What Happens If You Damage a Location?
You wrapped a 12-hour day in a beautiful Brooklyn brownstone. The client’s happy. The gear’s loaded out. But when the owner walks back in… she sees the scuffed hardwood floors, a cracked bathroom tile, and someone’s bootprint on the living room wall. Now what? Here’s what actually happens when you damage a location in NYC — and why even minor accidents can spiral into major claims if you’re not buttoned up legally.
Union Scouts Taking Non-Union Jobs: What You Need to Know
A no-BS breakdown from a non-union location manager in NYC. Welcome to the gray zone of NYC production — where union location scouts sometimes take non-union jobs, change their names on call sheets, and quietly work under the radar. If you’re a producer staffing a non-union shoot — or a non-union LM trying to survive the overlap — here’s what you need to know. We’re breaking down the real rules, the risks, and the unspoken politics behind this industry-wide open secret.
Why You Want a Location Scout Who Knows When to Say No
Protecting your shoot, your permit, and your reputation in NYC. Every producer loves a problem solver. But when a location scout or LM says “yes” to every request — even the ones that stretch legal boundaries or city regulations — they’re not solving problems. They’re creating liabilities.
The Dreaded Company Move: How to Make It Smoother in NYC
If you’ve worked even one shoot day in New York, you know the phrase “company move” sends a chill down the spine of any AD, coordinator, or location manager. The logistics are brutal. The clock is unforgiving. Traffic is a beast. And if it’s not planned right?
The entire day goes off the rails. Here’s how to plan better, move smarter, and make the dreaded company move suck a whole lot less — from the POV of the team who has to physically make it happen.
How to Pull a Tri-State Multi-Location Permit Without Losing Your Mind
Shooting in NYC is one thing. Shooting in three jurisdictions in one day? That’s a different beast. If you’re trying to pull off a car rig in Queens, an exteriors setup in Jersey City, and a golden hour wide in Westchester — all in one shoot day — congrats: you’ve just entered the world of Tri-State permitting hell. Here’s how to do it — step-by-step — without getting flagged, fined, or losing your location.