CHAPTER 3. LOCATION SELECTION The initial survey of possible filming locations should involve checking for potential hazards which could influence the selection of the site or preventive measures that must be taken. This could include checking with relevant authorities or other experts concerning particular hazards (e.g. common diseases or dangerous animals in an area, or the structural stability of a building). Once hazards are identified, then it is necessary to determine the precautions that can be taken for elimination of the hazards, or whether an alternative location might be advisable. The following section lists some of the types of hazards that can commonly be found on possible location sites, along with recommendations. GENERAL HAZARDS Animals Wild animals and poisonous reptiles can be a hazard in many outdoor areas. Under certain conditions, many animals or reptiles, including poisonous snakes, can attack humans. In addition to physical harm or poisoning, some animals can carry infectious diseases (e.g. rabies). Precautions should be taken to prevent wild animals from wandering onto the set. Feeding animals and leaving food where they can get access to it can encourage their presence. Animals used in filming are discussed separately in Chapter 8. Civil Unrest Filming in areas where local wars, civil wars, terrorism or other serious unrest is going on can be very hazardous with risks of being taken hostage, being injured or killed, or simply being cut off from supplies. Newspapers can be a source of information on major conflicts, but there are hundreds of other on-going, smaller scale conflicts that rarely get into the papers but are still a hazard. The U.S. State Department or U.S. consulate in the country of your proposed location are possible sources of information. Climate The local climate can have a direct bearing on the health of a film production crew and actors. Working at high temperatures can cause heat stroke and other heat-related diseases; cold can cause frostbite. In some situations, fatalities can result. Planning is needed to prepare for these extremes. Time spent in these environments should be minimized, and avoided if possible. Heat and cold extremes are discussed in more detail in Chapter 5. Communicable Diseases Different localities and countries can have health risks that are native to their area. These can include diseases transmitted by insects (see Insects below), animals (see Animals), contaminated food and water (see Food and Water), or by person to person contact. The seriousness of the health risk in a particular area should be evaluated before choosing a location. For many countries, vaccinations, inoculations or medications are recommended or mandatory for certain diseases. The Location Photographer's Handbook has an excellent section on communicable diseases in different countries. This medical evaluation should be done by an appropriately trained physician. This is discussed in more detail in Chapter 9. Communications Dependable communications are crucial, especially in emergencies. Telephones are not reliable in many countries, or even in rural areas of industrialized countries. In isolated locations, there might not even be telephones, necessitating radio communications. For emergencies and communications on location (especially for stunts and similar hazardous situations), relevant personnel should be equipped with dedicated radiophones or similar equipment. Emergency Services The quality of local emergency services (fire department, ambulance, hospital emergency rooms, etc) is an important factor in determining whether to rely on them or to make direct provision for these emergency services. This is discussed in more detail in both Chapters 6 and 9. Food and Water In many parts of the world, contaminated food and water is a major health problem, leading to traveler's diarrhea and even more serious infections. In some areas, actual testing of water might be necessary to determine if a hazard exists. If the water is potentially contaminated, local water and ice should never be used unless boiled or otherwise disinfected (e.g. chlorinated). Bottled or canned carbonated beverages and water, wine and beer are recommended, and tea, coffee or ice should be made with boiled water. Drinking and food containers that have had possibly contaminated water in them should be adequately washed with soap and boiled water. Raw food (salads, vegetables, shellfish, fish, etc.), unpasteurized dairy products, and insufficiently cooked meat should be avoided because of possible bacteria, parasites or other hazardous organisms. Insects Insect bites can vary from being a nuisance to life-threatening if a person is allergic. In addition, many insects can carry contagious diseases (e.g. malaria, Lyme Disease, sleeping sickness, etc.). In areas where the more deadly of these diseases are common, alternate filming locations would be recommended. Precautions such as insect repellents, mosquito nets, protective clothing, etc. are suggested for filming in situations where insects are a problem. Poisonous Plants Many rural areas are covered with poisonous plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, etc. Personnel working in these areas should be trained in the recognition of local poisonous plants which they might encounter with the use of photographs. Protective clothing - including long sleeves, shoes, and long pants -should be worn in areas with many poisonous plants. Power Film production uses enormous amounts of power, often amounting to hundreds of amps at a time. Insufficient power or a power failure can be hazardous if safety devices or equipment run on electricity. A qualified electrician should be contacted to ascertain whether local power sources are adequate, and whether alternate sources of power must be provided. See the Electricity section of Chapter 5 for more details. Transportation How convenient, reliable and safe is local transportation? In urban areas, especially in industrial countries, this might not be a problem. However, in isolated areas and in many countries, reliable transportation is not a given, and production companies might have to provide their own transportation, especially for emergencies. Travel to remote locations via helicopter or small planes has higher accident rates than commercial travel, as is typified by the 1985 helicopter death of Rich Holley while enroute to Alaska for the filming of "Runaway Train". See the discussion of helicopters in Chapter 8. Weather Local weather conditions should be evaluated. If storms, tornados, hurricanes, flash floods, etc. are a possible risk at the time you will be filming, then it would be important to keep in contact with meteorological forecasts. In some instances, it might be advisable to pick another location or time. Certain locations like dry river beds and canyons might be at high risk of flash floods and should be avoided during rainy seasons. Lightning can be a major risk on location during thunderstorms. Even minor storms, rain, etc. can create hazards during filming. SPECIAL HAZARDS This section discusses some hazards which are particular to specific types of locations. Buildings Much filming takes place in buildings, which can present special risks, particularly in old or abandoned buildings. Structural stability: Old or abandoned buildings should have the stability of ceilings, walls, floors, stairways, etc. checked by a licensed engineer to determine the building's safety. Buildings in use should have certificates of occupancy filed with the buildings department (or equiva- lent). Asbestos: Suspect materials (especially pipe and furnace insulation, sprayed ceilings, etc.) should be analyzed for asbestos content. If asbestos is present, then it would have to be removed or enclosed by licensed asbestos contractors (which can be very expensive). Otherwise, an alternative site should be chosen. Asbestos-containing materials should not be handled by crew members. No one should be exposed to asbestos, since asbestos inhalation can cause cancer and asbestosis (permanent lung scarring). Lead paint: Old, flaking paint in buildings usually contains lead and could be a risk if it becomes pulverized by filming activities and becomes airborne where it could be inhaled. The loose paint should be vacuumed with a HEPA (high efficiency) vacuum cleaner and disposed of as toxic waste, according to local regulations. Only trained personnel should do this. Chemicals: Many abandoned buildings, especially warehouses, can contain waste chemicals. These can present both health and fire hazards and should be handled only by experts. Community hazardous materials (HazMat) emergency response teams should be contacted for assistance, if they exist locally. These are usually part of the Fire Department. Biological hazards: Molds, contaminated pigeon droppings, etc. can cause allergic reactions and other illnesses by skin contact and inhalation. Filming areas should be cleaned and disinfected if such biological contamination exists. Contact the local Health Department for assistance. City Streets City streets as a filming location can present a variety of health and safety problems. The physical condition of the streets (e.g. potholes, cellars under sidewalks) can create hazards for car chase scenes, for example. Electrical wiring, telephone poles, etc. can interfere with camera cranes or other equipment. For example, an electrician was killed during the 1988 filming of "Men Don't Leave" in Baltimore when a 50-foot tall rainmaking machine struck an overhead electrical wire. Air pollution in cities can also present health hazards to susceptible individuals, especially those involved in strenuous activities. This could be a problem especially during air pollution alerts. Deserts Filming in deserts can present serious health problems. Extremely high temperatures during the day can cause a variety of heat stress diseases (see Chapter 5 for more detailed information). This can be compounded by exposure to the intense, direct sunlight and dehydration problems. Low temperatures at night can require heating and suitable clothing. Another hazard associated with many deserts is severe sandstorms. The scarcity of water and need for large amounts of drinking water can complicate supply problems. Foreign Countries All of the problems discussed in this chapter can apply to filming in foreign countries, particularly in underdeveloped countries. In addition, varying customs and mores can present potentials for intercultural conflicts which can result in misunderstanding and even violence. Mountains Mountainous locations present a variety of hazards. The physical nature of mountains can result in accessibility problems as a result of poor roads. In many instances even accessibility by helicopters can be hazardous due to uncertain and violent air current patterns. Falls, snow and rock slides, animals, storms, and even individuals getting lost are special hazards which need careful planning and local expert knowledge of conditions to provide a safe filming location. Water Filming on ponds, lakes, rivers, swamps, oceans, etc. presents a variety of special problems. Underwater hazards such as rocks, sunken ships, sudden drop-offs, swift currents and undertows, plant life, poisonous snakes, reptiles, sharks, etc. can endanger swimmers, divers, and even boats in some instances. Local authorities should be contacted to ascertain known hazards, and surveys by divers of contemplated filming locations should be conducted. Hazards should be removed or marked (unless needed for filming). Still water such as ponds, swamps or bogs should be analyzed for possible water contamination. If the contamination can't be removed, another site should be chosen. Potential upstream problems such as dams, danger of flash floods, chemical plants dumping sites, etc. should also be evaluated. In the ocean in particular, major storms can present risks to even large boats and particular attention to weather predictions and storm tracking is essential. Even small squalls on lakes could present problems for small boats or people in the water. Water temperature, especially in cold weather, can be a serious problems for people in the water due to the risk of hypothermia, and can be a factor in choosing time of filming, in addition to other precautions while filming. Small, controlled ponds located on studio property should be kept drained and filled immediately prior to use. Larger ponds inside studio property should have the water analyzed with written results available no more than 48 hours prior to use. If hazardous contaminants are present, steps should be taken to eliminate the hazard and the water retested with results available not less than 24 hours prior to use. If the contaminant cannot be removed, another location should be sought. See the discussion of filming on water in Chapter 5. REFERENCES Haas, K. (1990). The Location Photographers Handbook. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.