Ace Up Our Sleeve Public Relations

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Joe Hanania

Ace Up Our Sleeve
Public Relations

Rules to Live By, When Your Home Lands a Starring Role
By JOSEPH HANANIA

Los Angeles Times Saturday April 14, 2001
Home Edition Calendar Part F Page 18 Entertainment Desk
7 inches; 245 words | Type of Material: Sidebar

   Each year, film, TV and advertising production companies spend an
estimated $500 million for location expenses in L.A., says Entertainment
Industry Development Corp. spokesman Morrie Goldman.

   If you want to promote your residence or place of business, the
company provides a free how-to booklet titled "Make Your Property a
Star," which you can obtain by calling (323) 957-1000, or logging on to
http://www.eidc.com and clicking on "public information."

   Should Hollywood come knocking at your door, here's what to look out
for, according to Russ Fega, location manager for "I Am Sam."

   * Realize that the location manager takes care of whatever happens, so
ask for references beforehand. I didn't, only to return to my "restored"
apartment the day after the shooting to find nearly everything still in
packing boxes and my TV and stereo unhooked amid a maze of wires. A call
to Fega resulted in two crew members coming over and restoring my
apartment within 24 hours. A less reputable individual could easily have
left me hanging.

   * Many companies will pay you in full when you sign the contract. In
my case, the company's travel agent asked me for a list of my preferred
local hotels and then booked and charged the hotel rooms directly to the
company. I paid for meals, drinks and other incidentals, and was
reimbursed within a few days by the production company.

   * If you own your property, ask for a copy of the production company's
insurance certificate and make sure you are free of liability should,
say, a crew member trip in your home. (I'm a tenant in a rental building;
my landlord got that certificate.)

   * Ask for a deposit to cover breakable items. Should no major damage
occur (none did in my case), be prepared to refund the deposit, usually
within five days.

--JOSEPH HANANIA