KEY POINTS:
MY JOB
Name: Mike Holloway
Age: 42
Occupation: Location scout / location manager
Working hours: Varies from 10 hours to occasionally 16 hours a day depending on what stage the project is at and what type of project it is. Self-employed
Pay scale: Location scouts earn between $300 and $700 a day, depending on experience and the project's budget.
Qualifications needed: None specifically, but most people come through film schools.
Describe your job
There are two parts to my job: location scouting and location managing. The scouting involves finding the locations for films, TV commercials and shows, or for a stills shoot.
I did a film for most of 2006; then, since late November 2006, I've been doing TV commercials. The job involves getting a "brief" from a director or producer or production designer or all three, and then looking for that thing. Usually you know where to start, based on local knowledge; but, for example, if it's a house you're looking for you usually go to an area that has that type of house and door-knock to find an available place.
Sometimes you find places by driving the streets but often, you'll be talking to someone (a farmer, park ranger etc), who'll put you on to someone up the road who has the shed/beach/paddock/mountain you're looking for.
Location managing is about putting in place the arrangements, infrastructure, contracts and access that make it possible for the crew to go to the location and do the filming.
How long have you been doing this?
About 12 years.
What is your background?
I started as a sound operator at Radio New Zealand, became an editor at TVNZ and then, looking for a change, moved to location scouting and managing. Two years ago another scout/manager, Harry Harrison, and I set up a business called Red Locations so we could build the business with more people, pool ideas, resources and photo libraries.
What skills are required?
Creativity: To interpret a brief from a director, and come up with visually interesting locations that meet the brief. People skills: You need to be able to quickly develop a rapport and gain the trust of people whose property you want to use. Good photographic skills, good visual interpretation.
Why location scouting?
I get to see some of the most amazing places and meet an array of people. I manage my own time, and almost every day is different from the one before. I get to work with lively, interesting, passionate, creative people.
Who are your clients?
A combination of overseas and local.
Are there many location scouts in NZ?
Probably around 20.
Why is the job important?
It is important for the director or producer or photographer to have the product or the story that's being told represented in the right sort of visual environment.
It's important to the economy because film and photographic shoots bring a lot of foreign exchange into the economy, and that money flows out to service providers, contractors, retailers, as well as employing a lot of crew who also spend their money here.
It sounds glamorous. Do you get to work with the rich and famous?
It's fun and interesting, but not glamorous. My work takes place in the background.
What sort of briefs do clients give?
Can you come up with a river; volcanic landscape; New York city streets and buildings; London city buildings; Alaskan town and coastline; highway through dramatic mountain pass; city park with park bench; kitchen with a dramatic view of the sea; fields of barley or corn or sunflowers ...
What are some of your more difficult requests?
Finding the perfect stunning visual location with easy access and close parking for trucks can be tricky. And it can be hard to locate types of trees or crops that we don't typically have or at the wrong time of year.
What sort of perception of New Zealand do overseas clients have?
Excellent locations; easy place to work; flexible, affordable crew; diverse range of locations in compact geographic area.
What is the best part of your job?
Finding a gem of a location. And when a director loves a location.
And the worst part?
Getting up very early in the morning during filming.
Where do you want to be in five years?
Right here doing exactly this, but with more people in our business.
Any advice?
Film school gives you an understanding of the industry, but start work by getting jobs as a location assistant to get an understanding of this part of the industry.
What was the most challenging location you had to find?
A dark, misty swamp that a boat could travel through took a wee bit of finding in Auckland.
