There are a million logistics to consider when bringing a film production to film on location, but finding temporary housing for film production teams can be one of the greatest headaches you’ll face. Depending on the city, housing availability and the size of your team, you’re facing the possible prospects of premium rates to procure limited rooms, sometimes in locations that are nowhere near your set. By the time you’re done, your nerves could be fried, your bank accounts empty and your credit cards full.
But never fear; with a bit of planning, it is possible to find comfortable temporary housing for everyone on your team with a minimal amount of effort and drama. Here’s how to go about it.
Determine Your Housing Needs and Budget
Much of the stress involved with finding housing for large groups is actually self-imposed — because people didn’t plan ahead. They didn’t know exactly how many rooms they needed for the people they have, nor had they settled on a budget. Get this step done first; figure out ahead of time how many people will stay in each room or apartment — go ahead and assign roommates, if you can. Talk with your financial team to find out how much you can afford to spend on housing. Having this information on paper goes a long way toward smoothing the process.
Research the Area
Next, do a little online or in-person reconnaissance of the area near your filming location. Where are the available hotels and apartment communities in proximity to your set? Identify a few potential neighborhoods to look at. Bear in mind that your short list doesn’t have to include only areas that are geographically close to your set; you can also look along major commute arteries. As long as your crew can get to the set fairly easily, you’re in good shape.
Work with a Corporate Housing Agent, Rather than Booking Hotels Yourself
Not only are hotels extremely expensive — they may have limited availability during your stay, and they aren’t comfortable for extended stays. Save yourself a huge amount of time and stress by working with a corporate housing company who specializes in providing temporary housing. This way, you may be able to work with one agent to procure fully furnished apartments for your entire film production team, all at a fraction of the cost of booking hotels for each of them. In addition, the burden of finding the rooms is off your shoulders!
If you’re bringing a film production team to Atlanta, TP Corporate Lodging can arrange for your team to stay in fully-furnished luxury apartments convenient to your shooting site, all at affordable rates. Call us at 800.428.9997 to speak to an agent who can help with citywide locations and share their expertise of various areas.