What do “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Baywatch” and “Freaky Friday” all have in common? They were all filmed in Pacific Palisades. On our streets and in our neighborhoods, it’s not uncommon to see TV shows, movies and commercials being filmed.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Have you ever wondered what it takes to rent out your home for the sake of the entertainment industry?
To find out, the Palisadian-Post checked in with Toni Maier, CEO of On Location, Inc., a location management company that matches production teams with homes, including more than a few dozen homes in the Palisades. The Post also sought insight from a local Palisadian who has rented out her home for filming at least six times in the last decade.
Here you’ll find the answers to some of the most common questions about the process.
How can you get your home noticed by a production company?
Although you may have decided that you want the exciting experience of having a film crew in your home for a TV show, movie or commercial, the matching process is not immediate or guaranteed.
Directors are often looking for certain features in homes depending on the nature of the shoot – a traditional-looking façade for a family-friendly movie, a dramatic architectural home as a backdrop for a car commercial or a low-slung ranch home with a vintage look.
“In the Palisades, it’s all about the new America look. Kind of a modern version of the craftsman house and the modern version of a traditional kitchen,” Maier said.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
The best way to get on a production team’s radar is to enlist the services of a reputable location management company, such as On Location, which has matched production teams with locations for dozens of films, commercials and TV shows, such as “New Girl,” “Criminal Minds” and “Modern Family.”
Why do you need a location manager?
Similar to buying and selling real estate, renting your home to a film or TV production team is certainly a process you can navigate on your own, but why would you want to? Deb, who lives in the Alphabet Streets and asked that her last name not be used, said there are many benefits to using a location manager.
“If you try to do this on your own, you don’t know what production companies you would get and they might not be vetted,” she said. When you work with a location manager, she added, “they pre-qualify and only work with really reputable production companies.”
According to Maier, “by using a location manager, you can guarantee that the home is turned back over to you in the same, if not better, condition than when you left that morning.” On Location takes into account every little detail, down to the cigarette butts on the street, Maier said.
Are your neighbors going to want to kill you?
While the thought of renting out your home may have you seeing dollar signs, it could spell trouble with your neighbors. Although it is just your house that is being used for filming, there is likely a large portion of your street that will be taken up by various trailers and crew who are part of the process.
“You really have to be sensitive to your neighbors in your neighborhood,” Deb said. “The day of the shoot, they show up at 6:30 or 7 a.m.”
On Location makes a great effort to clean up the site after they finish. They also work directly with homeowners associations and neighbors to address any questions or concerns.
Many production companies cater breakfast and lunch for families and neighbors while happily giving a brief explanation of all that is taking place that day, which makes it easier for others to view the day as exciting rather than as a temporary traffic or parking inconvenience.
How accessible will your home be during a shoot?
When agreeing to rent your home to a production team, you are essentially turning over your keys for the duration of the shoot. Expect that accessibility will be limited.
“If the company says they just want to use the kitchen, they rent the whole first floor of your house and that includes if you have an attached garage, front yard, backyard, side yard, etc.,” Deb said. “So, when you come back, there might be tents, clients, a video village of what is shooting through the camera, and three to five people sitting in directors’ chairs.”
Although most directors encourage friends and family to take a tour of production and ask questions, production is on a tight schedule and the fewer distractions, the better.
How much money can you earn for renting your home for filming?
Homeowners can earn thousands of dollars for renting out their home to a production company for filming. Shoots that last several days can easily bring in five figures. Still, the money has to be weighed with the inconvenience of being out of your home for an entire day or days at a time.
According to Deb, “It’s definitely not for everyone. But it has been a fun experience that friends and family still talk about to this day. We would definitely do it again. And the pay is nice too!”
According to Maier, “It’s a great way to add money to the college fund.”
– Additional reporting by Matt Thacker.
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