Film Locations Glossary
Tech scout
What is a tech scout?
Also called technical scout, or technical recce.
A tech scout is the final location visit before shooting, attended by the department heads, where the plan is fixed: camera positions, lighting, power, rigging, parking, access, safety, and the order of the day.
It is the meeting that converts a location into a shootable plan, and skipping or shortening it moves the same conversations onto the shooting day at a much higher hourly cost. Its output is notes every department works from.
Example
Department heads walk the location and fix camera positions, the lighting plan, power, rigging, the truck line, parking, lockup count, and the order of the day. Shortening it moves the same conversations onto the shoot day at a much higher hourly rate.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
The last location visit before shooting, and the source of the plan every department works from.
Common mistake
Shortening the tech scout to save a prep day. The same conversations then happen on the shooting day, with the whole unit standing by at a much higher hourly rate.
Related questions
- What happens at a tech scout?
- Department heads walk the location and fix camera positions, lighting, power, rigging, parking, access, safety, and the order of the day.
- Who attends a tech scout?
- The director, DP, first AD, gaffer, key grip, production designer, locations, transportation, sound, and any department with a rigging or access problem.