We've all seen the well known car brand commercial which depicts the life of a location scout wandering aimlessly around glamorous outback towns asking if people have seen what he's looking for….it's not quite like that!

Itasca Locations has location managers and location scouts that work not just in the UK but all over the world. We've sourced locations for clients in places like Paris, Warsaw, Chicago, Mumbai, Madrid, Australia, Dublin, Scandinavia to name just a few.

80% of the work we do at Itasca Locations is based within the M25, so within 30 miles of London. This is because the majority of filming, television and advertising companies are in London and for cost purposes it makes sense for them to stay close to home. Being on location means you will likely have the following with you: a generator - for power, Canteen - a catering truck and a dining bus, toilets, wardrobe & makeup – including a trailer for the 'stars', plus crew vehicles – these might include lighting, camera, sound, construction and so on. At the top end of things there may be as many as thirty vehicles and sixty crew. It's because of the size of the 'unit' that travel may be limited.

One Itasca Locations' many abilities is that of finding the impossible. A tropical swimming pool location for a 'Caribbean Villa Scene' – Not a problem we've a perfect replica in...Hertfordshire!

• Identify the Locations you need
  A brief gets sent to the office, which will indicate the feel, context and style of the location needed. With stills shoots we'll get sent a layout, which is often a drawn diagram of the final shot.
• Research
  Itasca Locations has a considerable library of locations, which would be the first port of call on any job. Then it's down to Internet and phone research before getting out on the road.
• Recces
  For the location manager or scout to get out to a site to do a 'recce' is very important. The photos held within a library may not show you all angles, be up to date or wont show you down the road. The location has to be workable more than just visually. If it’s on a red route busy road its unlikely to work for exterior scenes or if there are pylons in the field next door for a period piece that would rule it out.
• Permissions & Contracts
  Once the right location is found the Location Manager needs to get permission to shoot. This may be with a private owner, a library or the local council. All of which will have their own paperwork to be completed prior to the shoot to ensure all dates/times/costs etc are agreed. This is a legal contract to ensure its availability to the production company. All location libraries and most production companies will have their own agreements. It's very important that you understand the legalities of the agreement including indemnity and liability.
  
  Once the paperwork is completed everyone involved needs to be contacted to receive a final schedule and any information they might need to know. Parking may require notice and depending on the borough you are working in this may take between 7 and 10 working days. The police should also be informed of any shooting taking place, although they do not need to give permission they do need to be satisfied that the shoot will not be a danger to the public or cause panic and alarm. It is also a must that all local residents and business owners are 'letter-dropped' to inform them of when and where any action will take place.
• Shoot it! With the Location Managers constant input throughout the process the shoot should go ahead without any problems. There are so many factors to consider that problems will always pop up but we only work with the best in the business so we know they can handle it!

Being a location manager or location scout is hard work. You're up before everyone else and you finish after everyone else, often having jam-packed day after day. The job however can be exciting, rewarding and interesting, there's never a dull day.

• Scout Vs Manager
  What's the difference? When starting out in the industry its likely you would start as a location scout working for an established location manager. A scout effectively does the location finding for the manager who then shows the clients. The location manager liaises directly with the director or producer looking at all aspects of how to make locations work. The location scout need only worry about finding a location to fit the brief perfectly while the manager will then look at the parking, noise and any nearby factors. The location manager works closely with the rest of the crew to ensure that the right space is chosen and it works for everyone from the director right down to the lighting technician.
  
  Every job is entirely different so it’s hard to give an exact job description. For locations such as family homes and specific looking residential rooms the scout would go to a location library such as us here at Itasca Locations. For more specific briefs such as an acorn tree on a hill with a cottage to the left of it the scout would need to do lots of research and get out into the country and find it.
  
  Only after working as a location scout building up knowledge and connections would you be allowed to oversee shooting for the Location manager. There is no substitute for experience which is why you should try to get as much experience as possible under your belt whether it be runner, scout or manager.
  • Tools of the trade
    A Location manager or scout would never be found without the following:
    • Mobile Phone
    • Phone charger
    • A Car
    • Digital camera
    • Tripod or Monopod
    • Sat Nav & map book
  • To be a location manager you should…
    • have a good overall knowledge of the area, city or region
    • have good relationships and knowledge of council/government procedures
    • have a good knowledge of architecture styles and periods
    • have an understanding of health and safety regulations
    • have an overall knowledge of who does what and why on set
    • have the ability to work incredibly long hours
    • lots of charm & good humour!
  • Starting out
    It’s not easy getting into the film business so that old saying of getting a foot in the door really is the best way. With so many people wanting to work within the media industry as a whole you need to have determination and be very good at what you do.
    
    Itasca Locations advises that you get as much work experience as possible, offer your services to Location Scouts and Managers already working in the sector or get in touch with relevant agencies such as Film London or Skillset. Publications such as Kays, The Knowledge and Kemps are a great way to find out contact details to send C.Vs. Having a unique but interesting and relevant covering letter means you stand a better chance of being acknowledged.
    
    It can always be a good idea to follow up emails with a face-to-face meeting if possible. Remember this is a hugely busy and demanding industry, if the recipient of your CV doesn’t want to meet you it may just be that they are up to their neck in work.
    
    Itasca Locations is one of the busiest location libraries in the UK. Therefore if you send us your CV we will keep it on file but are unlikely to contact you unless we have a particular vacancy at that time. Of course when vacancies do come up we’ll be looking through all the CVs for just the right person. You can also get news updates from us on twitter @itascalocations or on facebook itascalocations.

To register as a location on our library please see the ‘register your property’ section in the navigation bar.

Any positions that become available within Itasca Locations will be posted on sites such as www.mandy.com and www.productionbase.co.uk

We’ll also advertise them on our twitter page, @itascalocations, & our facebook page, itascalocations.

Please feel free to email any cvs through to info@itascalocations.com however we will be unable to respond unless we have a specific vacancy which you might be suitable for.