The location/setting of your screenplay

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  • The location/setting of your screenplay

    I'm about to start writing an action script and I was wondering if it's better for your script to be set in America or is it more feasible for it to be set outside the US? I'm thinking about the budget primarily. I'm guessing shooting in LA would be much more expensive than let's say... Siberia. So hypothetically, if there are two action screenplays in front of a producer/studio, both equally good; will the location and setting of the story factor in his decision to select one script over another?

  • #2
    Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

    Originally posted by badbunny View Post
    I'm about to start writing an action script and I was wondering if it's better for your script to be set in America or is it more feasible for it to be set outside the US? I'm thinking about the budget primarily. I'm guessing shooting in LA would be much more expensive than let's say... Siberia. So hypothetically, if there are two action screenplays in front of a producer/studio, both equally good; will the location and setting of the story factor in his decision to select one script over another?
    Really don't worry about it. Worry about the concept and the characters, and the universality of your story.
    Last edited by Ire; 04-18-2015, 03:14 PM.
    #writinginaStarbucks #re-thinkingmyexistence #notanotherweaklogline #thinkingwhatwouldWilldo

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    • #3
      Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

      In this case, I say write what you know unless you want to spend a lot of time researching Siberia. A million heist stories out there, but there's only one you and your experiences and the people you know.

      I'm guessing you want to write characters that you might have seen, i.e., characters based on other characters. I would say don't do this unless you have the greatest and most unique idea for a heist movie since I'll say the INSIDE MAN. Then write it.

      About the INSIDE MAN, location was important, but it could have been LA, it could have been Chicago, but the writer was from New York and spent time in NYC. There was a uniqueness to his characters. I don't know what he researched and what he pulled out of his ass, but it worked.
      I really don't know why you're going on about 'heist' films because not once did I mention that I'm writing one. It makes me think that you either didn't read my post or didn't fully comprehend it. In any case, all that you said in that regard is pretty much redundant.

      I don't know where you're from, but if you're able to draw from the people you know, it could help make your heist story all the more compelling. I'm harping on this because you're concerned about location and don't have one in mind.
      It's not that I don't have one in mind. The obvious thing would be to set it right here in the US itself (like the rest of my scripts) but would setting it somewhere else be more beneficial for the script? The point is that for the story, it wouldn't matter wherever it is set. And if it's a matter of research, then that's not a problem for me at all. But what I wanted to know was if it the script had more chances of selling if it was based in a foreign country or the US. As I mentioned earlier, it had to do with the budget, primarily.

      This question actually came to my mind because I had read an article a long time back where someone mentioned the pros and cons of setting your screenplay right here in the US vs. a comparatively inexpensive country like, let's say Thailand. What I can't seem to remember was what was a more viable option so I thought I'd put this question across over here.

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      • #4
        Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

        Originally posted by badbunny View Post
        I really don't know why you're going on about 'heist' films because not once did I mention that I'm writing one. It makes me think that you either didn't read my post or didn't fully comprehend it. In any case, all that you said in that regard is pretty much redundant.



        It's not that I don't have one in mind. The obvious thing would be to set it right here in the US itself (like the rest of my scripts) but would setting it somewhere else be more beneficial for the script? The point is that for the story, it wouldn't matter wherever it is set. And if it's a matter of research, then that's not a problem for me at all. But what I wanted to know was if it the script had more chances of selling if it was based in a foreign country or the US. As I mentioned earlier, it had to do with the budget, primarily.

        This question actually came to my mind because I had read an article a long time back where someone mentioned the pros and cons of setting your screenplay right here in the US vs. a comparatively inexpensive country like, let's say Thailand. What I can't seem to remember was what was a more viable option so I thought I'd put this question across over here.
        Sorry. Read way too quickly. My last statement applies.

        True there are advantages to setting stories in for example Louisiana for tax purposes, but will you have a story that is Louisiana-friendly or Thailand friendly? Either way, if you really wanted to set your story in Louisiana or Spain or wherever, if you haven't lived, visited those places, the more research you'd have to do. Personally I'd rather have to do less research about location as possible.

        Just my 2 cents.
        Last edited by Ire; 04-18-2015, 04:28 PM.
        #writinginaStarbucks #re-thinkingmyexistence #notanotherweaklogline #thinkingwhatwouldWilldo

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        • #5
          Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

          I wouldn't worry about it.

          Both BATTLE LOS ANGELES and OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN were filmed in Louisiana. No movie is more location-dependent than those, but it ultimately didn't matter. The producers filmed where it was cheapest to film.

          Producers and studios will look at set-pieces, casts, and VFX to determine budget. Location is the one thing they can fudge.

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          • #6
            Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

            Originally posted by badbunny View Post
            I'm about to start writing an action script and I was wondering if it's better for your script to be set in America or is it more feasible for it to be set outside the US? I'm thinking about the budget primarily. I'm guessing shooting in LA would be much more expensive than let's say... Siberia. So hypothetically, if there are two action screenplays in front of a producer/studio, both equally good; will the location and setting of the story factor in his decision to select one script over another?
            I would say focus on a location that you can actually do something with. How does your location tie into your concept, such that the story would be different if it were set elsewhere?

            A lot of the people shooting in Louisiana and Georgia will pack up and shoot somewhere else the instant the tax rules change, and the tax rules are always changing. So don't try to anticipate that: it'll change before you're produced.

            But when you're talking about Siberia vs Los Angeles, well, look - come up with a great concept and focus on that. Your concept will have something to say about your locations. That is far, far more important that how expensive various places are to shoot.

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            • #7
              Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

              Location is part of story.

              Though I have written scripts to shoot in places with incentives, or where producers had deals; those locations became an important part of the story. Though sometimes specific location isn't important and it's more about the general geography (I have a script that takes place in a large maze like condominium complex which could shoot in any state... maybe any country, as long as they have that kind of structure because it's all about neighbors we don't really know).

              Other than that, you may have noticed movies made by USA production companies film all over the world. Often movie stars think shooting in some interesting location is a perq, kind of a paid vacation, and that influences them to sign on to the film. There are also incentives to shoot in other countries, whether it's a strong crew base that is still inexpensive or rebates/tax deals.

              I always joke that no matter where your story takes place, they will shoot it in Louisiana or Vancouver or Prague...

              So find the best location for your story and have it take place there.

              Bill
              Free Script Tips:
              http://www.scriptsecrets.net

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              • #8
                Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

                I'm working on something of which portions take place in San Francisco...however, if by some miracle it ever were to be filmed, most of the scenes would be indoor with green screen backgrounds on the studio lot and establishing shots that do not necessitate the actors being in San Francisco.

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                • #9
                  Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

                  I think the X MEN 3 scenes that took place in San Francisco were shot in Vancouver.

                  I'm watching this old TV show called M SQUAD that takes place in Chicago, but was shot at Radford down the street from me in Studio City. Except for some 2nd unit establishing shots...

                  Bill
                  Free Script Tips:
                  http://www.scriptsecrets.net

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                  • #10
                    Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

                    Here's the way I'm looking at it these days: "Snowpiercer" was not filmed on a train amidst a post-apocalyptic frozen tundra. They can pretty much film anywhere for any location at this point, if they really want to make it. Whether it's technology or tax credits, they can do almost anything, so don't worry about it. Write what you think is best for the story.

                    Me, I tend to keep the specific location vague unless I feel it's necessary. I have scripts where it's obviously east coast, west coast or the midwest, and if you know the area and pick up on clues, you might know where it REALLY is (in my head).

                    I haven't done a foreign-based script yet, but I'd damn-well make sure I was already familiar with the country, or do copious research on it before writing.

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                    • #11
                      Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

                      Just don't write about a real place without getting permission and life rights from everyone who lives there first. You could get sued for defamation otherwise.

                      source: I read a lot of s--- on the Internet.

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                      • #12
                        Re: The location/setting of your screenplay

                        Originally posted by sbbn View Post
                        Just don't write about a real place without getting permission and life rights from everyone who lives there first. You could get sued for defamation otherwise.

                        source: I read a lot of s--- on the Internet.
                        It's true. Back in 1990 I had one line of description in an unsold spec script that read: "It was Hollywood, 1990. The place was a high-price whorehouse. Screenwriters were being gilded in gold the way porn stars were gilded in white."

                        I'm still paying out $10,000 a month, with 23 years to go on the settlement. I sure learned my lesson the hard way.

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