How to Make Thousands of Dollars Having Movie and Music Stars Film in Your Home

Earning up to £60,000 a year by having Stormzy film a music video in your kitchen or Paloma Faith playing Lego in your living room may sound far-fetched to homeowners unfamiliar with the filming location industry.

But every star, studio or big brand who wants to shoot at a residential property needs someone willing to provide their home for the day – and they’ll pay between £700 and £3,000 for the privilege.

Homeowners and filming agencies spoke to Sky News about the promises and pitfalls of working with the likes of Disney, Netflix and ITV to capitalize on this niche revenue stream.

These include photographer Ed Reeve, from Hackney, who in the 17 years he has rented his home, David Attenborough, Stormzy and Jim Celebrities such as Jim Broadbent have visited his home.

“Overall it was a very positive experience for us. Overall the crew on set were really lovely people and they have great respect for your home,” said Mr Reeve, who is registered with on-location agency 1st Option explain.

He hosts 12 to 20 productions each year. Most people earn £1,000 for a day’s shoot, but some earn up to £3,000 a day or over several days.

“We met a lot of interesting people,” Mr. Reeve said, including “Sex Education” star Gillian Anderson, Hugh Bonneville (“Downton Abbey”) and Claire Foy (“The Crown”). 》).

After Stormzy filmed his music video, Mr Reeve said “every grime artist wanted to film here”.

David Attenborough once showed up early for a BBC shoot and the pair sat down for tea, with Mr Reeve introducing his three-day-old daughter to the presenter.

“He was holding her and looking at her with joy… it was a really special moment,” Mr Reeve said.

Shooting may cause scratches around the interior, but Mr. Reeve said he used some of the money to reupholster it or, in one case, let Luxury AD do it for him.

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“Money is never free”

Emer Stamp, a 48-year-old children’s author from London who is not too keen on the industry, has been hosting it for two years.

“You think, ‘Oh yeah, my house is going to rock’ and everyone is going to come up and say ‘Your house is going to be perfect,’ but for whatever reason, it’s not.

“The way I see it is, making money is not as easy as you think.”

Ms Stamp said her home had been chosen as a filming location for three productions, including a shoot for Dale and a Lego advert starring Paloma Faith, which had earned her around £6,000.

Ms. Stamp said hosting also puts your schedule at the mercy of the production company — and sometimes they may not show up.

“Like anything, you think it’s free money, but it’s never free money.”

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So what makes a location popular?

Becky Butler, managing director of Location Collective, said there was demand for mid-sized family homes with a 60s/70s vibe and unusual features.

While many of the homes listed by locator agencies may seem pricey, this is far from a deal-breaker.

“All the practical aspects of things are just as important, if not more important, than the aesthetics of the place,” Ms Butler said.

Parking, friendly neighbors and having a large room for equipment go a long way for clients.

The right combination can create “amazing additional revenue streams,” says Jennifer Marshall of Shootfactory, which connects homeowners with everyone from Little Mix to Killing Eve.

“Through our company, we own properties that can earn between £20,000 and £60,000 a year.”

Most of the industry is based in London, but three agencies contacted by Sky News organized filming in Manchester, Birmingham, the Midlands, home counties and the coast.

Both Ms. Marshall and the team at Location Collective say having a neighbor willing to get in on the action can be a real selling point.

This could mean having a second house on the same street used for a TV show, or just a home for the production team.

Lily Gonnissen, director of business development at Location Collective, said: “Being able to have them virtually take over is critical. Sometimes they might have needs like painting or moving furniture.”

Ms Gunnison said the top priorities were responding to questions quickly, staying in touch during the working day and being able to arrange viewings at short notice.

“Be friendly and welcoming—brands will remember a good host,” says a 1st Option spokesperson, “and make sure the house is clean and tidy before the shoot.”