Film Unit Base and Parking: Transport Plans for Shoot Days
By Muhammad Wisal and Muhammad Ali / 6 min read
A film unit base is the area near your location where the production parks its vehicles and sets up support: equipment trucks, wardrobe and makeup, catering, toilets and crew parking. To plan unit base and parking, find a space close to set during scouting, get permission or permits to use it, map where every vehicle goes, plan how people get from parking to set, and put the map and directions on the call sheet.
What is a unit base in film production?
Unit base is the production's home on a shoot day: the place where vehicles park and departments work when they are not on set. The set is where the camera is. Unit base is where everything else waits, ideally within a short walk.
On a large production unit base might hold equipment trucks, a generator, cast trailers, a hair and makeup trailer, a wardrobe truck, toilets, catering and a dining area. On an indie shoot it might be two cars, a van and a borrowed garage. The job is the same at any size: keep vehicles and gear close to set without getting in the shot or in the way of neighbors.
Who plans unit base and parking?
The location manager usually finds and secures unit base and parking, often with the help of the production manager. The 1st AD agrees how far from set it can be, the department heads say what space they need, and a transport coordinator or captain, if you have one, plans vehicles and drivers. On small shoots one producer often does all of this, so start during location scouting, not the week before.
What does unit base need?
List what each department needs before you look for a space. Here is a typical list for a small shoot.
| Area | What it needs | Indie example |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment vehicles | Space close to set, room to unload, a clear path for carts | Grip and electric van parked at the curb nearest the house |
| Camera | A dry, shaded spot for cases and a loading table | Garage corner with a folding table |
| Hair, makeup and wardrobe | Power, light, mirrors, privacy, a place to hang costumes | Spare bedroom in the house next door, with permission |
| Catering and crafty | Tables, shade or shelter, trash bins | Pop-up tent on the driveway |
| Toilets | Access for everyone through the whole day | Location bathroom agreed with owner, or portable toilet |
| Generator | Far enough from set that sound is not affected | End of the side road, cable run along the curb |
| Crew parking | Enough spaces for everyone who drives | Church lot two blocks away, agreed for the shoot days |
| Cast holding | Somewhere quiet and comfortable to wait | Living room of the house next door |
How do you choose a unit base location?
Choose the closest space that is big enough, legal to use and does not block access for residents, businesses or emergency vehicles. Check these points on the tech scout:
- Distance. How long does it take to walk or carry equipment from base to set? Long walks cost time at every move.
- Surface and access. Can the vans get in and out? Is the ground firm and level, or will it turn to mud in the rain?
- Permission. Who owns the space, and do you have written permission for the dates and hours you need?
- Street rules. If you park on a public street, check whether you need parking permits or signs. In many cities this is part of the film permit, but it varies, so ask the local film office.
- Noise and light. Generators, slamming doors and work lights at night can bother neighbors and ruin sound on set.
- Toilets and power. Where are the nearest bathrooms and outlets you are allowed to use?
- Safety. Lighting for the walk to cars after dark, safe crossing points, and a clear route for an ambulance.
How do you plan crew parking?
Plan crew parking for the number of cars, not the number of people. Ask everyone how they are traveling, encourage carpools, and decide which vehicles must park at base (equipment, cast transport) and which go to the crew lot.
- Reserve the closest spots for working vehicles. Equipment vans and the cast car first, crew cars after.
- Use a remote lot when the street is tight. Run a shuttle or ask drivers to carpool from the lot.
- Mark the route. Use signs or arrows from the main road to the lot and from the lot to set.
- Keep the driveway and hydrants clear. Respect residents' parking and anything the permit or owner told you to keep clear.
- Plan for night wraps. Tired people driving home after a long day is a real risk. On night shoots, offer rides or nearby rest.
What does a parking and transport plan look like?
A parking and transport plan lists every vehicle, where it parks, and who drives it. Here is one for "The Hollow Oak", a short about a retired piano teacher, Marguerite, filmed in a house on a quiet residential street.
| Vehicle or group | Driver | Parks at | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grip and electric van | Gaffer | Curb outside 14 Linden Ave (permit signs) | 6:30 AM |
| Camera car | 1st AC | Location driveway | 6:45 AM |
| Art department van | Production designer | Curb outside 16 Linden Ave | 6:00 AM |
| Cast car | Production assistant | Picks up Marguerite's actor at 6:15 AM, parks at base | 7:00 AM |
| Crew cars (6) | Crew | St. Agnes church lot, 2 blocks east | 6:45 AM |
| Catering delivery | Caterer | Drop off at driveway only, no parking | 12:15 PM |
On the call sheet, this becomes a short note: "Unit base at 14 Linden Ave. Crew parking at St. Agnes church lot, 2 blocks east, 4 minute walk. No parking on Linden Ave." Add a simple map with base, set, parking and the nearest hospital.
What changes when you move locations?
When the unit moves to a second location in the same day, unit base and parking move too, and that takes time. Plan the new base, parking and route before the day, and give the driving order in advance. See company moves for how to schedule and run them.
What are common unit base and parking mistakes?
- Leaving parking until the week of the shoot.
- Parking crew cars on the street that appears in the shot.
- Blocking residents' driveways or a fire hydrant.
- No directions on the call sheet, so people circle the block and arrive late.
- A generator next to set, so sound picks it up.
- No plan for getting tired crew home after a late wrap.
Adding unit base and parking to call sheets in Lowerated
In Lowerated every location in your script sits on one map, with its scouting status, photos and notes tied to the scenes that shoot there. Keep your unit base and parking notes with the location. The call sheet for each day is then built from your schedule with call times, locations and crew filled in. Add the parking directions when you review it, and send it the night before.
The clip shows a call sheet built from the schedule, with call times, locations and crew filled in, reviewed and sent the night before.
FAQ
What is the difference between unit base and set?
Set is where you shoot. Unit base is where vehicles, departments, catering and holding areas sit, usually a short walk away.
Do I need a permit to park production vehicles on the street?
Often, especially in cities, and it is often handled through the film permit. Rules vary, so check with the local film office.
How far can unit base be from set?
As close as the space and the shot allow. A short walk is ideal. If base is far away, plan a shuttle and allow extra time for every move.
Who directs parking on the day?
Usually the locations team or a production assistant, who meets vehicles, points them to the right place and keeps access clear.
Key takeaways
- Unit base holds vehicles, departments, catering and holding, a short walk from set.
- Find base and parking during scouting and get written permission or permits.
- List every vehicle, its driver and where it parks.
- Keep working vehicles closest to set and crew cars in a separate lot.
- Put base, parking, directions and a map on every call sheet.
