Film cars

[Stevepolly]

Has anyone on here ever hired their classic car to a film company?
I have been approached to hire my car to a film company later in August, are there any do's or don'ts?
Apparently the car will not be driven apart from onto and off a set and they are picking it up and bringing it back over three days.
Any info would be good.
Cheers Steve.

[MysteryCar]

Send them pictures of the car so there is no dispute it is what is required. Be there before the director. Photograph car extensively at the venue before it is used. Be there all the time the car is used. Check thoroughly afterwards.

Allowed my Aston Martin to be used for a filmed advert. Venue a disused runway. Did not do any of the above, but after a day following the camera car closely, two lights were smashed and the front end needed a respray. The film company were really good though and even though they had left when I went to collect the car, agreed and did pay up with no issues whatsover.

Re correct car. They thought it was a different Aston...

[Turbobanana]

No practical knowledge I'm afraid Stave, but when I had my old SAAB 900 Convertible I responded to a request through the owners' club website from a filming company who wanted one to film in Yorkshire (quite a trek from Milton Keynes, but do-able).

I responded and said yes, you can use mine, but never had the courtesy of a response so I assume they found somebody else's car to use.

I'd be particularly keen to make sure the car is fully insured and ideally I'd want to be there to help with / supervise any driving, especially if the car is rare or fragile. Actors look good, but possibly don't have the required mechanical sympathy your P&J deserves.

[Old Merc]

Many years ago I was contacted, through my car club, by an agency who wanted a car like mine for a film shoot.
I delivered the car myself, looked after it, did some driving just up and down a road.



I had breakfast and lunch in their mobile unit, had a very interesting day watching it all. The skit with my car in on this TV program "Watson & Oliver" lasted less than 3 minutes.



I went home with a £500 fee.

[sortedcossie]

check your insurance, mine doesn't allow it.

I'd want it in view every second it's with them too.

[Woody.GT]

I've done lots of TV work with my cars. I've had a variety of experiences and everything can and will happen so be prepared. Every occasion will be different, sometimes you can take the car, sometimes they'll collect it, sometimes its gone for a number of days/ weeks, sometimes you can be present on set, sometimes not, sometimes they want to be able to drive it on or around set, sometimes its just static. I think you just need to set boundaries on what you're comfortable with and see if they can accept your terms. I was never fussed about going with the car or what it was being used for but always made sure it had a detailed set of pictures/ video of before and after. Lay out your expectations whether you're happy for someone to drive it on set or on road etc.
Mine have been in music videos (roof on my morris got torn), on antiques roadtrip, Fast and Furious set, The Car Years, TV and print adverts etc etc. Its a nice bit of history to add to the car if you're into that sort of thing.

[Sebring440]

Stevepolly said:

Has anyone on here ever hired their classic car to a film company?
I have been approached to hire my car to a film company later in August, are there any do's or don'ts?

Yes, don't do it.

Owners get carried away with the glamour of a "film company", a "film shoot", etc, etc. Just a load of grief. The "film company" will just treat your car like any other prop. Drop light units onto the bonnet, clamp go-pros onto the doors, scratching and denting. Pulling the door out past its stops to get that camera angle.

Just have nothing to do with it. Most classic car clubs are now aware of all this and will not pass on owners' details.

[Stevepolly]

Thanks for the replys,
I wasnt going to do it anyway as they said they wanted the car for a days static filming for which they offered £500!
At first I was interested but then they said they would pick the car up the day before and deliver back the day after, that's three days I said, but they was only paying for one day, as soon as I questioned this I got an email saying they had decided on a different car so mine wouldnt be needed,ha.
Steve.

[tog]

Stevepolly said:

Thanks for the replys,
I wasnt going to do it anyway as they said they wanted the car for a days static filming for which they offered £500!
At first I was interested but then they said they would pick the car up the day before and deliver back the day after, that's three days I said, but they was only paying for one day, as soon as I questioned this I got an email saying they had decided on a different car so mine wouldnt be needed,ha.
Steve.

I got approached by a film company wanting to hire my car and they also wanted it for one day filming but would need to collect and deliver it on non-shooting days. I offered to drive it to set as it was only an hour or so away, so they then paid me for my time too.

[ADJimbo]

I have a business which hires out processional funeral vehicles to Funeral Directors and we have done a lot of TV and Movie work in-and-amongst the daily hires / day jobs.

It’s very good money, prompt payment and I’ve never had a problem over the years I’ve done it. We transport the vehicles ourselves to shoot and then basically sit around being fed all day from on-location catering. If the vehicle is to be driven by an actor then the production companies are very, very well insured from the documents I’ve seen.