Compiled by Bob Berkus – December, 1999

The following Guidelines were developed as a result of extensive discussions held between Location Professionals and Location Services. The adoption and adherence to the principles contained in these Guidelines will provide a foundation for the Film, Television, Video, and Still Photography Industries to work more effectively with Location Services and the property owners they represent. Our ultimate goal is to achieve fair and productive access to on-location filming sites throughout California.

Read carefully. At the bottom of the text you have the opportunity to comment.

LOCATION SERVICES (hereafter referred to as "Services") WILL AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:

•  1. Services and property owners will work towards fair and reasonable pricing in all aspects, and consider Location Professional's budgetary constraints on a case-by-case basis.
•  2. Services will possess a current Real Estate Broker's License authorized by the California Department of Real Estate (CDRE), and comply with all applicable CDRE regulations. Additionally, all sales representatives engaging in any aspect of contractual agreements will possess an Agent's License (or other appropriate certification) issued by the CDRE.
•  3. Services will endeavor to be fully informed about (and willing to share with the production company at any time) all pertinent aspects of not only the actual site they represent, but also any nearby locations commonly known to affect filming activities. This type of information will include, but not be limited to, the following:

 a) Filming permit particulars such as any known neighborhood or business district restrictions and concerns (including specific information about any neighboring residents or businesses which have responded negatively to filming activities in the past), as well as updated contact information about homeowner/business associations, and the like;

 b) All fees and associated costs known to exist while filming at the represented site including, but not limited to, filming/preparation/strike days, association fees, all site representatives including building engineers and/or elevator operators, security, etc;

 c) Information (including contacts) for known and/or potentially available areas of staging and catering, parking of Production's equipment, cast and crew;

d) Accurate contact information (including emergency telephone numbers) for the actual filming site owner/manager, as well as pertinent tenants and sub-lessees;

 e) An updated list of production companies or any special-event business known to have used the filming location (large parties, weddings, and the like) during the past year or more;

 f) Any noticeable structural or cosmetic alterations to the represented location. These changes should be noted on all visual as well as textual means of representing the property to the production company including, but not limited to, hard-copy photographic folders, digital photographs accessible by computer, printed advertisements, etc. Some examples of notable changes would include paint and wallpapering, roof and siding materials, vegetation, and structural remodeling;

g) Information (including access to that which has been previously documented) about any hazardous/sensitive materials or conditions (including environmental) known to exist at or adjacent to the represented location. Some examples would include asbestos, areas of dangerously polluted air and water, stored chemicals, and physically unsound or fragile structures;

 h) Information about areas, structures, artifacts, furniture, etc. that are known to be previously damaged prior to the arrival of production company personnel.

•  4. Services will work with property owners to ensure that fifteen (15) hours are considered the standard number of hours for all "filming days" booked by a Production. Additionally, customary ½ day rates (or less) should be offered for work days that are conducted within a reduced time and/or with a reduced number of personnel.
•  5. Services will not engage in the unfair practice of charging production companies additional or elevated charges for services already provided for by the filming site owner/manager as a normal course of doing business. Compensation by production companies for all site representatives, engineers, elevator operators, and the like will be charged at a rate no greater than that which is already customarily paid directly to those individuals for the performance of their duties.
•  6. Detailed invoices for all services and goods charged against the Production Company will be provided in a timely manner upon request. Appropriate Production Company personnel and the Service will both make themselves readily available for a detailed final inspection of the represented location to facilitate a fair and reasonable final billing, if any.
•  7. Services are entitled to fees payable by the production company only when they are the actual Service providing accurate information leading to the procurement of the represented site for filming, and have made that location accessible to the production company by appointment and/or permission of the property owner.
•  8. Services will not actively solicit a potential location site client for the purpose of obtaining them as a listing while their property is in any stage of use (including under valid consideration) by a Production Company.
•  9. Services are encouraged to refer interested parties to other Services known or believed to have viable alternatives to locations they could not provide. The referral should be given without expectation of compensation or any additional charges to the production company.
•  10. While in the process of any stage of negotiation or actual representation of a location site for filming with a production company, Services will maintain the ability to be contacted by that production company at all times, including after hours of normal operation.

LOCATION PROFESSIONALS AND PRODUCTION COMPANIES (all hereafter referred to as "Production Company") AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:

• 1. Refrain from knowingly obtaining any information (including checking out photographic location folders, accessing and downloading secure web site information) about a property from a Service other than the one originally providing that information to the company within a reasonable time frame. In rare instances where a multiple number of scouts from the same Production Company have unknowingly duplicated efforts, and the determination as to the actual property representative is therefore in question, the Services will agree to rely on the final decision made by the supervising Location Manager or Location Scout.
• 2. Whenever possible, provide Services pertinent information regarding proposed budget constraints, proposed on-site filming story line and activities, estimated numbers of cast and crew, and projected hours of occupation.
•  3. Make every effort to return all borrowed Service materials used in the decision-making process as soon as possible, or within a time period mutually agreed to in advance.
•  4. Reveal to their Production Company the sources of the location(s) that have been procured through Services, and will not knowingly portray said locations as being procured solely on their own.
•  5. Upon the termination of all filming activities, Location Managers will complete a copy of a "Location Managers Post-Filming Checklist" documenting filming activities at the represented location site. These forms will be provided to (and retained by) the Service which will make them available to potential Production Company clients in an effort to allow the Service, property owner, and Production community to better determine and respond to on-location filming concerns.
• 6. Fulfill all valid agreements made previously with any person(s), including those employed by the Service or property owner, neighbors, and/or businesses affected by the filming activities at the represented location.
• 7. Production Companies will insure that reasonable measures are taken to limit disruptions to neighborhood residents and business district merchants as a result of filming activities being conducted.
•  8. Production Companies, when considering using locations represented by Services, are encouraged to utilize those Services which have elected to officially endorse and maintain the standards and conditions presented in these Guidelines.

Agreement compiled by Bob Berkus.
Web implementation by Marino Pascal.