Securing locations in NYC - advice

msp1518

msp1518

Not long ago I finished a script for a new short I want to do. I have cast my lead actor and actress (she's 90%), and have three very talented DP's hoping to land the gig, despite the near complete lack of a budget (they were the three who stood out among all who contacted me and they seemed to like the script and that certainly helps). That decision will be painful, as all three are just amazing.

But locations... Oh Lordy. I need a dance club like setting. It's a 5 minute short and the shot list isn't all that extensive. However, the few places I have approached won't return my calls. No surprise, I guess. I'm not a big producer.

So does anyone have any advice on how to secure a place? It would be great to find a place that I can feature and showcase as a hip joint and they could use some of the footage to advertise, etc.

I don't party or drink. I never go out. So I am just not up on 'the scene' if you will.

Now I could always try and shoot it guerrilla style. DSLR's are not something that would keep you from getting in the door. But I want to use a steadicam (very poor man's version, mind you) for some slow-mo dancing scenes and that would be hard to get away with. I think we'll be noticed before we can get what we need. :lol:

The alternative is to set the short at a party and use a friend's apartment. Invite lots of people over. But that will not have the same sense of scale.

If this post is categorized in the wrong place, mods please move it.

Thanks gang. You all are pretty much awesome and have been a big help to me with other questions I have had.
 
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msp1518 said:
But locations... Oh Lordy. I need a dance club like setting. It's a 5 minute short and the shot list isn't all that extensive. However, the few places I have approached won't return my calls. No surprise, I guess. I'm not a big producer.
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I have found that you don't need to be a big producer to get
the use of a location. In fact, being a big producer means
having big money. I have also found that the personal touch
is the better way to go.

You don't drink and you don't go to these dance clubs, but you
might know people who do. If you don't know anyone who goes
to dance clubs all is not lost. Put together a "business plan" - the
exact amount of time you need, exactly how many people you
will be bringing in, that kind of thing. Then set up a meeting with
the owner, face to face.

I've found here in Los Angeles that the bigger clubs don't need
the distraction, but that small clubs out of the "hip" areas are
quite open to the prospect. I wonder if it might be the same in
NYC.

I wasn't the producer or director, but in July I worked on a one
night shoot in a night club for a short film. They advertised the
shoot - "Be in a movie!" - and had a huge crowd. We shot on a
Tuesday and then after close (2AM) we stayed with about 15
extras and shot the close up dialogue scenes. The club charged
$200 for the "bouncer" to stay with us for the four hours we
needed after hours. I wonder if you could try something like
that?
 
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Call party rental spaces, as in places that host weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc. Do you know a wedding planner? A wedding planner will have all these contacts and they will know which ones have dance floors and look like night clubs, etc. That's a start.
 
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My biggest problem is I know nobody in NYC. My bad. Haven't been here all that long compared to most.

I'm going to try my best over the next week to get something going, but it may be more plausible to just ask a friend to let me shoot a party kind of thing at his penthouse apartment.

I;ll have to start googling Dance Clubs Manhattan and just go down the line, I think.
 
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Your best bet is to find a friend who lives in a big apartment building with a party room you can decorate as a dance hall. Any club you try will want at least $800 a day and they will tell you how expensive their electrical bill is and you must help to pay their electricity to shoot in their club..
 
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msp1518 said:
My biggest problem is I know nobody in NYC. My bad. Haven't been here all that long compared to most.

I'm going to try my best over the next week to get something going, but it may be more plausible to just ask a friend to let me shoot a party kind of thing at his penthouse apartment.

I;ll have to start googling Dance Clubs Manhattan and just go down the line, I think.
Click to expand...

Funny. I live in NYC and my name is also Matt. hmmmm....
 
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It doesn't have to be in Manhattan or the five boroughs. Any "generic" club will do. An exchange of some footage for their website plus the usual gratuities (like a bouncer per 'Rik) would probably do just fine. You could also shoot the DJ for his/her website/whatever and get them to put in a good word with the club.
 
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What all do you need to see inside the club? Just the dance floor, or bar area and seating or something else? There's not much to most clubs, just a big dark room with random colored lights. You could actually set up your own version in a big room with dark walls and some dj lights. Only light the center of the room where your action is and let the rest fade off into infinity, populated with lots of extras.
 
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Well I have continued my search and am almost ready to give up on the dance club thing. I can always go guerrilla style and still might, but am very much leaning toward convincing my bud to use his apartment and he is considering it. We'd throw a Christmas party and set the story in that kind of setting. it will work.
 
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Amazingly enough, a friend of mine who just moved into an apartment in the Wall Street district showed me the building's lounge, which is not used all that often. It's modern and has a club feel and as long as it is a student film or no budget, management allows filming. So i think I found my miracle. :)
 
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A friend who lives in Flushing, Queens showed me the "Party Room" in his big apartment building where he lives and it has lots of open space with a bar off to the side. There is a storage area in the back with tables and chairs.

That's just food for thought. Glad you found something. If you can turn a lounge into a club--Great! I've gotten pricing from clubs with the cheapest being $800 a day to $5,000 a day. The word "filming a video" puts more dollar sign digits in their heads.
 
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Oh yes. $1,000 a day seems reasonable to them, despite my entire budget being $500. That is, my entire film budget. not location budget.

I've lucked out on this place. Hoping I can lock it down 100% this weekend.
 
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