Locations are easier to find and secure than most people think.

If you’re scouting for a location, the best thing to do is play it down. Don’t run in to an establishment and proclaim, “I’m making a motion picture, and this place is perfect!” Play it cool.

When talking to the person in charge, try not to interrupt their normal course of business. Tell them who you are, what you’re project is about, and how much you would enjoy promoting their establishment in your film. Once your in cool with them, it's time to produce a statement of property release. Inform them that you will stick to the terms and, of course, offer them publicity placement in the credits.

What about difficult locations…Like a Police station or hospital?

It’s low-budget! You can always change the script. Don’t screw up your production obsessing on a particular location. Learn to bend a little. If the scripted murder is on a train (less accessible), maybe instead it could be in a hotel room (more accessible). If it absolutely, positively, has to be on a train, it's not the end of the world. It just goes into the "find it" or "build it file." The interior of a bus might be converted into a train.

The point is, if you write something in, at least have some foggy notion of how it could be done on a meager budget- preferably for free, and use your imagination to fix unexpected problems.

True story example… I wanted a section of my next film to take place in a hospital.

The problem: I don’t know of any hospital, where filming outrageous, interior, action scenes won’t cause a disturbance. They’re open 24 hours and tend to frown on disturbance.

The solution: Create my own hospital.

Hospitals often throw out perfectly good equipment in order to expend their annual budget funding and get the new, updated stuff. So, for a couple of days each week, I scout the back dock of a nearby hospital for stuff they’re throwing out. I make friends with a guy in the maintenance department and he let’s me know when particular items are getting tossed.

After one month my total list of assets amount to…

A large hospital bed.
A hospital table.
An EKG machine.
Three I.V. stands.
A Stethoscope
A TV monitor.
Various wall charts.
A wheelchair. (bought at a thrift store for thirty bucks, along with a doctors robe)
Moveable, overhead lighting. (dentist’s equipment from a state auction)

Everything to make an entirely realistic hospital or operating room.
Total cost: Some ass-kissing, and about $14O°°
Total value: Thousands.

First, I film the establishing shot: The outside of an actual hospital.

Second, I film the interior shots of the hospital, but no hospital will be used. The interior will be filmed after business hours at a local, office building. With a doctor, a patient in a wheelchair, and a couple of nurses, (played by friends who just want to be in a movie) I will create the illusion of an active hospital interior.

Third, I film the interior hospital room scenes. Remember all that stuff I collected? I have a small extra room in my house. For a short time, it will be converted into my “hospital room set.” This allows for better lighting, sound, and filming at my leisure. The main character is free to freak out and destroy everything in his room if he likes, and Bing! Bang! Boom! No hospitals are injured during the making of this film. It’s all just a magic act.

Don’t forget about the public and open areas. They can give your movie a large scope and they're the most fun to shoot with the least amount of hassle. (As long as you’re not in Hollywood)

Just remember- Stay positive, use your imagination, and almost any setback can be turned around and worked in your favor.