Location scouts and managers working in New Jersey are increasingly partnering with film location brokerages to access commercial and institutional properties that are difficult or impossible to reach through cold outreach. As NJ film production has grown — the state generated an estimated $800 million in film-related economic activity in 2025 — the demand for unique, camera-ready spaces has outpaced the supply of properties that scouts can access on their own.
What Is a Film Location Brokerage?
A film location brokerage is a company that builds and maintains direct relationships with property owners and then connects those properties with film and television productions. Unlike a listing website where anyone can upload photos, a brokerage has personally scouted, photographed, and cultivated a relationship with every property in its database.
The key difference is access. A brokerage does not just have photos of a building — it has a direct line to the decision-maker who can say yes.
Why Can’t Scouts Access These Properties Directly?
Many of the most visually compelling properties in New Jersey are controlled by owners or management companies that do not respond to cold emails or phone calls from unfamiliar production contacts. Corporate and institutional property owners often have legal teams that are cautious about liability. Building managers may not have the authority to approve filming without multiple levels of sign-off. Many property owners have never hosted a production before and do not understand the process.
For a scout working under tight deadlines, spending days trying to get past a gatekeeper is not viable. A brokerage that already has the owner’s trust can make an introduction in hours instead of weeks. For a detailed look at the types of properties that require brokerage access, see The NJ Filming Locations Scouts Can’t Find on Their Own.
How Does a Location Brokerage Work with Scouts?
A good brokerage works alongside scouts — not in place of them. The scout’s job is creative: finding the right look for the director’s vision. The brokerage’s job is access and coordination: opening the door, managing the owner relationship, and keeping both sides comfortable throughout the process.
1. The scout reaches out with a need. This could be a specific property they cannot access, or a general request like “I need a modern corporate lobby within 30 miles of Manhattan.”
2. The brokerage matches properties from its database. Every property has already been vetted and the owner has agreed in principle to host productions.
3. The brokerage manages the owner from inquiry through wrap. Property owners often get nervous or confused at various stages. The brokerage stays in constant communication, answering questions and resolving concerns so the scout can focus on creative work.
4. The scout gets access without friction. By the time a scout walks into the property, the owner is informed, comfortable, and cooperative. For an in-depth look at how this plays out, read Inside a Film Location Booking: What Happens from First Call to Wrap Day.
Does It Cost the Scout Anything?
No. At Reset Locations, there is zero cost to the production side. We charge a commission percentage to the property owner, not to the scout, location manager, or production company. The production’s budget is not affected.
What Should a Scout Look for in a Brokerage Partner?
Real relationships, not scraped listings. Every property should be one the brokerage has personally scouted with a direct relationship to the decision-maker.
Owner management capability. The brokerage should handle nervous or inexperienced property owners so the scout does not have to. For more on how this works in practice, read How a Location Brokerage Makes Your Job Easier, Not Harder.
Fast response times. Film production moves fast. A brokerage that takes three days to respond is not useful.
No cost to the production. The best brokerages earn their commission from the property owner.
Tri-state coverage. With NJ tax credits driving production growth, having a brokerage that covers the full NJ/NY/PA tri-state area is increasingly important.
How Reset Locations Works with Scouts and Location Managers
Reset Locations is a film location brokerage based in the NJ/NY tri-state area. Scouts and location managers who work with us get access to our full property database at no cost. We handle the owner relationship from first contact through wrap day.
If you are a location scout or manager working in the tri-state area, reach out at info@resetlocations.com or call (917) 757-0841. No cost, no commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do location scouts have to pay to use Reset Locations?
No. Reset Locations charges a commission to the property owner only. There is zero cost to scouts, location managers, or production companies.
How is a film location brokerage different from a listing website?
A listing website allows anyone to upload photos. A brokerage has personally scouted every property and maintains a direct relationship with the decision-maker who controls access.
What areas does Reset Locations cover?
Reset Locations covers the NJ/NY/PA tri-state area, with a strong focus on properties within the IATSE/DGA and SAG-AFTRA union zones.
Does Reset Locations replace the role of a location scout?
No. We work alongside scouts, not in place of them. Our role is to provide access to hard-to-reach properties and manage the owner relationship so scouts can focus on the creative work.
Related Articles
How a Location Brokerage Makes Your Job Easier, Not Harder
The NJ Filming Locations Scouts Can’t Find on Their Own
Pingback: cyclosporine tablet cost
Pingback: orlistat used for
Pingback: orlistat dosage
Pingback: pepcid 20 bid
Pingback: tadalafil price walmart