Scouting Services

scoutfriendly

For all inquiries, please contact me at nycscout@gmail.com.

I work as a professional movie scout in New York City and have literally thousands of ready-to-go rental-friendly locations on file, from office spaces and apartments to castles and abandoned warehouses.

How it works:

I charge a day rate for my services. This fee includes:

  • sending full galleries of rental-friendly options
  • preliminarily reclearing venues
  • providing contact info for you to negotiate directly with the property owners
  • reshooting venues
  • research
  • scouting new options

My rate is on a sliding scale and based on project size.

A note regarding typical NYC rental fees:

The approximate going rate for a 12-hour venue rental in New York City for filming is “a few thousand.” There’s wiggle room in this – sometimes, it’s “a couple thousand,” sometimes, it’s much, much more. If you’re in that ballpark, I can most likely find something that works for you. Unfortunately, if you’re below the “couple thousand” ballpark, I unfortunately won’t be able to help. It simply wouldn’t be worth your time to hire me to provide locations, only to have all of them ask for a fee outside your budget.

Note: e-mails that do not include a budget will not be answered.

65 thoughts on “Scouting Services”

  1. Jesse

    Hi scoutingny! I don’t know if this would interest to you, but it is definitely unique. This should experienced at night, because you can’t see it during the day. On the west side of the Park Avenue sidewalk, between 36th and 37th street there is a small construction crew. I don’t know what they are working on, but I’m pretty sure its a ventilation shaft for the LIRR connection to GCT. When you are walking on the grate look down. You will see below your feet, a shaft nearly as wide as the sidewalk which goes down at least 15-20 stories, much farther down than any subway tunnel. This picture does not do it justice but, this thing is friggin’ HUGE and friggin’ DEEP! It is a truly unnerving experience. When I was walking on it tonight it was shaking. I can compare it to looking down the sears tower skydeck. http://i.imgur.com/zDBGr.jpg

    Reply
  3. Teresa Schaeffer

    I read your story about the beautiful dog you found. Please, please do not send it to a kill shelter. There is a facility in Middletown NY called Pets Alive (petsalive.com). They rehabilitate dogs and have a no kill policy. They will keep the animal for its entire life if they have to. Please call them at (845) 386-9738 and ask to speak to Trudy. They save dogs from high kill shelters in the south as well as in Puerto Rico at a place called Dead Dog Beach. They are an absolutely wonderful organization. I am sure this dog is adoptable from what you have described.

    Reply
  4. Danielle Germano

    After reading the response people had to helping the beautiful pit; I was hoping maybe someone could help….. Do you know anyone that would be interested in adopting a 15 year old 5lb female cat ? Her name is Maggie. I rescued her from being euthanized. She has a hyper-thyroid and I will pay for her meds and the procedure she needs with my vet to repair her thyroid. I wil even take her to the vet for her appointments. She does not get along with other cats or she would live with me; we tried.
    She is very loving and we bonded very fast. She is staying at my vets until I find her a home. I visit her everyday. Maggie likes dogs and people; she needs someone she can cuddle up to. Her previous home life was not good.
    I can send photos if you think you know anyone…. I’m heartbroken.
    If you have any ideas, i will set up a special email for Maggie.

    Reply
  6. Thomas Montoya

    Hi Scout

    My GF who was born in New York turned me on to your site I LOVE it. I was born and raised in Texas but have such a fascination for New York. My job requires me to be on Google maps and Bing maps all the time. I often just take cyber vacation and look around. Have you blogged on the Brother Islands?? I am so curios about them from what I see in the satellite views. Also in the end of Gangs of New York they show the graves of the people who we involved in the early early years. Does such a place exist? Oh and I plan to donate as soon as possible to your movie. Kind of on a bad luck streak lately got robbed a month a go and also got a DWI this weekend. Your site helps get my mind off of those things. Thanks!

    Thank you,

    Thomas Montoya

    Reply
  8. shantytramp

    I went to St. Ann’s in Brooklyn Heights (back in the 70’s). Since you like scouting old schools, see if you can tour St. Ann’s. It used to be some sort of affluent “gentlemen’s club” with old bowling alleys, a pool, etc. in the “sub sub sub” basement. Students weren’t allowed down there (probably insurance issues), but it would be great to see what’s left on your site.

    Reply
  9. Tom Lorch

    I have 4 houses,a garage apt.,and a duplex all adjacent on 1/2 block in north Florida. They are all built in the forties and restored. Thinking they would be a perfect location for a movie set in that era. Is there a site you can post something like that for scouts?
    Saw you on CBS Sunday Morning. You were great,good job.

    Reply
  10. Sebby

    Where did you get the name “Sebby’s House of Subs”? Sebby is a distinct name taken from a region/town in Norway. A widow and her 11 children came from Norway in the mid 1800’s, changed their name to Sebby when they landed in America, and settled in northern IL.

    Reply
  11. wayne

    hey to scouting ny.i live in ohio but have traveled extensively and have experience scouting locations.just about anything you need for a shoot(waterfront,warehouse,courtroom,caves,cliffs,islands,list goes on and on).have people and locations all over u.s. and canada. check me out on I.M.D.B. reply any need to email.thanks,wayne

    Reply
  12. Stef

    Hi everyone, Im an NYU student and Im going insane trying to find a crucial locations.
    The first is a simple big bathroom. I know it sounds easier then it actually is, but everyone I know is either in a dorm or has a LES apartment with a tiny bathroom.
    The entire film will be shot in the bathroom, so if you please know of anything or anyone willing to help us out for a couple of days shooting, you would be amazing and we could start talking more in depth about the shoot.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  13. P Balsam

    You’ve managed to educate and uncover so many hidden treasures in NY and save a life!! Awesome and inspiring. As soon as that tax return comes back I’ll make a donation to your film fund. Keep up the great work!

    Reply
  14. Francine Gray

    Just FYI, you might check out a strange building with strange rooftop in Queens located on Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Village, mostly housing the machine warehouse of the Board of Elections. It’s across from a sizeable cemetery and on an “M” train stop. At first glance looks like nothing much, appearing smaller from the outside, while it’s really huge with long, turning hallways and plenty of room to set up. Building’s likely owned by the City of New York with a police training facility and municipal records storage area, although there’s a department store inside too!

    To get to the actual warehouse, you need to take a long, claustrophic escalator to the roof, then cross over to a tiny guarded “tower” to take a claustrophic elevator down into the bowels of the warehouse. The roof is a parking garage as well, and looking across you see the Manhattan skyline. There are many weird angles in and out including steep ramp areas, with good sky shots.

    You’ll like the roof and the spooky configurations deep in the warehouse and surrounding areas, especially at night, great for a wild chase scene … frankly, whole place was so unnerving that I couldn’t wait to get out. Best part was their bathrooms & cafeteria! Though it’s a municipal facility, the Board of Elections is always looking for funds, so they might be amenable to lending their part out for a fee during election downtimes, such as before August or September when they get very busy.

    Reply
  15. Rick

    Have a 200ft smoke stacks (chimney). If any movie producers are scouting for a smoke stacks to be dismantle, it is available. The chimney is located at Long Island City, NY.

    Reply
  17. susie larsen

    I was wondering if you had ever gone to the Sisters of mercy orphanage on 10? or 12th ave in Brooklyn…I was there as a child and know what a spooky building that is… if you have gone I would love to see pictures! your work is so interesting!

    Reply
  18. Marianne Gillette

    YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT THE HIDDEN CITY HALL ART DECO SUBWAY STOP!

    If you ride the 6 train to the end of the line and get off at the Brooklyn Bridge stop, you’re missing out on something incredible. As the train loops around to go back uptown, it passes through an abandoned and beautifully preserved City Hall station from 1904.

    The city closed the station in 1945, mostly because at its height only 600 people a day used it, and because the loop created an unsafe gap at the platform. In 1995 the city vowed to restore the site and turn it into a part of the transit museum, but those plans were scrapped years later.

    The station is still not open to the public, but there’s a trick you can use to see it for yourself. Until recently the MTA would force passengers to get off before the train made the loop, but now passengers are allowed to stay on. So the next time you reach the end of the line, keep going. And check out these amazing photos courtesy of John-Paul Palescandolo and Eric Kazmirek.

    Reply
  22. Maryann

    I was just rewatching Godspell – I had forgotten how many places in the city that movie used. I grew up here so I knew most of them, one eluded me very tall stone arches looks like an underpass uptown. Could not place it. It might make a movie worthy of your analysis.

    Reply
  23. Dave Frieder

    Hi! Great article on Titanic. I have been very interested in the ship ship since 1966 when it was portrayed in the FIRST episode of Time Tunnel. I am personally good friends with Ken Marschall, the marine artist. As you might know he has worked with Jim Cameron and Bob Ballard whom I have met twice. I would like to possible go on the tour but my busy schedule prohibits that. Cheers!

    Reply
  24. Zippy Mack

    Is the Mail Pouch building still standing in Dover? It is (was) a large building witb a black wall at the end that had a Mail Pouch and other advertising signs on it.

    Zip

    Reply
  26. Lifesart

    Suggestion – Have you ever scouted Creedmoor Psychatric in Queens? I’m referring to the part between Winchester Blvd and Hillside Avenue. I believe most of the buildings in that section are used for community activities now (like SNAP – “Services Now for Adult Persons” – which is a Senior Center). The buildings are rather incredible and I have always wanted to see more of them. (I live nearby and my father-in-law went to the Senior Center while he was alive.)
    Keep up the great blog!

    Reply
  27. David Bailey

    Tell us about the movie you want to make. $15,000 might get you a couple of minutes of finished product.

    Reply

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  31. Erica Kaponya

    I am reaching out in inquiry for support in securing an Abandon Asylum in NY for venue rental.

    GMR Marketing on behalf of our client are looking for a venue to shoot a film in an abandon asylum / hospital type setting in September-October 2012 timeframe. Do you have any recommendations and contact information so we can check on availability and per day venue rental cost?

    -Erica

    Reply
  32. Lumicite

    Why has no one considered using Castle Williams on Governor’s Island for a film. I was was just there on Saturday, what a great and spooky place for a prison scene.

    Reply
  34. GEORGE

    You did a nice piece on the MacDonald’s New Hyde Park. Been there
    and lived in the area years ago. One little tid bit about the property
    in the back. It may have horse ghosts on it. Back in the early 1950’s
    there was a big horse barn fire where a lot of horses died.

    Reply
  35. Michael Gough

    Hi Scout,

    I am writing to compliment your Something Strange in Herald Square” for its excellent photos and text, and to ask a favor.

    I’m writing a book about the Gordon Bennett Air Races, 1909-13 and 20. Right now, I introduce the book with a short chapter about the James Gordon Bennetts Memorial, and I would like to use one of your photos of an owl with lighted eyes in it

    The book is being written on spec and there’s no guarantee of publication, but my book about the Pulitzer Air Races (1920-25) in press, and it’ll be out in summer. If that book has any success at all, I think I have a good chance to get the Gordon Bennett book accepted.

    Because I have no advance and no expectation of any “real” money from the Gordon Bennett book, I would like to use you photo for free. I see, however, that you are looking for money to make your film, and I understand that you may want to charge me. If that’s the case, what would be the cost?

    Would it be possible for you to send me a hi-res copy of one of the owls now at no cost with the understanding that I will pay you upon the book’s acceptance? (I’m a trustworthy guy.)

    T
    Happy Holidays and I look forward to hearing from you,
    Mike Gough
    301 229 3532

    Reply
  38. Chris Boyer

    Hey Scout,

    Big fan of your site (and I donated to your movie project!). I’ve been looking through your site and couldn’t find if you ever did a story of St. Ann’s Church, 120 E 12th St. I walked by it today on my way to the Strand, and immediately thought of your site. What an amazing facade of a church…and so misplaced.

    Keep up the great work!

    Reply

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  41. Randy

    I love this website! Spent hours on it when I should have been working! Thank you so much — I live in LA, am going to see if there is a similar scouting LA site…

    Reply
  42. Mary Attaway

    Hi,

    I am looking for a public bathroom space to film in this weekend (June 15th or 16th) in New York or New Jersey. I am looking for a very stereotypical bathroom with at least 3 stalls and a few mirrors. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Best,

    Mary

    Reply
  43. Alex

    Hello,

    This is a great blog site. It’s such an interesting read about landmarks and famous locations. I would love to explore the areas you have visited yourself. Keep up the great work and I look forward to more posts.

    Reply
  44. Jason Castlebury

    Nice pictures of Queens Elks Lodge!

    But, can any one find more better pictures

    of New York Elks Lodge #1 in New York City??

    Especially the huge Lodge Room! Can any one help me

    with this?

    The Elks started in New York City. Why isn’t their more

    pictures of the New York Elks lodge #1??????

    Reply
  46. Sean

    Hey

    I read on gizmodo.com.au that they’re restoring the kings theatre in Flatbush Brooklyn back to its full 1920’s glory.

    A place to check out if you haven’t already…?

    I’d link to the article but my ipad won’t select the whole link at the moment right now…

    Cheers
    Sean
    Perth Australia

    Reply
  47. Larry Dawson

    I have to state that I truly envy your tasks. I was born in NYC, but never actually resided there. But I still think of it as home.

    Reply
  48. Brook Packard

    525 Main Street in New Rochelle is the site of I.B. Cohen’s clothing store. The interior is amazing – a perfect 1960s or earlier store interior and it is HUGE. Mr. Cohen will give you the history of the store and then some.

    Reply
  52. Chris Virgos

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  53. John DeAngelis

    Loved your report on the Brooklyn Paramount. If you go to Google Images and do a search for Buddy Holly & The Crickets, you’ll see a photo of the band taken on the rooftop of the Paramount. The backdrop is a brick wall and a ladder.

    Reply
  54. John DeAngelis

    More Buddy Holly info. The cover of the “Buddy Holly & The Chirping Crickets” album was also taken on the roof of the Paramount, but all you can see is blue sky in the background. The band is wearing the same outfits as in the pther photo taken with the brick wall as backdrop.

    Reply
  55. Mauro Brattoli

    Hi Nick,
    Looked at your website. Enjoyed the piece you did with Anthony Mason. I am interested in having you look and take photos of my house for possible film and photo shoots. Please let me know. I live in Douglaston, NY .. A spacious waterfront home for great interiors and exteriors.

    Thanks,

    Mauro

    Reply
  56. Sandi

    I just wanted to thank you for the pictures of this cemetery. Ephraim Hart was my 5th great grandfather and I have been wanting a picture of his headstone. You have supplied me that and I am greatful. I hope to someday make it back to NY and visit the cemetery. Thank you again. Sandi

    Reply
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  61. Ayesha

    You did a pleasant piece on the MacDonald’s New Hyde Park. Been there what’s more, lived in the territory years back. One little tid bit about the property in the back. It might have horse apparitions on it. Back in the mid 1950’s there was a major stallion animal dwellingplace fire where a considerable measure of steeds passed on.

    Reply

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