Education / Locations
Find the place and make filming there possible.
Progression roleThe overview
Location managers find and organise locations that meet the story’s needs and the practical requirements of the production.
They assess suitability, negotiate arrangements with owners and coordinate permissions and logistics. Once filming starts, the location still needs management: access, facilities, protection and the return of the space all matter. On larger productions responsibilities may be split across a wider locations team.
Scouting and negotiation in preparation give way to managing arrangements and handover during filming.
Your route in
Develop experience in location support before managing the production’s relationship with a place and its owners.
Make a location comparison for a fictional scene. Look beyond appearance to access, space, facilities and disruption.
Learn which details the production needs before committing, and how agreements and permissions are handled by the team.
Progress through location assistant, coordination or assistant management work and learn from recce and handback discussions.
Locations careers can develop through assistant and coordination roles into management and supervising work.
Try it yourself
Compare two possible venues for a night scene. Present your preferred option with costs, constraints and the unanswered questions.
Check that the recommendation is useful to production and creative teams, and that access and handback have not been overlooked.
This is an introduction to UK film and scripted TV, rather than a complete job specification. Grades and responsibilities vary by production.
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