Star power: giving your home the silver screen treatment

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Want a brush with fame but too shy to get in front of the camera? Perhaps it’s time to push your house forward.

Casting agents say that with more TV and film productions opting to shoot on location than ever, on-screen opportunities for residential properties are rife.

Last month $1.5 million funding for 17 new projects worth $13 million was announced by the creative industries minister and Film Victoria, which means it’s a prime time to introduce your photogenic digs to a casting agent, according to location manager Drew Rhodes.

But while you may earn the right to name drop at your next house party, don’t expect retire-today riches.

“More and more content is being shot on location in Victoria rather than in studios so the opportunities are growing,” Rhodes says.

“So while Melbourne still is a very solid production base for both television and film studios what we are seeing is more so it’s being shot entirely or predominantly on location … however there is this misconception ‘hey, make a fortune’ by renting your house out to film crews, but it’s not really a fortune.

“There are conditions; everything from a few hours’ inconvenience to ‘go and live in a hotel for a few weeks and we will take over your house.'”

Rhodes, whose most recent work has been on two series for the ABC – Barracuda and Seven Types of Ambiguity – plus major film The Dressmaker, says he finds his bricks and mortar “stars” via a mix of driving suburban streets, cold calling and sifting through his file of past locations spanning back to 1999.

He says he is always open to finding fresh facades so if your pad is particularly suitable, it is still possible to thrust it into his spotlight.

“I can often find what I need in my existing file of locations but you do occasionally have to go and scout for fresh faces including nostalgia films, character homes, which are popular and character-full homes, which are also popular.” Rhodes says.

“Contemporary, modern homes, I call them ‘white houses’, are not so much in demand unless (the production) is looking for something very, very specific, so there are always exceptions.”

Equally important is whether the property is easily accessible to a film production crew, which can involve multiple trucks and other vehicles at all hours.

Supportive neighbours are a bonus.

And while every care is taken by crews to leave private dwellings exactly as found, homeowners anxious about strangers moving precious keepsakes may not suit relinquishing control during a shoot.

“Yes, you will be paid a sum of money and sometimes we can introduce them (the homeowner) to production cast, but that’s not a given; productions are not cookie cutter at all.

“I have worked on everything from very high-end productions out of the US to low budget comedy out of the ABC and they are vastly different and will often have entirely different location needs so I often say [to homeowners] ‘how do you feel about the circus’ because it’s kind of like that, with poles, trucks, tents, lights and performers moving in and taking over your home.”

Agent Jo Johnson of Photoloco always has time for wow-factor properties or locations with a twist when scouting.

“We look generally for impressive or interesting locations,” Johnson says.

“That said, our goal is to cover all possible visual scenarios for my clients, from architectural lines to a functional laundry so there is a place for all styles of homes on our database.”

But if you’re tired of waiting for that knock on the door, owners who think their home is an unearthed talent can always cold call or email a location manager, who may then make a time for an on-site inspection.

Payment typically ranges from $1,500 to $2,200 per day but varies depending on the property, brief and size of production, Johnson says.

“The home owner receives a location fee … (which) depends on the home, whether it is for stills or TVC/film and the total hours used,” she says.

“And, if they have a sweet tooth, sometimes lovely leftovers from some very incredible catering.”

Start of video transcript

This weekend was the ultimate test for the market. We’ve been seeing the highest clearance rates in five years. But Saturday, we had the most number of auctions ever for an autumn Saturday with over 1,400 properties listed. And yet, despite this high level of competition, the clearance rate did not budge, recording a strong result of 79%. The most expensive home reported sold was the former set of the TV series “Offspring” which sold through Nelson Alexander. The three bedroom victorian house in Fitzroy sold for $3.58 million. A huge $830,000 above reserve.

And the competition on the weekend was so high that some didn’t even make the auction. In Balaclava, Josh Sterling of Hodges had been due to auction his three bedroom Victorian home but at 9 a.m, a neighbour decided to inspect the house before he then bought it on the spot for about $1.2 million. Another good little nugget from the weekend comes from Kane [SP] Real Estate who decided to start quoting the reserve process in their marketing. They had a two bedroom Victorian terrace in Fitzroy North up for auction with a reserve of $700,000 clearly advertised. True to their word, it was declared on the market at that point and sold for $950,000. It’s a solution that will no doubt please many buyers out there. Thanks for joining me and see you next time.