Last year, the Malibu City Council enacted a provision that prohibits filming after 10 p.m. unless the production company receives unanimous consent from those living within a 500-foot radius of the shoot. Other communities are monitoring the number of film shoots and keeping track of residents' complaints.
Location managers work to appease neighbors' concerns, often providing cash stipends for inconveniences. Neighbors can often earn money letting the crew store lights or extra equipment on their property, or serving as a place for the extras to hang out. Donations might also be made to the area community or homeowners association.
The location manager will arrange for all city permits and have signs posted in advance that indicate any parking restrictions during the shoot.
Homeowners who don't want their first shoot to be their last will do what it takes to stay in the neighbors' good graces. After a long shoot, Hennesy likes to thank her neighbors for their patience by sending them boxes of See's Candies with notes of appreciation.
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Stand by as your house is transformed
The studio art department will descend on the house to dress it for the production. Clothing designer Melissa Garsen's house near downtown Los Angeles has been featured on the television shows "Alias," "The West Wing" and "Six Feet Under," as well as in many commercials and feature films. She has seen her living room transformed into a hooker's boudoir, a house in West Africa, and even Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer's bedroom. "I'm never worried about what a film crew does to my house," Garsen said. "I admire their professionalism, and I know they'll put everything back in place after the shoot."
Laura Meyers is a longtime activist in the historic West Adams district, an area of Los Angeles that sees a lot of film production. Over the years, she has worked to define the important role of site representative. "The site rep acts as a liaison between the homeowner and the production company," Meyers said. "A good site rep will make sure that the homeowners are comfortable with what's happening on the set while also making sure that the filming goes smoothly."
One perk of the process may also pose a risk to homeowners' waistlines. Film and television shoots often provide lavishly catered meals. Craft services may offer an omelet station on the front lawn in the morning, Cajun shrimp and hot fudge sundaes at noon, and lobster tails or beef tenderloin for dinner.
After shooting is completed, the crew will strike the set and do whatever it takes to restore the house to its pre-filming state. In addition to their fee, homeowners may benefit from upgrades such as refinished woodwork or a new paint job.
In the end, your house may not be the only one to catch the showbiz bug. Garsen's 5-year-old twins, Lucas and Camille, have seen film crews come and go since they were born. Lucas had barely begun putting sentences together when he ran up to his mother during a shoot and said, "I'm hungry, Mommy, where is craft services?"
