Are “on-location” shoots worth the challenge?

Movie-makers of the 1950s and 1960s became quite comfortable with dressing up Hollywood backlots and soundstages to imply exotic locations. Did you know that even Casablanca, heralded as one of the all-time greats - was shot in an oversized garage in sunny California rather than in bustling Morocco? 

Enter the era of “on location” shooting. The classic, “Roman Holiday” was an early success, partly based on the authentic location of production. On multiple trips to Kenya’s Hell’s Gate, I observed the rigging still hammered into the canyon walls which was used by Angelina Jolie in one of her successful Tomb Raider films. The sizzle of actual location shooting is truly hard to replicate in a studio setting.

Here are four of my favourite “locations” from shoots this year: 

The Canadian National Air Force Museum: When it came time to imply Wade Watts’ military background without actually mentioning it much in his interview, we hatched a plan. The final result is some exceptional interview footage with the museum’s famous Halifax Bomber in the background. The curators even gave us permission to set up special coloured lights to add depth to the plane’s underside. Here’s a link to the complete film.

GlobalMed Production Facility: While shooting a project for the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce, the management at GlobalMed allowed access to the factory floor on a busy production day. The unique industrial setting illustrates the messaging that GlobalMed interviewees are delivering in the film. Here’s a link to the complete film.

Waupoos Vineyards and Winery: The overlap of occasions meant that I was shooting a Brand Story for Crushed Ice Productions while the Waupoos venue was being set up for a gorgeous waterside wedding and tented reception. The set-up was an all-day activity, so I settled into “vineyard mode” as I made several drone flights and strolled about looking for the perfect shot. The final film(s) are imbued with a sense of chilled grandeur that pairs nicely with a glass of crisp unoaked Chardonnay. The complete film is here.

Epple Ranch: The story of this sprawling wheat farm in Roggen, Colorado stretches back nearly a century-and-a-half. As the current generation of family custodians continue the transition plan, it was a genuine honour to become their documentarian for a few days this past summer. Nobody warned me that the farmer’s hours started at 4am!  From down low at wheat-level to aerial views out the window of the Bill Epple’s Cessna, the landscape was majestic from every angle. The film’s completion is scheduled for autumn 2023.

How important is shooting “on-location”? In all of these examples, if one were to remove the setting, one might find that the magic is drained away. Location shooting is certainly far more challenging but it multiplies a story’s impact in a way that makes the extra effort seem worth it.