ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

9 years, 5 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Hi Mark,

Just putting on my production hat a second, but you might want to think about dressing a non-dilapidated space instead. If a place is run down, you'll never get the owners permission to be on site (it's tough enough with maintained buildings!), and may even struggle to trace them. Your insurance will almost certainly not cover you for breaking and entering!

Risk assessments will be key. Whilst rusted metal and broken glass look great in camera, they mean one hazard after another, and someone will get hurt (especially for an action sequence).

Power - if you want dilapidation you should assume the power to be off and wiring and plumbing to be missing or dangerous. This means bringing silenced generators and cabling which in turn means a security guard/team as you'll be drawing attention. You'll also need to think about honey wagons, clean prep and dining spaces etc.

With all that said, try one of the property guardian companies to see if they've somewhere you might be able to use which is under residential licence. It'll still cost money and have it's own problems, just hopefully fewer :)

9 years, 5 months ago - Mark Owen

Thanks Paddy.

All sound advice. In an ideal world, we would set dress, but it would be a massive floor space with huge walls. So costs would be astronomical. Whichever method we choose, I guess we'll be looking at a lot of expense. Hoping to find somewhere that we can mock up though.

Thanks for your reply and advice.

Best,
Mark

9 years, 5 months ago - Marlom Tander

You could contact all the IN USE buildings in your area that fit the bill. A lot of them will have areas currently unused or under used, though it depends just how massive a windowless floor space you need. In London massive disused floor spaces tend to be snapped up by property dev types.

Have you just described a hangar? Shooting at night at a small - no night flights - airport?

9 years, 5 months ago - John Lubran

Also check out commercial and industrial premises for sale or rent. These places are usually empty and already have a dilapidated feel, might have power and water still on too. Often they've been on the market a long time and bored vendors are open to filming for both a bit of rental but also for the potential PR the premises might get. Insurance is going to be a significant issue for both you and them. On other legal fronts the film (and/or something from it) can also be called a part of the vendors marketing strategy, so creative deals might be possible . The appropriate naming of things is a big part of dodging the bullets of nerdy legal babble merchants. Sometimes the vendors might also enjoy the project as an event so without coming over as a salesman (vital), seed your proposal with that energy of it being fun. Everyone wants these locations to be near London but going further afield might not be as costly or difficult as you think. Lots of stuff is cheaper in the regions and often more accommodating. Surprising as it may be for some, most regions have skilled film makers and technical crafts people available too.

9 years, 5 months ago - Nathaniel Francis

I don't know of any in London but there is a perfect setting here: https://www.eswater.co.uk/media-centre/3190_4314.aspx

Good luck!

9 years, 5 months ago - Peter Brook

I found a few good options recently. I don't know your budget, but there are railway arches that have yet to be developed by national rail and can be hired. They have a filming location database and in theory all of their properties for rental that haven't been let yet are fair game. (http://filming.networkrail.co.uk/home.aspx) I found these to be too expensive. I ended up using belt craft studios in 7 sisters. It's got that run down vibe is relatively big but is a fully functioning studio (with a few architectural quirks that we'll need to cover up (I think there is a collonade in one corner etc) I also found a load of options from the sketchy to the fully functioning warehouse studios on gumtree. Good luck in your search!

9 years, 5 months ago - Roy Hanney

Try contacting Joe McGoldrick at Portsmouth City Council he is the film location officer there and he has access to lots of spaces as you describe. He is also very helpful and keen to get more people making films in Portsmouth. 02392688562 joe.mcgoldrick@portsmouthcc.gov.uc if you offer publicity they may give you access for free.

9 years, 5 months ago - Marlom Tander

Hi,

If you do want to film outside London, Gloucester is officially a film friendly city and does still have a couple of ruined dockside warehouses. Though how Health and Safety they are is a moot point. There IS a disused Cinema that should be safe - it was the Cineworld multiplex until a couple years ago and from the outside it looks like they just locked the doors and left, so big and safe and poss even power. Owned by the Peel Group, but I understand that as a major local Developer they are happy to say yes to easy requests if the Council does the asking.

Shooting Gloucester does allow you claim that you followed in the footsteps of Depp (Through the Looking Glass), Pratcett (Colour of Magic), Sean Bean (Outlaws), Hilary Mantel (The BBC adaption of her books) and of course, Dr Who. And if you're old enough, The Onedin Line.

9 years, 5 months ago - Tomo Kembery

I have a lode of locations on my site www.studioclubcreative.com so take a look.
Depends on your budget really.

9 years, 4 months ago - Stefano Nurra

Hey there Mark, did you find anything? I was kinda looking for the same thing for my own project and found out that really the best thing is to find something derelict in the background but try to shoot outside of the actual building.
Maybe the outside space of an abandoned factory.
I speak by personal experience as I did a shoot in a derelict factory years ago and had a very nervous crew and cast on the day so I definitely do not recommend it.

If you still want to do so, try to check out websites such as 28dayslater.co.uk or derelictlondon.
Scotland is actually better for that kind of thing.
Hope this is of any help.

cheers

stefano

8 years, 9 months ago - Mark Owen

Hi Stefano. I just messaged you actually! We're in the same boat! :)