Rules to Live By, When Your Home Lands a Starring Role

Each year, film, TV and advertising production companies spend an estimated $500 million for location expenses in L.A., says Entertainment Industry Development Corp. spokesman Morrie Goldman.

If you want to promote your residence or place of business, the company provides a free how-to booklet titled “Make Your Property a Star,” which you can obtain by calling (323) 957-1000, or logging on to https://www.eidc.com and clicking on “public information.”

Should Hollywood come knocking at your door, here’s what to look out for, according to Russ Fega, location manager for “I Am Sam.”

* Realize that the location manager takes care of whatever happens, so ask for references beforehand. I didn’t, only to return to my “restored” apartment the day after the shooting to find nearly everything still in packing boxes and my TV and stereo unhooked amid a maze of wires. A call to Fega resulted in two crew members coming over and restoring my apartment within 24 hours. A less reputable individual could easily have left me hanging.

* Many companies will pay you in full when you sign the contract. In my case, the company’s travel agent asked me for a list of my preferred local hotels and then booked and charged the hotel rooms directly to the company. I paid for meals, drinks and other incidentals, and was reimbursed within a few days by the production company.

* If you own your property, ask for a copy of the production company’s insurance certificate and make sure you are free of liability should, say, a crew member trip in your home. (I’m a tenant in a rental building; my landlord got that certificate.)

* Ask for a deposit to cover breakable items. Should no major damage occur (none did in my case), be prepared to refund the deposit, usually within five days.