How fees are structured
Most location fees break down by day type:
| Day type | What's happening | Rate relative to shoot day |
|---|---|---|
| Prep | Art department dressing, rigging | Often lower |
| Shoot | Full crew, cast, equipment | Full rate |
| Strike | Removing dressing, restoring | Often lower |
| Hold | Nothing happening, but dressing stays in place | Negotiated, often lower |
| Overtime | Past the agreed day length (often 12 hours) | Hourly |
A worked example
A house used for three settings over a week:
| Line | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prep days | 2 | $750 | $1,500 |
| Shoot days | 3 | $2,000 | $6,000 |
| Hold day (weekend, dressing stays) | 1 | $500 | $500 |
| Strike day | 1 | $750 | $750 |
| Overtime, shoot day 3 (14 hours on a 12-hour base) | 2 hrs | $150 | $300 |
| Location fee subtotal | $9,050 |
The fee is only part of what the location costs. The same week also needs the film permit and its service charges from the local fee schedule, a fire safety officer if the rain rig is on the permit, overnight security during the hold day, and a cleaning and restoration quote for after strike. Those go on separate budget lines, and they are the costs most often left out of a first location budget.
The overtime line is why the day length belongs in the agreement. At $150 per hour, each shoot day that runs two hours over adds $300, so a three-day stay where every day runs to 14 hours adds $900.
Things that change the price
Commercial properties that must close to film (a restaurant, a shop) often ask for lost revenue on top of a rental fee. Owners of homes that have been used before may have a set rate. Fees also rise with footprint: using just a living room is cheaper than rigging the whole house and parking in the driveway. Some locations charge a higher rate for night work or for any day with effects.
Where productions go wrong
Negotiating only the shoot-day rate and forgetting the prep, strike, and hold days is common, and the owner's invoice comes as a surprise. Paying the full fee up front leaves no leverage if restoration isn't finished. And fees that aren't in writing get re-argued when the shoot runs over.
Related paperwork
The fee is written into the location release or location agreement and paid via check request. For ranges and negotiation, read filming location rental cost. The location manager negotiates it.