Finding locations for videos

So how do you guys go about finding locations for videos..

for me that is my hardest struggle..they will send me a song

(normally just some typical " i slang keys" push weight" "get hoes"

and im always left sitting there like..

I DONT fu-kING KNOW!

even if the song is normal i guess i still struggle to find locations and what not..cuz most of my clients dont got a budget on top of my budget..

not to mention i do graphics *full time* *photography* and got a part time job at ups so i dont have time really to just drive around the world (plus i HATE driving in places i dont know where i am..i always find a way to get lost..or stuck in mad traffic*

and in my city you cant just walk in someones hood and shoot a video.i did that when i was a rookie and they all just come over and talk sh-t and ruin it basically.


i actually "LOVE" when the client is like ok here the song..we have 3 locations we wanna shoot at it...then im like


I LOVE YOU SON!


ughhh..its actually really making me fall out of love with this video sh-t... and the days leading up to the video im so stressed cuz i just keep telling them "im almost done" scouting places..even tho i havent left my office

yeah,unless u !!in wit good clients wit a budget,this !! is for tha birds.i only do a video if i like tha song or know tha artist.u can use tha same locations,u just gotta get creative wit tha shots.crop them really tight so people cant tell,shoot out of houses etc,and if u can afford it,be more selective wit what clients u take

you need to travel, and maybe thinking of certain types of buildings, like a skyscraper or even a patio, and fitting them with the songs you hear, or some type of absract approach like that, if u havent developed your own type of approach already.

usually in each metro are they have a film commision,and most times some place to rent camera equipment. ask thos e people

Don't know where you live but if it's a hood setting your looking for ride the bus. Sounds crazy but I did it once and scouted the locations for an entire short film. A video is only 4-5 mins and it typical to have like 4-5 locations depending on what the song about and what story your telling. Even then you can shoot the whole thing in the same spot like look at jezzy old videos he made the most out the hood. If you want some rich nicca !! you gotta be slick go to a hotel during the week the pools are usually empty and the rooms look cool depending where you go might have a balcony. Get some !!es and pretend you live the good live.

riding the bus GOOD !!

I know one way to keep motivated for scouting it to make sure you account for the hours you scout in your rate. Another thing that was already mentioned was ride the bus or drive around the city if it is some hood !!. Don't forget to get on your feet though too. if you wanna be really good with your scouting you have to smell it and feel it, actually be there.

other than that, look into cheaper hotels, small businesses, and apartment buildings who you might be able to approach more casually and not worry about permits and !! for the time being. if you know someone who lives in a hood or downtown environment, see if they have access to their rooftops.

dont let scouting get you down about the video !! though, if you got a creative eye and determination you can make a one or two location shoot look legit.

anybody ever shot in like a school classroom? im thinking about doing that for my next video but i dont know how anal they would be about shooting a music video there. im new to this thing but are videos like shot in real schools? [pic]

look at it this way... even if your a good video director 70-80% of your videos are going to be shot in a hood or a warehouse with Lambos & all that !!



20% of videos (almost always a big name artist) are done using a mixture of green-screens & 3D remodeling to on-site locations... most of the VFX used in the highlight reel above are somewhat easy if you have an understanding of basic 3D programs such as Maya/3DS Max or Compositing Programs such as After-Effects & Nuke!!