Location Recce Checklist and Risk assessment

A location Recce is when you scout out for the ideal location for your film/short film.

After you have found the location you need to take a Location Recce Checklist with you. This checklist has all the details you need to fill in about that location for example.

• Things you will need to take while checking out a location e.g: Camera, Mobile phone, Notepad and pen ect.  
• What you will need to discuss with the owner of your location or the general public who might also use that location e.g: Confirm ownership, explain your intentions, are passes required for you to use this location ect.
• The transport/access of the location, is the location easy to get to, does it have public transport near it? Can vehicles access it? Are there toilets on site? Ect. 
• Make sure the camera and the lighting is not impaired e.g: Position of the sun, is the sun in front of the camera? Is the sun in the eyes of the actors making them unable to work? Is there a secure place to place you equipment? 
• Is there background sound that might interfere with the filming e.g: Traffic/roadworks, are there roadworks that will impair your hearing or the camera. Is the wind interfering with the microphones? 
• Things for the director. This is what the director should take into account e.g: any backgrounds that could be in the shot. To take photos of the site/sites you might be using (a whole shot of the site) 
• Last is the food and accommodation, is there accommodation for the actors and crew to stay in? How much will it cost? What time is lunch or breaks and what is there duration?  

Name of location South Essex College Southend Plaza.

Things to take:	Complete	Notes
Camera	Mobile
Mobile phone	yes
Notebook, pen, PDA	yes
Programme risk assessment form	yes
Maps/directions	no	Not needed.
Student ID card	yes
Brief	yes
Checklist	yes
Talking to people:	Complete	Notes
Confirm ownership	yes
Exchange details	yes
Explain intentions	yes
Discuss fees/contract	not needed
Editorial policy	Educational
Are passes required?	Yes
Availability and timings	Available all day
Local events	No
Dress code	No
Copyright issues	No
Children’s details	yes	College students.
Transport/access:	Complete	Notes
Landmarks for directions	Yes	University, train station, pub.
Neighbour disturbance	Yes	Pub/train station.
Risk of trespass	Yes	Could walk into the university.
Internal access	yes
Vehicle access	yes
Toilets	yes
Traffic control needed?	No
Shelter	yes
Safety for hazardous environments	yes
Tidal waters	No
Boats/safety	No
Camera/lighting:	Complete	Notes
Position of the sun	behind clouds.
Window direction
Power supply	no
Size of location	large
Strobing	No
TV/computer screens	No
Is floor level?	No	Slight slope
Secure place for kit	No
Cables	No
Smoke alarms/sprinklers	No
Sound:	Complete	Notes
Listen
Traffic/roadworks	Yes    No
Aircraft	Yes     No
Electrical hazards	Yes     No
Schools	Yes     No
Weather	Yes      No
Background music/PA system	Yes     No
Air conditional/fridges	Yes     No
Wooden floors	Yes     No
Things for director:	Complete	Notes
Take photos	Yes	A wide shot of the plaza
GVs/top shots	No
Cutaways	Yes	of the students sitting around
Backgrounds	Yes	College entrance. Train station.
Events	No
Additional contributors	No
Food/accommodation:	Complete	Notes
Eating	Yes
Hotels	Yes

Risk assessment forms. 

You have to fill out a risk assessment so that you have a plan on how to deal with any risks that may occur during the making of your film. 

RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

Production Name & Number -

Shoot Dates -

Production Manager -

Producer -

Guidance:

1. Assess whether a hazard will be present, write YES or NO.  Then for each hazard that you have said YES to do the following:
2. Rate each risk on a Severity scale from Negligable (N), Low risk (L), Moderate risk (M), Severe (S), Very severe (V)
3. Rate each risks Likelihood on scale from Very unlikely (VU), Unlikely (U), Possible (P), Likely (L), Very likely (VL)
4. Determine the Risk Factor from the table overleaf.

P = Present / S = Severity / L = Likelihood / R = Risk Factor

	Hazard	P	S	L	R
1	Alcohol/drugs	YES	S	P	3
2	Animals/insects	No
3	Audiences	No
4	Camera cable/grip equipment	Yes	L	P	2
5	Confined spaces	No
6	Derelict buildings/dangerous structures	No
7	Electricity/gas (other than normal supplies)	No
8	Fatigue/long hours	No
9	Fire/flammable materials	No
10	Hazardous substances	No
11	Heat/Cold/extreme weather	Yes	L	P	2
12	Laser/strobe effects	No
13	Machinery/industrial/ crane/hoist	No
14	Materials - glass, non-fire retardant set materials	No
15	Night operation	No
16	Noise – high sound levels	No
17	Non standard manual handling	No
18	Public/crowds	Yes	L	VL	3
19	Radiation	No
20	Scaffold/Rostra	No
21	Smoking on set	No
22	Special effects/explosives	No
23	Special needs (elderly, disabled, inexperienced)	No
24	Specialised rescue/first aid	No
25	Stunts, dangerous activities	No
26	Tall scenery/suspended ceilings	No
27	Vehicles/speed	No
28	Water/proximity to water	No
29	Weapons	No
30	Working at heights	No
31	Working overseas	No
32	Other risks	No

5. Calculate the Risk Factor:

	Very Unlikely	Unlikely	Possible	Likely	Very Likely
Very severe	3	4	4	5	5
Severe	2	3	3	3	5
Moderate	2	2	3	3	3
Low Risk	1	2	2	3	3
Negligible	1	1	2	2	3

6. Decide the action to take:

5	Very severe	Take immediate action
4	Severe	High priority
3	Moderate Risk	Programme for action
2	Low Risk	Action may be required
1	Negligible	Probably acceptable

7. Then list each risk identified

Hazard Number:	4
Description of Hazard:	Cables and equipment.
Person(s) exposed (detail if cast/crew (C), outside company (O) or public (P) )	Crew and Cast.
Action to take:	Tape the cables down, or put covers over them.
Person/company responsible for action	Director: Josh
Hazard Number:	11
Description of Hazard:	Heat/Cold/extreme weather
Person(s) exposed (detail if cast/crew (C), outside company (O) or public (P) )	Crew and Cast
Action to take:	Make sure there is cover for people and that rain coats and water proof clothing is available
Person/company responsible for action	Director: Josh.
Hazard Number:	18
Description	Public/crowds.
Person(s) exposed (detail if cast/crew (C), outside company (O) or public (P) )	Crew, Cast and Public.
Action to take:	Rope/tape off the area and send runners out to warm people
Person/company responsible for action	Director: Josh
Hazard Number:
Description
Person(s) exposed (detail if cast/crew (C), outside company (O) or public (P) )
Action to take:
Person/company responsible for action
Hazard Number:
Description
Person(s) exposed (detail if cast/crew (C), outside company (O) or public (P) )
Action to take
Person/company responsible for action

To be completed at agreed later date -
Exposed person(s) informed? (y/n)	N	Agreed action taken? (y/n)	N	Risk removed? (y/n)	N

Completed by: Joshua Bates Position: Director

Signature Date: 3rd October 2013