From swanky mansions to creepy cabins, your house could star in Hollywood’s next big blockbuster. According to Dayton Film Commissioner Lisa Grigsby, location scouts are always on the lookout for interesting properties. “Generally, they want a house with an open concept. Somewhere where you can put a camera and half the house won’t disappear. You want something that flows and gets good light,” she explained. It’s not just mansions that make the ideal film location. Sometimes the production team is looking for something tiny, dilapidated or even “haunted-looking.” Cabins, barns, lofts and farms are all on the list of locations Grigsby has scouted for area films.As for how long the filming process takes, Grigsby says it depends entirely on the shoot.
“If they’re filming for three weeks, there’s generally three days of prep and a wrap of three days after. You could be out of the house for an entire month if you’re willing to do that,” she said. Most shoots in the Miami Valley last two to four days. Financial compensation for locations depends on the kind of house, the kind of scene and the size of the film. The key is to negotiate a rate that makes both parties happy, she said. It’s not unusual to have a production pay to put you up in a hotel while they use your house.
While some people may be wary of handing over their property to film crews, Grigsby says the industry standard is to return the house exactly as it is found. Professional film companies will draw up a formal contract and provide insurance to cover any damage that could happen in the house, he said. Crews work professionally in the space and often cardboard-up walls and cover floors, she added. “By the end of it, your house should be back to normal in every way,” Grigsby explains.
Registering your house
Registering your property is done through an online registry run by FilmDayton and is free. The first step is creating a digital photo tour of your property, featuring as many wide shots as you can. If you can show multiple rooms in one shot, that’s great because then you can show action in different areas when you’re filming. Special features like pools, stairways, or interesting architectural details should be highlighted. Here’s an example of what a listing looks like:
FilmDayton is hosting an information session this Monday night at their space on the 2nd floor of the Dayton Mall from 6-7pm. Grigsby will talk about how the process works and what it means to list in their database. This event will provide property owners the opportunity to have their house, farm, cabin, trailer listed in our FilmDayton location database. You are welcome to bring digital photo’s of your property and they’ll help you fill out the property information forms required to be in the database. No contact info is shared with the public.
If there is any interest in your house, the commission will contact you directly to share production contacts with you.
