Needless to say, she went on the blacklist as soon as they wrapped, and she won't be getting help with the mortgage or cash for a nice little vacation from here on out!
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