I'm slated to direct my next film, which is in preproduction with about a month to go before the first day of shooting. The cast selection is almost complete and I'm quite pleased with the screenplay I wrote.
We've been finding private homeowners who are willing to rent out their homes (usually where they actually live) to us for the duration of our shoot at a relatively low cost to accommodate my microbudget production. As we find and schedule visits to these potential locations, though, I keep wondering about how much to tell them about the script, which features a number of scenes, to be shot at those locations, that contain full nudity and simulated sex. These sequences are similar to what an R rated drama or a show on a premium cable channel in primetime could have.
My producing partner and I agree that the homeowners should be aware, ahead of shooting, that some such scenes will be shot on their property. But how detailed should we be?
Perhaps this first option is enough: Just tell them in an email message, before we visit their property (or immediately afterward): "Some scenes to be shot on your property will contain nudity and simulated sex. I just wanted to make sure you are okay with that would not object to it." Then also include language to that effect in the location agreement to be signed by both parties.
Or should I use my second option, which is to share the entire screenplay with them? I generally tend to be leery of sharing the entire screenplay with anyone who doesn't absolutely need to see it to do their job, but perhaps I should do so in this case?
After considering the second option for a while, I'm now leaning toward the first option. What do you think?
Or, is there a third option you think may be better?
We've been finding private homeowners who are willing to rent out their homes (usually where they actually live) to us for the duration of our shoot at a relatively low cost to accommodate my microbudget production. As we find and schedule visits to these potential locations, though, I keep wondering about how much to tell them about the script, which features a number of scenes, to be shot at those locations, that contain full nudity and simulated sex. These sequences are similar to what an R rated drama or a show on a premium cable channel in primetime could have.
My producing partner and I agree that the homeowners should be aware, ahead of shooting, that some such scenes will be shot on their property. But how detailed should we be?
Perhaps this first option is enough: Just tell them in an email message, before we visit their property (or immediately afterward): "Some scenes to be shot on your property will contain nudity and simulated sex. I just wanted to make sure you are okay with that would not object to it." Then also include language to that effect in the location agreement to be signed by both parties.
Or should I use my second option, which is to share the entire screenplay with them? I generally tend to be leery of sharing the entire screenplay with anyone who doesn't absolutely need to see it to do their job, but perhaps I should do so in this case?
After considering the second option for a while, I'm now leaning toward the first option. What do you think?
Or, is there a third option you think may be better?