If you’ve ever wondered why producers ask whether a location has space for “a unit base,” and what they actually mean — here’s the short version, written by an agency that places dozens of unit bases a year.
The definition
A unit base is the off-camera operational hub of a film, TV, or commercial shoot. It’s where production trucks park, the catering vans set up, the costume and makeup trailers sit, the production office runs from, and the crew eats, rests and changes. It’s separate from the actual shoot location — usually a short walk or shuttle ride away.
In other words: the location is what the camera sees. The unit base is everything else.
What a unit base needs to provide
A workable unit base typically has:
— Hard standing for vehicles. Concrete, tarmac or compacted gravel. A muddy field doesn’t work. — Generous space. A small commercial might need parking for 6-10 vehicles; a big drama or feature can need 30-50. Square footage matters. — Power. Either mains or generator-friendly with cable runs to the nearby location. — Toilet facilities. Producers usually bring their own (portaloos), but proximity to plumbed loos is a bonus. — Catering set-up area. Space for a catering bus and a marquee or tent for crew dining. — Proximity to the shoot location. Ideally walking distance; certainly a 5-10 minute drive maximum. — Ground-level access. Heavy trucks need to drive in and out without low bridges or weight limits. — Discretion. Productions value sites that keep the crew off public roads and out of residential complaints.
Common types of unit base
Across our roster, the unit base properties that work best include:
— Working farms with disused yards or fields with hard standing — Industrial sites and warehouses with surplus parking — Country estates with paddock access — Empty commercial sites (car parks, derelict offices) — Disused MOD or council-owned land
The best unit bases are ones where the owner is comfortable with the slight chaos of a film set — generators humming, crew coming and going, occasional overrun. Owners who can host a unit base tend to find it a steady supplemental income because productions often need them for multi-day or multi-week stretches.
Typical day rates
Unit bases command lower per-day rates than primary shoot locations — typically £500-£3,000 per day depending on size and proximity to the shoot. The trade-off is duration: unit bases are often booked for the entire run of a shoot (5-30 days for a feature), so total revenue per booking can be substantial.
How agencies handle unit base briefs
When a brief lands asking “do you have a unit base near [studio/area/location]?”, a good agency will already know the answer — because unit base inventory is usually mapped against studio proximity. Our most-booked unit bases sit within easy reach of Eastbrook (Dagenham), Longcross (Surrey), and Leavesden (Hertfordshire), where the catchment of nearby shoots is densest.
Frequently asked questions
Is a unit base the same as a base camp? In US production terminology “base camp” is more common; in the UK “unit base” is standard. They mean the same thing.
Do unit bases need to be exclusive to one production? Usually yes — productions need to know the site is theirs for the shoot duration. Sharing creates security and logistical issues.
What’s the difference between a unit base and a holding area? A holding area is usually smaller — somewhere for talent or extras to wait. A unit base is the full operational hub.
Can I list my land as a unit base if there’s no main shoot location nearby? Yes. Unit bases are sourced separately from shoot locations and don’t need to be paired. If your site has hard standing, power and discreet access — list it.