Ever thought your house would be the perfect setting for a commercial or short film? Right around Australia there are booking companies on the lookout for homes for filming movies, short films and commercials.
The best thing is that your house doesn’t have to be one of the picture-perfect. In fact, there’s a huge range of different types of locations that film crews may be looking for. A mansion might be perfect for an ad selling fancy wine, whereas a ‘renovator’s delight’ might be an ideal location for a short film.
If you have a look through some of the current listings, you’ll notice there’s a huge variety of properties listed. There’s everything from old shacks with flaky paint, retro-style homes with lime green bathroom tiles, and nondescript apartments with standard fittings. There are newly-renovated mansions on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, but also older style weatherboard houses in regional Australia, so you never know what they could be looking for!
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| You don’t need to own a mansion to earn money from location filming |
If you’re a unsure about opening your house up to strangers, it’s good to know that you retain a certain amount of control over the types of bookings you’d like to accept. You can also control what takes place during filming (eg. no smoking permitted etc). There are also many established businesses that manage listings and bookings, and have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry to keep risks to a minimum.
As with all side hustles, there are positives and negatives.
The positives:
The amount varies, but usually starts from around $1,000 per day for 8 hours
of filming. Some businesses have set rates, whereas others allow you to
negotiate rates, so it’s important to read the fine print.
You can restrict certain activities, depending on what you feel comfortable with. For example, you can specify if you’re happy to allow cooking, smoking, etc or even whether certain scenes (eg. death scenes) are permitted to be filmed at your property.
Listing your property is usually free, and the booking company usually takes their cut from your payment.
While professional photographs look great and increase your likelihood of getting a booking, most websites are happy to accept good quality photos that you’ve taken yourself on your iphone.
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| You can choose not to allow use of your kitchen if you’re concerned about potential damage |
The downsides:
– Potential for damage
While most companies take precautions to mitigate the risk, such as using drop sheets etc, there is always a risk of accidental damage occurring. Make sure you read the contract carefully, and also check your insurance policy to see whether you’ll be covered
– It can be disruptive
If you’re usually at home during the day, it can be disruptive and does require some flexibility. Some film crews ask that you vacate the property during filming, while others require you to stay at the property in case of any issues
– Irregular Bookings
Bookings can be hard to predict. You may get several in a row, and then none,for the rest of the year so it’s probably not best to rely on this as a regular source of income.
What are the requirements?
Requirements vary, but some of the common requirements include:
– A clean and tidy house, with personal items removed for filming
– A current insurance policy
– Good access to the property, in terms of parking and access for film crews and equipment
– The ability to make your home a pet-free household during bookings
Some companies allow pets to stay during filming. Others have specific rules (eg. cats are allowed, but not dogs), but hosts should be prepared to take their pets out for the day if required
– No dramatic changes to the property
Once listed, you’ll also need to keep the property in the same condition as it appears in the listing. This means you’ll need to advise the booking company if you’re planning to make changes such as painting the rooms a new colour, putting up wallpaper etc
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| You’ll need to let your booking company know if you’re planning any renovations |
So, where can I list my house?
If you’re interested in finding out more, here are some of the places where you can list your property. Many home owners list with multiple companies, but always check first with each company if they’re happy for you to do this.
(Australia-wide, NZ and International)
Pure Locations list a wide range of different types of properties all around Australia and New Zealand. Styles include modern, coastal, minimalist, retro and more. To get an idea of the types of house they accept, have a look at their listings here.
To register, just complete the registration form on their website, and upload some images of your house or property. There are no fees to register. They’re also happy to be contacted via email or phone if you have any questions or would like more information.
(Australia-wide)
A Perfect Space is another business that lists properties all around Australia. Here you’ll find a huge range of different styles and categories, such as mansions, shacks, period homes, and unrenovated family homes.
To list with A Perfect Space, you’ll need to create an online account, and if you have any questions, you can contact the team via email or phone.
(Australia-wide)
Set Book are based in NSW, and list locations around Australia. They have a huge number of categories, including mansions, apartments, studios, industrial spaces, and gardens.
To register with Set Book, complete your details to complete an online account and go from there.
(Victoria – usually within 20km of Melbourne CBD)
Allformat are based in Melbourne and are looking for film locations within Victoria. As most filming occurs within 20km of the CBD, most of their listings are within this area. However, if you have an interesting or unique property further out, you can still get in touch to see if your property will be accepted.
The website has a great list of exactly the types of properties that they’re looking for. It also provides info on how much you might make, property requirements etc. Application is via the email listed here: https://www.allformat.com/list-with-us
(Australia-wide)
Ecomlocations is an established company that source locations all around Australia for commercials, film, TV, photography and more. They have over 20 years experience and have been involved with a number of well-known projects (some examples are here).
To register, complete the online application form here: https://ecomlocations.com/rent-out-your-property/ and someone from their team will be in touch.
(Australia-wide)
Aloca lists locations around Australia, ranging from large houses to studios. You can list your property with Aloca by creating an online account here: https://aloca.com.au/list-your-space/. There’s also a list of FAQ here.
(Queensland)
If you own a property in the sunshine state, Screen Queensland is a great place to list. Their website has an extensive database with a wide range of categories. They’re also a well-known agency within the local and international film industry.
To list your property, visit the website, then go to ‘Make it in QLD’. Click on the ‘Locations Database’,
then ‘Submit to Database’. There’s an online form to complete. Here you’ll need to confirm that you’re the owner or manager of the property, and upload some photos. There’s no fee to list your property, and once completed, your listing will be reviewed for approval.
(New South Wales)
Own a property is New South Wales? If so, you can apply to have your place added to the database with Screen NSW. The application process is similar to Screen Queensland – just complete the online form and upload some photos.