In Advisor Studio sessions, film and television industry professionals share field experiences and insights into their specific areas of craft, including writing, directing, and producing for TV and film. 

You know the maxim: Location, location, location. It’s the undisputed rule for real estate, but in the fast-paced world of film and television, choosing the right spot is a critical skill that can make or break your production. Beyond identifying a space that serves your story creatively, there are countless practical, aesthetic, and logistical factors to consider before signing a location agreement. 

In this Advisor Studio session, veteran producer and location scout Gerry Kim will explore how to scout with both artistry and strategy. Kim will reveal how to evaluate a location’s visual potential, understand the technical challenges it presents, and anticipate the real-world constraints that shape production. Kim has worked on indie films and big-budget television series alike. His presentation will reveal the best practices for a location scout, no matter the size of the project. 

Kim has produced independent films across the world, including I’m No Longer Here, Across the Sea, and the documentary To Be Takei, which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. He has served as a location scout on Amazon’s Hunters and Mozart in the Jungle, CBS’s The Equalizer, HBO’s Divorce, and USA Network’s The Sinner.

Whether you’re working on a scrappy indie film or a major studio project, this presentation will leave you with practical insights on how to find and secure locations like a pro. 

Topics include:

• Location department key titles and roles
• The process of finding the right location
• The ins and outs of location agreements
• Navigating insurance requirements for a location
• Working with film commissions
• Key questions to ask before securing your location
• Working with location brokers or real estate agents
• Consulting rental space websites
• Wrapping out a location post-shoot

If you would benefit from an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please complete this form, contact us at (435) 776-7790, or email us at accessibility@sundance.org to discuss your specific requests. Every effort will be made to accommodate advance requests; however, requests made within 5 days of the event may not be guaranteed.

A recording of this Advisor Studio will be posted to Sundance Collab on the first business day after the live event. Once it is posted, all registered attendees will find the recording in the “Purchases” section of their account.