Start with the treatment, not the photos
When you choose a location house for a music video, it is easy to scroll listings and fall for the nicest kitchen. Start with the treatment instead. Write down every setup you need, what each one should feel like and roughly how long it will take to shoot. Then look for a house that can give you most of those setups under one roof.
A single house that offers a staircase, a pool, a bedroom and a garden can save you a company move. Every move costs time, transport and light. If the treatment calls for a night exterior and a bright daytime interior, check the house can do both, or plan two locations from the start.
- List each scene and the room or space it needs.
- Mark which scenes are day, night, interior or exterior.
- Note anything fixed in the edit, such as a car pulling up to the door.
Match the style of the house to the artist
Houses tend to fall into a few looks. Mansions with grand halls and staircases suit big, glossy videos. Glass pavilions and stone and glass houses give a cleaner, more modern frame. Courtyard villas with indoor pools and bars work well for night scenes and party setups. Hillside houses with terraces and hot tubs give you a view and an outdoor space in one.
Think about how the artist and their styling will sit in the frame. A busy interior can fight with bold wardrobe. A white, minimal house can look flat without strong lighting. Ask for wide shots of each room, not just the best angles from the listing, so you can see what will actually be in the background.
Check the filming terms before anything else
Not every beautiful house allows filming, and the ones that do often have conditions. Ask these questions early, because the answers can rule a house out in one email:
- Is filming allowed, and is music playback allowed?
- What are the permitted hours, including load-in and wrap?
- Which rooms are available, and which are off limits?
- How many cast and crew can be on site at once?
- Will the owner or a house manager be present on the day?
- Are there rules on shoes, food, smoke, haze or moving furniture?
Think about space, power and noise
A room that looks large in a photo can feel small once camera, lighting, grip, monitors and a dozen people are inside. Check that you have room to light from where you need to, and space to stand back for wide shots. Ask about ceiling heights if you plan to rig lights high.
Power matters on a music video. Domestic sockets may not cope with a full lighting package, so ask what supply is available or plan for a generator. Sound matters less if you are miming to playback, but loud playback can upset neighbours. Ask whether there are noise limits, and when the quietest hours are.
Plan parking, unit base and access
Where will the kit vans, crew cars, talent transport and any picture cars park? A gated house with a long drive can take a lot of this off the street. A terraced house in central London may need parking arranged on the road, which can involve the local council.
You also need space for a unit base: hair and makeup, wardrobe, catering and somewhere for talent to rest. Some houses have spare rooms for this. Others work better with a dressing room or trailer outside. If hero cars are part of the video, check the drive and gates are wide enough and the surface is suitable, and tell the car supplier exactly where they will be placed.
Neighbours, privacy and security
A music video with a known artist can draw a crowd once word gets out. Ask how close the neighbours are, whether the house is overlooked and whether the street is busy. Quieter, gated houses make it easier to keep the shoot private.
Plan set security for the perimeter and access, and close protection for the artist if needed. If the house is holding cars or kit overnight between shoot days, add overnight guards. Make sure the owner knows who will be on site and when. If you plan to shoot on the public street outside, that usually needs permission from the local council's film office, so allow time for it.
Do a recce and lock it in writing
Visit before you book if you can, ideally at the time of day you will shoot. Take your director, DOP and, if possible, a gaffer. Check where the sun falls, where the power is, how kit gets in and where the toilets are. Photograph every room you plan to use.
Once you are happy, get the terms in writing: hours, rooms, crew numbers, parking, house rules and the cancellation terms. Share the address, parking notes and contact details on the call sheet the day before. With the house locked, you can book the cars, transport, security and crew around it.
Questions
How many location houses should I shortlist for a music video?
Two or three is a good number. It gives you a real choice, and a backup if your first choice is not free on your date or its filming terms do not work.
Can I use one house for several scenes?
Often, yes. Many larger houses offer a pool, garden, staircase and several styled rooms, which can cover a whole video without a company move.
Do I need a permit to film at a private house?
Filming on private property needs the owner's permission. If any part of the shoot or parking spills onto the public street, you normally need to speak to the local council's film office.
Can Sourced. find a house and the cars and security for it?
Yes. Send one brief with the look, the date and your crew size, and Sourced. comes back with houses that fit, plus cars, transport, security and crew in one quote.