The Initial Exploration
Recce (pronounced ‘REK-ee’) is a colloquial term derived from the military word ‘reconnaissance’. In the world of film and television production, it refers to the process of visiting and examining a potential location to determine its suitability for filming. A recce is essentially a location scout. It’s the groundwork phase where members of the production team, often starting with just the location manager and perhaps the director or production designer, go out to explore and document various places that might fit the creative needs of the screenplay.
During an initial recce, the team is assessing a location based on a number of factors, both creative and practical:
- Aesthetics: Does the location have the right look and feel for the scene? Does it match the period, architectural style, and overall mood described in the script?
- Logistics: How accessible is the location? Is there enough space for trucks, equipment, cast and crew trailers (‘the unit base’)? Are there adequate facilities like restrooms?
- Light and Sound: What is the quality of the natural light at different times of day? Is the location plagued by uncontrollable noise from traffic, airplanes, or construction that would interfere with sound recording?
- Permissions and Cost: Is the property owner willing to allow filming? What are the fees and what are the rules and restrictions for using the space?
The findings of a recce are usually documented with extensive photographs and notes, which are then presented to the director and other department heads for consideration.
Recce vs. Tech Scout
While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, ‘recce’ and ‘tech scout’ typically refer to different stages of the location scouting process.
- A Recce is often the initial exploration phase. It’s about finding and vetting potential locations. Several recces might be done for a single scene to generate a list of options.
- A Tech Scout is the final planning phase. It takes place after a location has been chosen from the recce options. Its purpose is not to decide if the location works, but to determine precisely how the crew will work within it.
In short, you recce to find the right place, and you tech scout to plan the work once you’ve found it. The term ‘recce’ is more prevalent in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries, while North American crews are more likely to use the term ‘location scout’, but the meaning is fundamentally the same.