Tourism professionals

There are several reasons why filming can be beneficial for a region (a location):

Economic effects
Depending on the scope of filmingd, there is an economic effect for the location, the region and service providers, such as hotels, restaurants, crafts, trade or residents who can act as extras.

Sustainable effect
In addition to the direct financial economic effect, films can continue to be present in traditional and social media after they have been broadcast and sustain an interest in the locations and thus attract visitors to the region.

The choice of a motif is subject to various factors.

• Does the motif match the script?
• Is the size of the motif sufficient?
• How big is the logistical effort for the production to film the subject?

An analysis of the filming activities in Filmland Brandenburg has shown that production companies are always happy to return to a region with future productions if they have had good experiences in the region and can rely on a suitable network. Film-friendly framework conditions are therefore becoming more and more important and also play a role in the decision on a location.
Short distances in the approval process and a good network of local contacts make collaboration for everyone involved easier. 

Central contact person
Name a central contact person on your website for film work. They should be very easy to reach and have direct contact with other official contact persons in order to ultimately grant approval from a single source. The departments of road traffic, civil engineering, green spaces, environmental and nature protection, etc. should be involved from the start if the location and the measures so require.

Short application deadlines & processing times
It is important that inquiries are processed immediately and that approvals are issued within a maximum of two weeks after the application has been submitted.

If a film was shot at a location, the location is known to location scouts.
Before that happens, you have the following options:

• Entry in motif databases
  They provide image and information material from their locations. The photos should be current and expressive The entries are free of charge.
  The following databases are available: www.bbfc.de (Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission, BBFC) and www.bvlocation.de (Bundesverband Locationscouts, BVL)
• Information letter to location scouts:
  A list of the location scouts can be found in the BBFC address database at www.bbfc.de or at www.crew-united.com and a list of BVL members at www.bvlocation.de.
  Write an e-mail with expressive photos and contact details.
• Artist in residence for screenwriters
  Inspire scriptwriters for your region by offering an artist-in-residence.
  There are different models, but it can be enough to provide accommodation. The stay can also be advertised through the partner channels of the Artist in Residence (Medienboard, BBFC & Nipkow).
• Location tours for location scouts
  Invite your partners (other motivators: inside or local contact person) on location tours and show them the special, unique corners of your region. The BBFC will be happy to support you with this.
• Location photo competitions
  To create mood pictures of your region, you can, for example, set up a photo competition. Because nobody knows the region as well as its residents. Above all, the public cityscape should be in the foreground. The results can then be entered in the motif databases (see above).

1. As a rule, location scouts and production designers look for a suitable filming location. In the first research step, they use various motif databases. Ideally, the entries and photos are so expressive that the location scouts, in consultation with the director, use the online research as an opportunity to visit the motif (the location) in person.
    
2. When viewing motifs, location scouts contact the motif providers - the motifs previously researched online - in advance to discuss whether the planned filming (scope, period, etc.) is suitable.
   If this is the case, a personal viewing appointment will be arranged, during which the location scout will take photos for the production. The location scouts then present the results of their search to the core team of the film (e.g. director, camera, set design, production). If they like the motif, another motif tour - a so-called recce with the core team - will follow. After that, a decision is usually made and contract negotiations commence.
    
3. Once the motive provider and film production team have made a decision, a motif contract is negotiated. Both sides have the opportunity to deliver a draft. You can download a sample contract (German only) from the BBFC website (www.bbfc.de), as well as the leaflet with all the important information about the contract.
   Tip: If it becomes apparent that you want to use the film for film tourism purposes, it is advisable to add this option given to you in the motif contract. This applies to any photos that you want to take on set - the approval must be given by the production and it also decides on the right of use. Due to GDPR and existing contracts with broadcasters, actors, etc., this is an issue that should be considered at an early stage.
   3.1.
   The amount of the motif rent is at the discretion of the respective motif provider, whereby public motif providers do not pursue profit intentions and private motif providers should also set their pricing as flexibly as possible according to the project and scope. Ideally, a distinction is made in the following categories and price ranges: A: student film, documentary film, short film B: advertising film, image film, (music) video clip, photo production, C: television film, series and cinema film nationally, internationally (low or big budget).
   3.2.
   There are motifs that can be described as sensitive. This mainly includes public areas and places that have a different purpose, such as museums, hospitals, schools, military sites, nature reserves, etc. Film productions rely on such motifs, which is why in these cases the motif rental should include a person to supervise the film work. In consultation with the production department, a security company you trust can be called in to act on your behalf.
   A good dialogue to find a suitable solution is always the right way to a good filming - for both sides.
   
   If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us, the Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission on 0331 7438730 or location@medienboard.de.

As the central licensing authority, the road traffic licence departments are usually informed of all filming that took place on public roads. In addition, the Medienboard and the BBFC publish the Brandenburg film map every year, which gives an overview of filming activities in the region. Here you can research whether and which productions have already spent days filming in your region or in your location in the past few years.

Always consider film and tourism offers in context and use the synergies.

• Include existing tourist offers when considering the re-use of a location or a film, and assess whether a film that was shot at your location has the potential to attract so-called film tourists to your region on the trail of the film.
• Make the filming locations visible - analogue and digital - for people who want specific information and for those who might come across the topic by chance.

Tip: If you have any questions about the possibilities of film tourism re-use, you are always welcome to contact TMB Tourismus Marketing Brandenburg or the Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission, BBFC - we will be happy to support you.

There are various approaches to using filming for film tourism purposes.

Here are some examples:

• Signage
  Use signs to draw attention to the culturally added value of the place as a film location.
• Film screenings
  We recommend holding film screenings with local cinema operators or actors. If large parts of a film have been filmed in your region or your location, you can try to organize a premiere or film screening with the team & cast on site with the production company and the film distributor. Outside of the theatrical release, film screenings are conceivable as part of open-air events. Actors or other team members such as directors, producers, location scouts etc. could also be invited to the film talk.
• Create synergies!
  What other events are there in your region that could be used to promote the topic?
• Guided tours, tours, events
  Organize special guided tours, tours, hikes on the subject of the filming locations or organize leisure experiences. Come up with tourist offers that are derived from cinematic content. (e.g. riding like "Bibi and Tina", by boat through the river like "Huckleberry Finn", a creepy night hike through the location of "Heilstätten" etc.)
• Merchandising
  Tourist information or places with tourist attractions in the immediate vicinity of the filming locations could sell items that are related to the film, e.g. bags, hats, etc.
• Topicality - Does the film reference current affairs?
  In this case, discussion rounds on the topic can be organized for students or other interested parties. For example, you can cooperate with Vision Kino or with the Society for Civic Education of the Federal Government.

Not all filming works equally well for a film tourism re-use.
You can use the following factors to make an assessment of your project:

• Awareness of the production
  Are roles filled with well-known actors (national or international)?
• Duration of production and use of the motif
  How long was it generally filmed on site? Did the motif used act as the main motif? If a motif is rotated on a motif for several days, it can be a so-called main motif. Tip: If a location is repeatedly used as a filming location by different productions, this can also become a location with a unique selling proposition.
• Target group of production
  What is the target group of the film and what can be derived from it as film tourism use?
• Role & representation of the place
  Which image of the location does the film convey? A horror film can also have a positive effect on the location. The castle from Fritz Lang's "Nosferatu" still attracts tourists today.
• Accessibility of the location
  Is the motif publicly available or privately owned?
• Remaining Backdrops & Props
  Is the location still recognizable after the film?
  Tip: You can ask the productions, for example, not to dismantle the sets, but to leave them on site. -> Have the rights granted for further use.

In addition, it is advisable to make an analysis that takes into account which tourist and cultural offers already exist in the vicinity of the location. In other words, how is the place equipped in terms of gastronomic and logistical conditions, such as local transport?
Or which tourist attractions can be found on site?

Tip:
If you are filming extensively and already know that you would like to present film tourism offers afterwards, it is advisable to contact the production department as early as possible in order to clarify usage rights (for image material, backdrops, etc.). In addition, in some cases an appointment on set with representatives of the press during filming might already take place. If you are invited to this, original quotes from actors, producers or the location scout for the location could be recorded during filming, which will be released at the cinema release / broadcast.
Attention:
Before the theatrical release / broadcast, a motif provider should not publish image or video material without the explicit consent of the production.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission on 0331 7438730 or location@medienboard.de.