with government agencies to ensure their support in allowing filmmakers
to work in the area with maximum ease. The marketing and communica-
tions managers are charged with publicizing the area and advertising
why it is a great place to make movies, television series, or commercials.
They create brochures and press materials, and service them to filmmak-
ers and the media. Often, the design and maintenance of a web site falls
under their management. The location manager is responsible for main-
taining photographs and information about various locations around the
state, for assisting filmmakers in finding appropriate locations, and for
obtaining the necessary permission, permits, and licenses to shoot in that
location. The Film Office serves as a liaison between the production
company and various government entities.
Edmunds obtains copies of scripts or storyboards for commercials,
television, and feature films that are considering shooting in Virginia. He
formulates ideas for potential shooting locations by going through the
office files of nearly 14,000 photographs from around the state. "They are
separated by categories and subcategories, so if I'm looking for barns or a
plantation home, I can go to the various categories and pull those files."
The office is in the process of converting files of photographs to digital
images that can be accessed and searched on the Internet. Sometimes
Edmunds might go out, or send a scout, to look for specific sites and to
shoot photographs for the specific project they are pitching, which will
later become part of the permanent files.
"It's a lot of detective work. If you're looking for pools for a movie,
you look for a big mansion that might have a pool, or you might call pool
companies and ask where they service pools. Then you have to convince
them to tell you who has a nice pool."
The package of potential locations is assembled and sent off to the
production company. Often they will narrow their selection of potential
sites to a particular region and then scout that area in person. "We rent
cars, a suburban or helicopters, whatever it takes, depending on the level
of the production and what we feel would be justified to spend on this
client. We show them the locations and turn on our charm. We'll wine
and dine them and develop a relationship, because it's totally a relation-
ship business."
When a production has chosen to shoot in Virginia, the Film Office
provides logistical support, including access to a database with local
support services and potential crew members. "Once they start shooting,
inevitably there are public relations issues that pop up: `Why are these
trucks parking on my street and disrupting my life?' We help solve those
issues by educating people to the economic development . . . why this
temporary inconvenience is worth the trouble."
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