Production Companies Friend or Foe? Paul Gossage Director of Marketing & PR

A Case Study Museums perspective of Productions Museums perspective of Productions –Enquiry –Pre-visit –Paper work –On site –Follow up

This may sound like a strange request….. Get as much information as possible. Get as much information as possible. –Who are you talking to Production Company/Position of the caller Production Company/Position of the caller –What is the filming for Drama, Documentary, Commercial, Video Drama, Documentary, Commercial, Video Script and context Script and context –When do they want to film, date / time –How big is the crew –What budget do they have –What benefit will you get out of it.

Dealing with an enquiry Make sure there is a dedicated person Make sure there is a dedicated person Ensure that you have a scale of charges Ensure that you have a scale of charges Person should have the power to make decisions or get them made Person should have the power to make decisions or get them made Understand the operational implications Understand the operational implications Should be able to give an very quick yes or no in principle Should be able to give an very quick yes or no in principle

Pre visits Make sure that you invite colleagues Make sure that you invite colleagues –Operations/Curators/Technicians You have briefed all staff You have briefed all staff –Identified barriers and found solutions –Positive frame of mind. The venue looks at its best The venue looks at its best Areas are available Areas are available Explain how the site will work for them. Explain how the site will work for them. Parking, base camp, catering, hotels… Parking, base camp, catering, hotels…

What’s in it for me Location fee Location fee –What is their budget –What disruption will it cause you –What costs will you face –What revenue will you loose What PR Benefit will you get What PR Benefit will you get What payment in kind can you negotiate. What payment in kind can you negotiate. Its got to be win : win Its got to be win : win

Tell them as it is Be positive but honest What can and cannot be filmed Visitor movement Opening hours What changes can be made to building Conservation concerns Expert contribution

Paperwork Ensure you have Ensure you have –Public Liability Insurance –Method Statements –Risk Assessments –Contract –Remember Subcontractors

On site Dedicated Nanny at all times Dedicated Nanny at all times Brief crew Brief crew Have curators and technicians on standby or in attendance if needed. Have curators and technicians on standby or in attendance if needed. Be the conduit between museum and location manager. Be the conduit between museum and location manager. Watch and listen to everything Watch and listen to everything Be positive but assertive Be positive but assertive

Visitor Management Positively inform them what is happening Positively inform them what is happening Advance notification Advance notification On site notices On site notices Staff Briefed Staff Briefed Restrict movements Restrict movements –May only be at certain times. Explain what is happening Explain what is happening What’s being filmed, when it will be on TV What’s being filmed, when it will be on TV

Post filming Debrief with crew and colleagues Debrief with crew and colleagues Learn from what went well and where improvements can be made Learn from what went well and where improvements can be made Follow up PR opportunities Follow up PR opportunities –Link websites –Press stories when its going to be screened Send them the invoice Send them the invoice