By Sanaa Fickes, Co-owner of XOHH Events
Moroccan-inspired Kasbah overlooking the Citrus Lawn and citrus trees at XOHH Events, a private garden venue in the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles.
When producers ask me how to make a location work within their budget, I start with what they actually need to film. Which spaces will appear on camera? Can our existing furniture work for the scene? Do they need an indoor preparation area, and how long will everyone be on the property?
At XOHH Events, our private two-acre estate in the Hollywood Hills, I have seen producers make useful savings by working with the setting and furnishings already here, choosing a weekday when possible, and capturing different scenes without moving to another address.
Here is what I recommend discussing before you book a location for a commercial, music video, vertical series or other production.
Ask What the Basic Rental Actually Includes
A location rate is easier to assess when you know what comes with it. Something you can see in a photograph may belong to a previous production or be an optional rental, so ask about the specific setup you want.
At XOHH Events, the basic production rental provides exclusive use of the agreed outdoor rental areas, including the Moroccan Kasbah, gardens, Sanctuary Garden, pool and surrounding entertainment areas.
It also includes:
Existing Kasbah and lawn furniture, plus the two dining tables identified in the basic rental.
Decorative fountains, water features and landscape lighting.
The fire pit lounge area.
An outdoor guest restroom.
Our 12-speaker Sonos garden sound system.
Complimentary on-site parking with basic parking guidance.
We also offer a pre-booking walkthrough so you can see the spaces and discuss your plans. Exclusive use does not mean every indoor or additional space is included; those areas are confirmed separately.
For filming, I would encourage you to look at each inclusion in relation to your scenes. A furnished outdoor setting may be useful immediately, while a sound system may have little relevance to your particular shoot.
Existing garden furniture creates a relaxed outdoor seating area surrounded by palms and lush landscaping at XOHH Events in the Hollywood Hills.
Use Existing Furniture When It Fits Your Creative Direction
Some productions arrive with a complete design plan. Others discover that furniture already on the property suits their scene and saves them arranging a separate rental.
We have had producers repurpose existing furnishings for their shoots. The Kasbah seating, lawn furniture and included dining tables can give a team something practical to work with before they start sourcing additional pieces.
Some furniture may be repositioned with our prior approval. Tell us which pieces you want to move and where they will go. The crew must return everything to its original position before leaving.
That final step belongs in your schedule. A furniture arrangement that takes a few minutes to change at the beginning still needs to be restored at the end.
Consider What You Can Capture Within One Booking
One benefit producers have appreciated here is being able to use different areas without relocating their crew for another look.
During a multi-brand product shoot featuring products sold on Amazon, one team filmed a student leaving for college in the driveway. Other crew members worked on product scenes in the backyard, Grand Salon and on the upper decks.
Using different parts of the property allowed the team to create several distinct settings during one booking. For producers, that can mean fewer separate location rentals and less spending on transporting crew and equipment between addresses.
Read more about how multiple filming looks in one location can save production time.
Behind the scenes of a garden production at XOHH Events, a private filming location in the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles.
Ask About Weekdays Before Fixing Your Date
Weekday production bookings at XOHH Events are generally less expensive than weekend bookings.
I know productions often have limited flexibility. Talent availability, crew schedules and the project deadline may determine the date before the location is chosen. But when there is room to choose, ask us to compare suitable weekday and weekend options.
Crew size also affects the rate, as do the length and scope of the booking. A larger production with more people and longer access requires a different arrangement from a smaller shoot.
Give us the full on-site headcount when requesting a quote. That helps us price the booking around the production you are actually bringing.
Book the Whole Working Day
At XOHH Events, booking time starts when the first crew member or guest arrives and ends when the last person leaves.
It includes unloading, setup, talent preparation, filming, breakdown, furniture restoration and final departure. Finishing the last shot does not mean the booking has ended.
I recommend working backward from the time everyone needs to leave. How long will packing take? What needs to be moved back? Who will handle the final check of the spaces?
If equipment needs to be delivered before the booking or collected afterward, discuss it with us first. These arrangements require approval, and additional charges may apply depending on the equipment’s size and how long it remains on the property.
Choose Additional Spaces for a Clear Purpose
An additional space is most useful when you know how it will support the shoot.
The Apartment Suite offers a living area, kitchenette and full bathroom. Depending on the booking, it can support wardrobe, hair and makeup, or talent preparation. Renting it also provides access to an indoor bathroom in addition to the outdoor guest restroom.
If you are comparing this with separate preparation facilities or restroom rentals, explain your headcount and needs so we can discuss the arrangement. Do not assume that a bathroom count alone establishes suitability for your production.
Other optional spaces include the Grand Salon, Upper Decks and Vista Grove. You can explore the property in our venue gallery and ask which additions would serve your plan.
The Apartment Suite at XOHH Events offers an indoor sitting and dining area, available as an optional green room add-on for productions.
Keep Equipment On-Site Between Filming Days
For productions returning over several days, we also offer two garage bays as an optional production support and equipment-storage space.
The garage opens directly onto the parking and loading area, allowing a van to pull up to the entrance for unloading. Approved equipment can be stored out of the filming areas, helping keep the working spaces clear.
The space has refrigerators, air conditioning, a sink, two 20-amp outlets and three 15-amp outlets. Productions should discuss their electrical needs with us in advance. If you
If you have a gap between filming days and only need equipment storage, a separate, lower storage-only rate may be available instead of a full venue rental. Storage-only days do not include use of the filming spaces. Equipment dimensions, storage dates and delivery or collection access must be agreed in advance.
Understand Cleanup Before You Wrap
Standard cleaning is included in our rental. The basic waste allowance is one 32-gallon trash bin and one 32-gallon recycling bin.
Excessive trash or mess can result in additional charges. Tell us in advance if catering, packaging or your planned activity is likely to create more waste than the included bins can hold.
Before departure, crew members should return approved furniture moves to their original positions and leave the spaces ready for our normal cleaning.
Tell Us Enough to Give You an Accurate Quote
The most useful inquiry includes your project type, date, total headcount, selected spaces, vehicle numbers and complete access schedule. Share your equipment and power needs too; we have regular household power, so additional requirements need advance discussion.
Include production insurance in your planning as well. Our guide to production insurance for a Los Angeles filming location explains the documents to prepare before access.
For more arrival details, read our filming access, load-in and parking guide.
My advice is to look at what your production can use, what it needs to add and how the day will work from arrival to departure. Those are the conversations that help us make a booking practical.
Explore our Productions & Filming page, or tell us about your shoot. We would love to help you work out which spaces and arrangements fit your plans.
Find XOHH Events on Google Maps
Inclusions, access, equipment arrangements and charges are confirmed in the location agreement. Savings vary with each production’s needs.