Things to Consider When Scouting film location in Panama

There are certain things to consider when scouting film locations. Apart from the actors, everything else in the frame of your movies is a set, prop, or a location, or sometimes even a Visual Effect.

Now a set (or a virtual set) needs to be constructed, dressed, and lit, which is expensive and labor-intensive.

But the right location, although it might not be free, can be a place to shoot your movie that is almost a turnkey operation. You show up, you put the actors in the frame, and you roll the camera.

When scouting a movie location, the first thing I look for, whether it’s an interior or an exterior is how much work it is going to take to make it camera-ready. If I’m looking for a grungy alley, I want to find a grungy alley. I don’t want to find a clean alley and have the art department spend time and money making it look grungy.

The Benefits of a Location Scout

If you’re working with a decent budget, the “location scouting” is usually done by a professional scout. They’ll have a camera and knowledge of the area, and possibly, if you’re lucky, a library of pre-scouted locations. So before they go out you can see what they have and can discuss what works for you and what doesn’t.

It’s important to get on the same creative page as your scout so they don’t shoot a bunch of locations that don’t fit the aesthetic of your movie. I always ask them to take wide-angle photos to show the location because they won’t necessarily understand the specifics of what I’m going to shoot there…or what lens I’m going to shoot it on. A good location scout will also not show you locations that are impossible to shoot at.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worked with production companies that didn’t want to pay for a proper scout and have sent out a Production Assistant with an iPhone. They come back with pictures…which I then fall in love with…only to find out that it’s impossible to get a permit or that the owner of the property never allows filming.

Before my shoot day, I always visit all the locations in person, preferably at the time of day that I am going to shoot there. I shoot picture of the specific angles I intend to shoot, with the lens I plan to use.

It’s amazing to me sometimes when I look at these pictures that, just like actors, there are some locations that the camera loves and others that it does not. So even if I like a location in person, the proof of the pudding is how it photographs.

Apart from the creative aesthetic of the location there are other equally important characteristics to consider.

9 Things to Consider When Scouting Film Location in Panama

1. Distance from your production center

One of the benefits of filming in Panama is that you can be shooting in the jungle, but the jungle is only 1 hour away from your hotel in Panama City.

2. Ease of control

Too many pedestrians? Rush hour traffic? Controlling a location can take a lot of P.A.s with walkie-talkies if it’s too busy. This can really slow you down.

3. Ease of getting permits without too many restrictions

Depending on where you shoot, you can run into multiple restrictions. I’ve come across all of these in the past.

• Need cops (sometimes multiple) on-site at all times.
• Need a fireman on-site at all times.
• Have to be finished by a certain time…usually because of the neighbors.
• Need to get signatures from neighbors that they don’t mind you shooting.
• Can’t block traffic or specific public areas.
• Can’t shine lights into buildings.
• No firearms are allowed on site, not even fake ones.

In Panama, red tape is not a big issue as people tend to be very friendly with film productions.

4. Access to good parking

Parking in Panama could be tricky sometimes, as in some places there are very few public parking spaces available, especially in the downtown area.

Also, your actual camera position should be as close to the parking lot as possible. Any time spent lugging equipment, moving, and setting up will cost you shooting time…and time is your most precious commodity.

5. Availability of cast and crew bathrooms

I can tell you how many shoots I’ve been on when no thought was given to this at all. It can be a disaster.

6. Sound problems in the vicinity

Like being close to a construction site or on the “final approach” to a big airport.

7. Proximity to the “next” location.

This is particularly important when you have more than one location in a day. Moving from one location to another is called a “company move.” Company moves are very time-consuming, mostly because no shooting takes place during this dead time.

The company move includes the time it takes to pack everything up in the trucks, drive to the next location, and set it all up again. When you are able to eliminate this move entirely, you pick up a lot of shooting time. So, very often when I’m scouting a location I look around for a “two for one” shooting situation. That’s a camera angle where I can shoot… then pan the camera around 180 degrees… and shoot another scene in the other direction.

8. Nearby facilities

Don’t forget to know, and announce on the call sheet, where the closest emergency room is. You never know!

9. Hire a location manager

If you want to avoid all the hassle listed here, you should hire a location manager or a fixer that is familiar with the areas and will facilitate all the permits and logistics for you. At GP Productions, this is what we do best.

Feel free to contact us for more information on your specific project.