Production Trailers
A film shoot rolling into town is sure to turn some heads, and it will always bring with it some common sights for locals to see. Production assistants will mill about on headsets, often asking pedestrians to pause so that a shot may finish before crossing the street. Costumed actors and extras will populate a street that will likely look nothing like it does in normal live – facades will cover buildings and transform the town into something new. Wires will run all over the streets, hooked up to generators, which will hum in the distance as, where the action is happening, crew members gather around watching the magic happen.
Meanwhile, a short distance from all of this activity, there will be a row of trailers. Depending on how big the film shoot is this lineup of vehicles could seem endless. A sea of buses and RVs lined up perfectly. Each one had a small piece of paper taped to the door. The paper noted which star would rest between shots inside.
The trailer has long been a symbol of stardom – something young actors aspire to at the start of their careers. However, from a production standpoint, the trailer is incredibly useful and practical. Productions would face many more logistics to manage at each location shoot. This would be especially true without trailers as an option.
Production trailers offer a wide range of amenities, including a bathroom, kitchen, sitting area, bedroom, and changing room. Depending on a production’s particular needs, different-sized vehicles are available, thus allowing the production to choose which amenities to use. These trailers provide a place for talent to recharge between scenes. In some cases, this break can last an extensive period of time.
In many cases, contracts require that the star of a film has a dedicated space. He/She uses the space between setups and shots. This arrangement ensures the star has a place to rest, handle personal business, and prepare for their scenes. Without this dedicated space, the star would quickly tire, diminishing his or her performance. The production trailer is as much a necessity for the production as it is for the star himself or herself.
Production trailer rentals are common across the United States. As expected, they are especially popular in areas with frequent film production, like Los Angeles, New York, Georgia, and North Carolina. Rentals can be arranged for a day or the entire duration of a shoot. This depends on the production’s needs. For distance transportation, productions often keep the same trailers, even with significant travel between locations. In these cases, mileage is calculated, and a fuel surcharge is applied.