How to Choose a House Studio in Tokyo — 8 Things to Check on the Scout

House-studio photos are taken at the best hour from the best angle. So on the scout, go only for what the photos cannot show.

Eight things to check

1. Light direction and time — which way the windows face and where the sun is at your shoot time. Many studios are a different room in the morning and the afternoon.
2. Power — number and position of outlets, and the total load allowed. If you light, ask where the breaker is.
3. Sound — road, rail, next door. If you record sound on set, scout on a weekday at noon. Weekend quiet proves nothing.
4. Load-in route — elevator yes/no and its size, stair width, how long a vehicle can stand. Big gear dies here.
5. Parking — how many cars, for how long, distance to the nearest coin parking.
6. Green room and water — a place to change, do makeup and wait, and how many toilets. On big days this sets the pace of the whole set.
7. How hours are counted — is load-in and strike inside your slot; overtime in what increments and at what rate (always confirm the numbers directly).
8. Prohibitions — fire, smoke, water, shoes, nails, food. If one thing your film needs is banned, drop the place.

How to ask

Not "can we do X?" but "we plan to do X — are there conditions?" gets specific answers. Managers are used to questions framed around shooting.

Compare candidates side by side

CREA's location book lets you line up house studios, warehouses and heritage houses by power, parking, natural light and permit notes. Knock out half of the eight items there before the scout, and spend the scout on the other half.

Choose the interior from photos and the set from the scout. Get the order right and on the day you only have to watch the light.