Reel Estate

"Shooting on location," says Anna Derby, of Lavish Locations, "has never been more popular. We work with all the major TV and film companies, as well fashion photographers, record companies, and corporate clients. Lavish has been on the go for nearly 13 years but the market is crazy at the moment, business is really booming".

So how much can you hope to earn if that photogenic little treasure you call home happens to catch the eye of a budding Bailey or a prospective Puttnam? And what kind of property makes the great leap from suburban obscurity to silver screen stardom?

Show Me the Money!

Fees, says Anna, vary according to the nature and duration of the job. "You can expect to earn about £450-£1,500 a day for stills photography- fashion shoots, advertising and so on. Films and TV range from £750 a day to £10,000 for stately homes. Whichever way you look at it, it's a rather lucrative business. I have two flats in London on the books which made £100,000 last year".

Film and TV, she points out, may seem more glamorous and lucrative but star struck homeowners eager to make a financial killing should be aware that this end of the market is also much more intrusive and disruptive.

"A film shoot can have up to 100 people on location. That means cables and equipment everywhere and your whole life turned upside down for the duration of the shoot".

Stills photography by contrast is a lot less hassle. "5-6 people, a few lights, a couple of models and that's it. For a day's work you can make up to £1,500. With a minimum of fuss. People laugh when they get the cheque and say they hardly noticed the crew".

A Star is Born

And what of the properties? Lavish have a database of over 15,000 which are constantly being perused by art directors, film producers and location managers. Some, says Anna, are snapped up within days, some languish on the sidelines for months, and some can take years before they get that big break and make it beyond the casting couch.

"It's a bit like winning the lottery. Art directors are a law unto themselves. You think you've the perfect place, but they look at it with different eyes. We've had places on the books for years and then suddenly someone comes along and says 'that's exactly what I'm looking for'."

But while there's really no predicting which properties will step from the shadows into the limelight, demand does tend to run in cycles. Places, like people, are subject to the vagaries of fashion, and certain types invariably enjoy their fifteen minutes of fame. "At the moment," says Anna, "it's minimal. Huge, clean, white spaces. Very Japanese. High-tech homes are also popular. And lofts. Very New York".

"As a general rule" she continues, "directors and photographers like places which have not been done up. They like to have a blank canvas to work with. Houses given the full Laura Ashley treatment are a lot of trouble because everything will have to be changed."

"Places not touched for years are also very popular. Anywhere with authentic period details or a lot of atmosphere. Directors love atmosphere. There's also a vogue for low-rent, run-down places. Dingy goes well with designer clothes".

In Space No One Can Hear You Scream

Aside from aesthetic issues, practical considerations are also crucial. Susan Breare, whose 5 bedroom house in Wandsworth has been let by Lavish for stills photography and TV commercials, reckons a quiet street, easy parking, and large spacious rooms all make her home ideal.

"There's a tennis court on one side, and a cemetery on the other, so upset neighbours are not a problem. The house has three entrances, which makes loading and unloading easier, and the big rooms mean long shots are possible".

"My friends think I'm completely crazy," she says. "I've had shoots here for Boots, lastminute.com, and Cherrios. But I love the disruption. I enjoy meeting new people and in this business you come across a very interesting variety. It's great fun. You do, however, need to be flexible and fairly laid back. Teams of people turn up to view the place, things can get broken, sometimes they completely redecorate a whole room."

Anna Derby agrees. "Flexibility is essential. In some cases the property will be completely transformed, so you need to be able to live with that. Everything gets put back as it was, of course, or left as it is if you prefer, but it's definitely not for the faint-hearted".

Like to give it a go? At the moment Lavish are searching for a Georgian property with a 1920s interior for a new Nicole Kidman film about Virginia Woolf. It should be in London, but not under a flight path.

You can register free online. If your property is used you pay the company a percentage of the fee, usually 15%. Income, need we remind you, is taxable and should be declared.

Michael O'Flynn

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