Film Locations Glossary
Holding area
What is a holding area?
A holding area is any place where people or vehicles wait out of shot: background performers, picture cars, animals, or crew whose department is not currently working.
Locations has to find it within reach of set but outside frame and earshot. On a constrained urban location, holding is frequently the constraint that decides how many background performers a scene can actually carry.
Example
Nine picture cars, two horses, and 40 background performers all need holding within two minutes of set and outside frame and earshot. On a constrained street that is one car park, and it decides how many of each the scene can carry.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
Found and secured by locations, often as a separate site with its own agreement.
Common mistake
Finding holding within reach of set but inside earshot. A held horse, a running picture car, or forty background performers are all audible in the take.
Related questions
- What needs a holding area at a location?
- Background performers, picture cars, animals, and any department not currently working, all kept out of frame and out of earshot.
- How does holding limit a scene?
- On a constrained location it caps how many background performers or vehicles a scene can carry, regardless of what the script describes.