How to Find the Right Location

Finding the right location is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make in pre-production. The right location sets the tone, builds authenticity, and either enhances or complicates the story you’re telling. Whether you’re producing a national TV commercial, a branded content piece, or an indie film, your location does more than provide a backdrop… it becomes a character in the story.

At Movie Mogul, we’ve helped hundreds of clients, from scrappy startups to global brands, find the perfect place to shoot. Choosing wisely requires more than aesthetics. It demands planning, practicality, and foresight.

Why Locations Matter More Than You Think

On screen, the right location makes the viewer believe. It conveys mood, era, lifestyle, and credibility. A well-selected set tells your audience where they are and how to feel, without saying a word. But behind the scenes, locations can either streamline or sabotage a production.

Let’s say you’re shooting a scene at a coffee shop. Option A is a charming café in a small space, with poor lighting, no load-in space, and constant background noise. Option B is a bigger coffee shop with space for your crew, better sound conditions, and generous electrical access. The difference? You either burn hours troubleshooting or wrap on time and under budget.

How to Begin the Location Search

Start with the script. Break down every scene and create a list of what you need. Exterior or interior? Modern or vintage? Day or night? Urban or rural? This breakdown becomes your location brief and helps your team scout efficiently.

Next, think beyond what looks good. Consider how your location functions:

• Space: Will your crew and equipment fit?
• Sound: Can you control ambient noise?
• Access: How do trucks, cast, and crew get in and out?
• Power: Is there enough electricity on site?
• Control: Can you shut down streets or limit foot traffic?
• Permission: Can you secure the permit and other legal permissions to film?

Once you’ve outlined your must-haves, work with a location scout or manager. They understand permits, access, logistics, and can offer options you hadn’t considered. They also know what red flags to avoid, saving you time and money.

The Art of the Tech Scout

Once you’ve narrowed down your top locations, conduct a tech scout. This isn’t just a casual walk-through. It’s a deep dive with your key crew members – Director, DP, 1st AD, Sound Mixer, Gaffer, and Location Manager.

Bring your equipment or at least camera and lens references. Measure distances. Listen to the room tone. Watch how light changes over the day. Mark spots for parking, staging, and crew holding. Capture photos and video. Document everything because memory isn’t always reliable.

A strong tech scout prevents surprises. It shows you where cables will run, how many C-stands can fit, and whether your art department can actually dress the space. It gives every department the opportunity to anticipate challenges… and solve them early.

Always run your location through a checklist that includes availability, weather conditions, insurance requirements, and access to amenities like bathrooms, power, and food.

Legal and Logistical Considerations

You can’t just show up with a camera and call it a shoot. Most municipalities require permits for any professional filming, even on private property if the impact is large. Depending on your location, you may also need police presence, fire marshals, or liability coverage.

Location agreements are equally critical. These documents protect your production and outline terms, hours, fees, and responsibilities. Never film without one, no matter how friendly the owner seems. Verbal agreements won’t hold up in court.

Also consider union contracts, overtime rates, and travel stipends if your location is more than 30 miles from your crew base. One great-looking spot can balloon into unexpected costs if the logistics aren’t planned upfront.

Why Colorado is a Location Goldmine

Colorado offers filmmakers an unmatched variety of cinematic environments. The state’s geographic diversity means you can move from snow-capped peaks to sweeping plains to modern urban skylines without ever crossing state lines. This kind of versatility saves productions time, simplifies logistics, and provides a rich palette of textures and tones to serve any story.

Need alpine backdrops that evoke grandeur and isolation? Head to Vail, Telluride, or Crested Butte, where jagged mountain ranges and pristine valleys provide sweeping vistas ideal for epic moments or quiet, introspective scenes. These areas aren’t just ski towns—they offer breathtaking summer greenery, golden aspens in the fall, and rugged, snow-covered drama in winter.

For desert visuals or stark, surreal landscapes, the Great Sand Dunes National Park and the San Luis Valley deliver visual punch. The dunes rise like a mirage from the plains, creating a setting that feels both ancient and otherworldly. This region has become a favorite for sci-fi, adventure, and high-concept commercial work, with its unique combination of sand, sky, and shifting light.

If your story lives in the city, Denver and Colorado Springs bring their own range of options. Denver offers sleek glass-and-steel high-rises, gritty industrial zones, hip urban neighborhoods, and vibrant street life. The RiNo (River North) Arts District, Union Station, and Lower Downtown (LoDo) are especially camera-friendly. Colorado Springs, on the other hand, provides more open space and a slower pace, with the dramatic backdrop of Pikes Peak visible from many downtown angles. For civic buildings, classic American storefronts, and wide boulevards, both cities offer reliable and accessible shooting environments.

Looking for small-town charm? Colorado delivers Americana in spades. Leadville, perched high in the Rockies, feels like a mining town frozen in time with preserved 19th-century architecture and untouched mountain views. Golden combines Old West atmosphere with modern amenities, while Manitou Springs offers quirky, artsy character against the stunning backdrop of red sandstone formations. These towns provide authentic texture without the artificiality of backlot builds.

Our Approach to Location Scouting

At Movie Mogul, we take scouting seriously. We don’t just find locations—we match them to your story, your logistics, and your budget. We’ve filmed on mountain trails, city rooftops, rural roads, and inside working labs. We know what makes a location both cinematic and practical. Our process includes:

• Script-based location briefs
• Professional tech scouting with production leads
• Permit coordination
• Logistical planning for power, parking, crew flow
• Visual reference documentation
• Contingency planning for weather and last-minute changes

We also maintain an extensive database of Colorado locations of everything from urban haunts (bars, restaurants, coffee shops, alleys, city parks, homes) to outdoor gems (scenic vistas, mountain passes, state and national parks, forests, rivers, lakes). And we partner with numerous property owners across the Front Range to showcase the best homes, ranches and mansions in the area. With these strong relationships, we can identify and secure your perfect location quickly.

The Bottom Line

Finding the right location is never just about looks. It’s about fit. Fit for your story, your schedule, and your team. When you choose the right location, everything else flows smoother—camera setups, crew logistics, sound, lighting, and even morale.

Bad locations add stress. Great ones add production value.

So take the time. Scout deeply. Ask tough questions. Think through every angle, visually and logistically. When in doubt, let a pro guide you through it.

In Colorado and beyond, the perfect location isn’t just out there. It’s waiting for the right team to find it and bring it to life.

Selecting the right location is the first step on the road to a successful shoot.

From Colorado to Utah, from Wyoming to New Mexico, our team of experienced Location Scouts has travelled all across the Rocky Mountain West uncovering visually stunning and unique locations. We also represent a variety of unique locations in Colorado, from homes and ranches to museums and restaurants. If you need a Location Scout on your next shoot, drop us a line.