VIRGIN ATLANTIC IN LAS VEGAS

JAN 19 UPDATE

LOCATIONs

location bookings in progress:

1. FREMONT ST

We’ve submitted our application and are working with the permit office to facilitate what we need.

LOCATION & LICENSING AGREEMENT

“Any filming on the zipline (including the platform, riders, or filming from below) needs to be coordinated through us and included in the Fremont Street Experience location agreement, and the activity must still be reflected in our licensing and approvals.”

This means that Virgin will need to specify exactly where and how the content will be used in order to negotiate the appropriate licensing agreement and fees.

Q: Do we have the usage information on the images & video that we can share?
If we know the usage terms negotiated for talent we can share that same info.

THE CANOPY™

We do not allow filming of the top-of-the-hour Canopy™ shows, which run approximately from 6:00 PM–2:00 AM and last about 10 minutes.
All other Canopy™ content is produced in-house and is approved to film.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT RESTRICTIONS

Live music performances occur daily on Fremont Street stages. Recording audio or filming these performances requires written approval from band/tour management and the FSE Filming & Concert Coordinator.
Audio Cutoffs are subject to additional fees.
Band Buyouts are required to silence a live band’s audio.

STREET PERFORMERS

“We do not permit filming that features or highlights street performers. Street performers on Fremont Street are independently permitted through the City of Las Vegas, and we do not manage, book, promote, or coordinate them for filming or commercial use.”

As discussed, we will be presenting street performer options through other means in order to have more control over the quality of the acts.

HOTELS & CASINO EXTERIORS

The exteriors of Fremont Street–facing properties (including Fremont Casino) are covered under our licensing.

FEES

We have not been given an official quote yet because the fees and expenses all depend on a combination of:

• The usage and licensing agreements

• How many hours we want to be on site

• Our Slotzilla booking (how many models, trips back & forth, how long it needs to be booked out and the general public excluded, etc)

SLOTZILLA

SlotZilla offers two zipline experiences:

Zip Line
Launches at 77 feet high, spans 850 feet, and uses a seated harness.
This is 7 stories high and spans 2 city blocks.

Zoom Line:
Launches at 114 feet high, spans 1,700 feet, and uses a prone “superman” harness.
This is 11 stories high and spans 5 city blocks.

Filming Requirements:

• Pre-approval is required from the Fremont Street Film Coordinator and SlotZilla engineers.

This means we need to get clear on exactly how we’re going to capture everything and how long we will need to do it.

2. NEON MUSEUM

The Museum does not allow cameras, photo equipment, or video recording during regular operating hours, which means the only way to bring a production here is to book it out for a private photoshoot. No other visitors will be permitted in the space during our shoot, however they are very limited in the hours available for private bookings.

Q: Do we want to shoot here during the daytime or night time?
Shooting at night is subject to very restrictive scheduling, however it’s an amazing location to shoot at during the day (depending on creative direction).

the north gallery

RATES

A private photoshoot costs $1,500 per hour with a minimum 1hr booking

RUSH FEES

“A signed location release and final headcount are required at least two weeks prior to the shoot. Less than two weeks out will incur an additional RUSH fee.”

They have not specified what the rush fee is yet but we have missed the cut-off so will have to pay it.

3. red rock canyon

We’re in touch with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and have submitted a formal permit application.
They have acknowledged its receipt however have not gotten back to us yet due to MLK weekend.

Please note that due Trump’s budget cuts for federal agencies like BLM & the National Park Service, many staff have been fired and the ones remaining are overworked.
We will be pushing for them to action this ASAP once they get back from MLK weekend.

4. the strip

We’re in touch with the City of Las Vegas and have submitted our permit application. They are very easy to work with so everything is looking good for this permit, however it doesn’t necessarily include all the private walkways which are owned by various Casinos.

As discussed, a good way around the complicated permissions for privately owned walkways is to shoot from a moving car instead of being on foot.
Below is a video that gives you a feel for what driving through the Strip would be like

new location research

ADDITIONAL LOCATION OPTIONS TO PRESENT TO V.A

1. HOOVER dam outdoor activities

V.A doesn’t seem keen on shooting the typical tourist spots on top of the dam or bridge and asked if there were activities like camping that could have the dam in the background. While there are no camp sites or other activities on the level of the dam wall & bridge, there ARE group tours and activities that take place on the Colorado River directly below the dam.

Please note that these are suggestions only.
We have reached out to some of these companies to request quotes and begin negotiations, however some of these tours are in their off-season, and the rest were closed for MLK weekend and have not responded to our inquiries yet.

PRIVATE BOAT TOUR

There is only one company allowed to operate a motorized boat in the area below the Hoover Dam.

We could potentially charter a boat for our crew + photographer while the models use a kayak/paddleboard, or this might be an experience of its own with our models on the boat itself.

kayak tours

Only a select few tour companies have access to the boat ramp below Hoover Dam (the rest have to launch from Willow Beach). We are reaching out to these companies to find out:

• Can they facilitate us launching kayaks or paddleboards at Hoover Dam boat ramp?

• What is access like for passenger vans and a crew of 10-15 people?
  (Tourists must arrive in a tour bus due to very tight security - we may not be able to take our vehicles down to the water)

• Can their private tour guides facilitate and supervise these activities for us?

• How much would a private group tour like this cost?

PLEASE NOTE:
Security below the Hoover Dam has tightened in recent years.
Some places that were previously accessible to kayaks and paddleboards may now be more heavily restricted. There are very serious alarms that get set off if kayaks venture too close to the dam, as seen in this video. We will be able to get the bridge and dam in the background but we may not be able to get as close as the pictures above.

We have also yet to confirm if these tour companies can facilitiate paddleboarding in the area below the dam - at this stage the companies seem to only show kayaks on their websites.
We will find out for sure later this week.

paddleboarding IN WINTER

We have concerns about asking models to paddleboard in winter when the water temperature will be extremely cold. It’s very normal to fall into the water when paddleboarding but the water temperature of the Colorado River at this time of the year will be far too cold to go swimming. The canyon environment also amplifies the cold through shade and wind.

In early February, the river temperature is typically around 10–13 °C. That is cold enough to trigger an immediate cold-shock response if someone falls in, especially without thermal protection. At these temperatures:

• An unexpected fall can cause gasp reflex, rapid breathing, and loss of breath control

• Muscle strength and coordination drop quickly

• Even strong swimmers can struggle to re-mount a board

• Prolonged immersion can lead to hypothermia, even on a sunny day

2. LAKE MEAD

On the opposite side of the Hoover Dam is Lake Mead, a very large lake with open waters and a range of outdoor activities. This would be a more simple option if V.A doesn’t want to capture Hoover Dam in the background. Water activities are easier to organize here, with more tour companies operating and less restrictions.

PERMITS

Lake Mead covers an enormous area and has hundreds of miles of shoreline. It also serves as the state border between Nevada and Arizona. This means that it is not managed by one single authority, and with only 2 weeks of pre-production before the shoot, we have missed the deadline for official permits.

If V.A wants to shoot here, we recommend using the RV to pose as tourists and shooting quickly to avoid any issues with park rangers. We can send our location scout to find specific locations where it will be easy to shoot without a permit, but more time and research will be needed to scout exact locations.

CAMPING

In addition to boat tours, kayaks, paddleboarding and other watersport activities, there are several camping spots around Lake Mead that V.A may be interested in. But rather than limiting ourselves to official campgrounds (which may be difficult to get permitted), there will be many places where we can park the RV and set up a fake campground in a beautiful, quiet spot along the water.

alternative: GLAMPING

If camping turns into a shot the client really wants, we can look into private properties available for rent that might be more exclusive and luxurious.
Below is an example of a glamping experience that might be of interest.

3. GRAND CANYON WEST / SKYWALK

While the most iconic views of the Grand Canyon are in the South Rim area (near Mavericks Helicopters and the location of last week’s scout), there may actually be some areas near the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West that V.A might be interested in.

Grand Canyon West is part of a Reservation that is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe. Instead of a traditional permit, commercial filming and photography is organized through the Hualapai Tribe as if booking a private property. We have reached out for more information, availability and commercial filming rates and are waiting to hear back.

If the fees are within budget and it works out with our schedule, getting permission to shoot here should be easier than most National Park permits.

4. SEVEN MAGIC MOUNTAINS

if they haven’t seen it already, it might be worth presenting this location to v.a

v.a locations

the following locations are not on our list and are being arranged by v.a:

1. Maverick’s Helicopters

   A photoshoot on an active helipad / airport tarmac usually require intensive coordination and pre-production…
   Are we sure that we can rely on V.A to facilitate this?

2. Speakeasy / Bar
   Waiting for more info on V.A’s promotional partnerships.

3. Supper Club / Cabaret
   Waiting for more info on V.A’s promotional partnerships.
   ***The spreadsheet currently lists the Food Tour shots as part of the Supper Club / Cabaret location***
   We will need to clarify if the food being featured in the campaign is part of V.A’s partnership agreement or if meals will need to be sourced from a different venue instead.

4. Hotel Pool
   Waiting for more info on V.A’s promotional partnerships.

5. Hotel Lobby / Interiors
   Waiting for more info on V.A’s promotional partnerships.

virgin hotel

I understand there is no availability for accommodation, however I don’t understand why we’re not shooting content at the Virgin Hotel.
Is there a specific reason this has been ruled out or is it something V.A has overlooked?

Below are some areas within the Virgin Hotel that would be perfect for our shot list and creative direction.

If we can get permission to shoot there, it could cover our locations for:

• Hotel Lobby

• Hotel Pool

• Exclusive bar / speakeasy

• Restaurant & Dining

• Theater

HOTEL QUOTES

We have contacted a range of hotels and are waiting to receive official quotes once staff are back after MLK weekend.
However, we have already received an official quote from The Flamingo that is an incredible deal.

The rates below are valid until Wednesday Jan 21st. After that the prices are subject to change.

At this stage the rooms are NOT on hold so we should move quickly to ensure we can book everyone together.