Becoming a location scout is an exciting and rewarding career. Here are some tips to get you started!
- Get your foot in the door.
- Learn how to identify a good location.
- Know what to look for in a location, including its size, shape, and accessibilities.
- Find out if the location is safe for filming (e.g., no asbestos).
- Know how much time you’ll need at each location so you can plan accordingly.
How To Become Location Scout
Location scouting is the process of finding places to host video and film shoots. Many film professionals choose to pursue a career in location scouting because it can offer opportunities to travel and learn about new cultures and communities. You might enjoy a career in location scouting if you have the ability to work independently and a strong attention to detail. In this article, we define what location scouting jobs are and explore some steps for finding a job in location scouting.
Related: 20 Jobs for People Who Like To Travel
What are location scouting jobs?
Location scouting jobs are positions that focus on finding locations for film and video productions to host their shoots at. Perhaps the most common job title for these types of careers is a location scout, which is someone who works directly for a writer or director and searches for locations that match their vision. You can also find work in location scouting as a location manager, who oversees the location scouting process and finds places for location scouts to visit and determine whether they can be effective in a project.
Related: 15 Careers in Video Production To Consider
What do location scouting jobs entail?
Professionals who work in location scouting typically have several key responsibilities. While the primary duty of a location scouting professional is usually to find a location and secure it for use in a film, television show or another type of video project, this can involve many tasks. For example, some location scouts might conduct research on potential locations to decide which ones they want to travel to and visit. A location scout can also travel to different locations and speak to owners and managers to create contracts that secure a location for a project’s use.
How to get a location scouting job
Here are some steps you can follow to find a job in location scouting:
1. Attend film school
While there are no official educational requirements for pursuing a career in location scouting, earning a college degree can be a great way to build your expertise and increase your chances of being hired. This is because completing a degree program can offer you opportunities to learn from experts in the field in classroom settings and projects that can give you hands-on experience in the skills you need to succeed in the industry. Many aspiring location scouts and location managers pursue a bachelor’s degree in film production, but you can also major in a closely related subject in film.
Related: 15 Jobs You Can Get With a Film Degree
2. Connect with industry professionals
Perhaps the most important task to consider when pursuing a career in location scouting is building a network of industry professionals that you can reach out to. This is because many location scouting professionals use their professional and personal networks to find projects to work on by communicating with directors and writers who are staffing their upcoming projects. By connecting with industry professionals before you start applying for jobs in location scouting, you can find individuals whom you might be interested in working with in the future.
This can help to establish a foundation for your professional network you can turn to for advice and recommendations when you begin looking for employment in location scouting.
Related: The Benefits of Networking: 14 Reasons To Start Your Network
3. Gain experience working on a set
Building professional experience can be especially helpful for aspiring location scouts and location managers because it allows them to build the skills and expertise they need to succeed in their jobs. Because location scouting can involve specialized knowledge of film procedures, spending a few years working entry-level jobs in film can prepare you for the more advanced work a location scouting job might entail. This can include jobs like a production assistant, a runner or a videographer’s assistant.
You can find opportunities to work on a film, television or another type of set by searching online forums and databases and by reaching out to professionals in your network to find crews that might require more staff members.
4. Apply for jobs in location scouting
There are often many places for professionals in location scouting to find work. This can include online forums, job websites and databases that contain profiles for film industry professionals that directors can reference to find staff members. When applying for jobs in location scouting, you can also reach out to members of your professional network to ask about potential employment opportunities. Many location scouting professionals begin their careers by working freelance, which allows them to take on projects with different directors and to learn about how to find locations for various genres of film.
Skills needed for location scouting jobs
A job in location scouting can require a set of specialized skills, many of which relate to film production. For example, a location manager typically needs an understanding of aesthetics and filming regulations that can inform their decisions about which locations a production might want to scout and use. Similarly, location scouts can benefit from having strong attention to detail, as this can help them pay attention to all aspects of a filming location to ensure that they consider any potential challenges as well as how closely a location might fit a director’s vision.
Location scouting professionals should also have developed photography skills, as most location scouts take photos of the locations they visit to show their directors and other production staff.
Salary and for location scouting jobs
While Indeed does not have specific salary information for location scouts, they do offer salary information for location managers, a higher-level position in location scouting. The national average salary for location managers in the United States is currently $52,169 per year. Indeed also notes that many location managers have the potential to earn an average of an additional $10,000 per year in commission. Location managers typically qualify for benefits outside of their salaries as well, such as mileage reimbursement, access to employee assistance programs and a flexible spending account.
