Shooting content in hotels

[deanb]

I have never shot any content in a hotel room, but it is getting close to where I am about to start doing it. I know that I will need to keep it as hush hush as possible, and the question is, how the fuck do I get all of the equipment in without looking completely obvious?

[basschick]

don't bring more than will fit in a suitcase or two. we got small, portable lights capable of delivering up to 2000 watts plus a few other thinngs packed into a single large rolling suitcase. put the rest of what you need and your camcorder in a second suitcase and voila! you're just a guy with 2 suitcases.

you'll probably want to keep anything with the hotel name or other identifying marks out of your shots.

and if you have many guys come up to the room, best to make sure you're in a hotel that won't care. some hotels are nosy!

[attis]

basschick has pointed out some very good things. Sometimes I rent the room for a few hours only during the day and I can get special rates. Usually I tell them that we are doing some interviews for a movie or commercial production with amateur actors. And I let them show me different rooms as well, so I can choose one at the end of a floor and one where it is no problem if you can see flash lights from outside. A small tip for the person behind the desk is always quite helpful to thank them for the extra efforts to find me the right room.

[Trixie]

basschick has pointed out some very good things. Sometimes I rent the room for a few hours only during the day and I can get special rates. Usually I tell them that we are doing some interviews for a movie or commercial production with amateur actors. And I let them show me different rooms as well, so I can choose one at the end of a floor and one where it is no problem if you can see flash lights from outside. A small tip for the person behind the desk is always quite helpful to thank them for the extra efforts to find me the right room.

Whoah! That's a bold/smart approach . . . I'm assuming that might work better in the LA area than near Seattle or maybe I'm wrong. ?

[Shima]

Big hotels don't give a flying flip if you will carry a few big cases. And even if they ask - you are conducting a freaking interview for a movie, so what?

[deanb]

Thanks for the tips guys! Definately some good advice

[gaybucks_chip]

The thing to remember is... most likely their first thought if you bring bunch of gear in will *not* be "Oh, I bet he's shooting porn." More likely "Oh, he's probably an indie filmmaker."

Now... if you bring in a bunch of gear and a gaggle of cute guys who are 18-22 and all look gay... you're probably going to pique somebody's suspicions. So the solution is...

1. Larger hotel where individual guests coming in aren't as readily noticed.

2. If at a smaller hotel, have some of the guys wait in the car for like 5 minutes, then mosey in, one at a time, after you've gone in.

3. Get a hotel with alternate cardkey-access entry points and use them.

All of these assume you haven't made a deal on the up-and-up with the hotel; a lot of hotels are surprisingly OK and nonjudgemental about it as long as their individual property isn't identifiable (or, in the case of the Blue Moon and other places like it, as long as the hotel *is* identifiable.)

[Alex_Manifest_M]

Dean, I agree it is the traffic in and out that can cause the biggest problem. In some new boutique hotels, the stay includes access to a club in the hotel and they can be very particular about the numbers of people coming and going. Be certain to remove all materials identifying the hotel from your shooting area and keep the noise down. I have found that it is easier to arrive with a number of pelican cases and be generous in tipping the valet, bellman and housekeeping. Things will go smoothly. A two bedroom suite will give you five great areas with different backgrounds in which to shoot. We have actually had more difficulty in the 'down and dirty' motels then in the nice places. Any place that is less than $30 in a city is pretty 'atmospheric' :groovy:

[MyMuscleCash]

when i worked for real nationwide-tv, not porn, i sometimes stayed in hotels and took all the equipment with me in the room (because i don't want it to be stolen from the car**) and they never looked at me or asked questions. So, try to make it look, like you are not going to shoot in the room, just as if you are a TV production company and you just stay there. Maybe tell the people at check, that you are a TV producer for whatever station and ask them, what is a good spot in town to shoot.
When we were in London in April, we stayed in a very small hotel, and we shot mostly outsite the hotel, and we always carried the camera outsite very obvious so they always thought, we only shoot outsite. Try to make it like that. And stay in big hotels, so that they will not say anything.

[markwolff]

I have been shooting in hotels around the world for about 8 years now and never had a problem. I can carry my cameras in one bag. I reccommend that you stay in 4 or 5 star properties, first off it will make the scene you are shooting look better, and as other people have said the better hotels don't ask any questions, besides i sleep in the room when i am finished shooting and i like the high thread count sheets on my skin. Just keep the noise down and try and limit each day to shooting only 1 or 2 models and you will have no problems.

[TropixxxStudios]

Two years ago we were shooting a spanking video at a certain Vegas Strip property. It was 4:00 in the afternoon.

About 5 minutes into the spanking, there was a knock on the door.

The man asked if I could please discipline my boyfriend another time...as he was trying to sleep, and was in the room next to mine.

Apart from that one time, we have filmed in NUMEROUS hotels...both nice and seedy....and never had a problem...EXCEPT IN LA.

In LA the clerk at Holiday Inn Express demanded to see our film permit after our very bright lights could be seen through the curtains.

We simply moved up LaBrea to some rent by the hour joint and finished the clip.

[gaybucks_chip]

Apart from that one time, we have filmed in NUMEROUS hotels...both nice and seedy....and never had a problem...EXCEPT IN LA.

In LA the clerk at Holiday Inn Express demanded to see our film permit after our very bright lights could be seen through the curtains.

Only in LA.

Sounds like you had a frustrated director or actor on your hands

[krunnch]

Yah I've never had any problem. All my stuff is in roller suitcases so I'm guessing they can't tell anyway.

Speakin' of hotels, Mark ... :-)

[SPACE GLIDER]

I have never shot any content in a hotel room, but it is getting close to where I am about to start doing it. I know that I will need to keep it as hush hush as possible, and the question is, how the fuck do I get all of the equipment in without looking completely obvious?

I helped someone who did that. He rented one room for equipment and another for the shoot. Felt really exciting because it was so secretive. This wasn't for porn either. He was filming a short to use as a visual resume' of sorts. No one gave us a problem.

[bregot]

Well, I can't believe what I see here... Is it really such a big problem on Ur end?

Did U ever see in a hotel rules "U are not allowed to shoot gay porn in our hotel?"

When I shoot in hotels I just don't care what they see or think. Since I'm not doing anything illegal -> why should I bother? Definitely not their business! In fact the attitude like this helps a lot. I have some checked places in 15 biggest cities around my country and receptionists already know me and sometimes recognise me: "The biggest room as usual?".

But sometimes it may look funny ;-D A 36 yo guy enters the room with 18 yo boy. The only luggage they have is a huge bag (tripods+lighting, but nobody knows about it). Two-four hours later we leave, saying to the lady in the reception: "Very nice room, see U next time!". Big smiles on our faces (the boy has the money, I have the materials)!