Claudia Bloom is the owner and founder of Rock Locations, one of many established location agencies in the NY-Metropolitan area. Since its launch in 2016, Rock Locations has become the go-to resource for filmmakers, photographers, and brands looking for unique, high-quality spaces for their productions.
With a keen eye for standout locations and a deep understanding of the production industry, Claudia has built a curated portfolio that meets the needs of top-tier creative projects. From feature films and commercials to editorial shoots and brand activations, she has helped bring countless creative visions to life by bridging the gap between location owners and production teams.
In this Q&A with SpacePal, Claudia shares her expertise on what makes a great location, the challenges of scouting, and the future of the industry. Whether you’re a creative searching for the perfect setting or a property owner looking to turn your space into a sought-after filming location, her insights offer a valuable perspective.
Can you introduce yourself and your experience as a location scout?
My professional background is all in media and production. I started my career as an actor, mostly on TV shows and in commercials when living in LA at the time. I moved into casting on feature films, theater and print campaigns. During this casting period, I moved back to New York City and started to coach actors as well for their auditions. At the time, I was also working as a magazine editor (for many years) and when that job came to an end, I chose to go back to my roots in the film & TV industry. To be honest, I really knew almost nothing about locations, other than being on them as an actor in commercials. However, I found a need for a locations business in a NYC beach community, The Rockaways, when I moved there. They had had production jobs before, but no one was an agent in the area to bring even more work to the community. It’s a vibrant, fun, colorful, hip, urban beach “town” and I had a clear vision for bringing these sorts of jobs to it.
What type of locations do you have in your portfolio?
I represent many types of homes (from surfer’s bungalows to grand mansions on the beach and many styles in between, like middle income traditional family homes, on blocks that could be in any town or suburb.) I rep businesses such as bars, cafes, churches, gas stations, offices, schools and more. I also show a few production pets and picture vehicles in my inventory. In addition, I rep a number of photo studios outside of my area in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as a few locations in New Jersey, Long Island and in other areas of Queens.
Here, you can check many of her SpacePal listings.
What are the most common types of productions that take place in your locations? (e.g., films, commercials, photo shoots, etc.)
I’ve had great success booking music videos, indie films, PSAs and fashion photo shoots. I’ve had a few commercials and TV shows but would love more! To book a big feature film is still my dream and/or to have an ongoing job in one space would be amazing!
What are some challenges location owners face when renting their space for productions, and how does Rock Locations help them?
Having a crew into your home or business does present challenges. I only work with real pros who know how to set up their jobs very well prior to arriving to start the job. I work with them to answer many questions beforehand about the space, including arranging scout visits to see the space live. They really do know the location well before they begin (like where the circuit breaker is, where is the best load-in area, where’s best to park, what areas can the crews eat, etc. ) I ensure they have full insurance which I review, and I also hold a security deposit for any minor issues if needed, as well as my location contract which notes all job details. I (or an assistant) meet every crew at the start of the job to make sure they and the owners are all set and have no other needs from us. I stay in touch during the job day as well, as questions can arise.
Have you noticed any trends in location demand over the past few years? What’s changing in the upcoming years?
When I first launched my company, most of the requests were for homes and I wondered if there really was no need to show businesses, too? Now in the past year or so, most of the requests are for the businesses - I have no idea why! Hopefully, the homes’ interest will return in full and that the requests are more evenly balanced. Also, there is much more competition now for producers to find spaces, i.e.: many platforms (like SpacePal!) and others. So even though I’m mostly based in The Rockaways, I feel the competition as well. As far as changes, the industry has been impacted by recent strikes and streaming platforms, so that seems to have reduced the location budgets producers can offer. I do my best to work with any inquires to negotiate a reasonable rate, but up to a certain point, the owners and my company need to feel valued and appropriately compensated, so this is an ongoing process.
How do platforms like SpacePal help you promote your locations and streamline the marketing process?
I appreciate any other avenues to show off my locations other than on my own site. It’s great to have a support team who’s behind me as I’m a solo business owner, Also, it’s helpful to have their support when I book with them, if I have issues with a client’s request who I may not be comfortable with and your team can work me to advise how best to address, to hopefully book the job without any concern.
What advice would you give to homeowners or business owners interested in renting out their space for productions?
It’s a very fun day to see creatives produce in your space and even better when you can see the final product so that is really enjoyable. But to be aware they do really “take over” and the owners generally can’t be on location during the job (I ask that they stay in the area or at least accessible as needed). To see a lot of strangers and equipment in your space can be hard, but to know that my contract requires that the space has to be left as found, and I have the team take pre-production photos on arrival to make sure they put it back exactly the same way and to remove all garbage and clean up, etc. If it’s not left mostly the same way and in a clean state, I charge a fee.
I also suggest to my owners to let me know if their space is not available for any long-term period and/or if they make any substantial changes to the space so that my listings are always up to date as best as possible.
✨ Featured Locations by Rock Locations on SpacePal
Explore some of Claudia Bloom’s top spaces available for productions, photoshoots, and filmmaking:
Chic Houseboat in Queens – A one-of-a-kind floating location, perfect for fashion shoots, commercials, and unique productions.
Cozy Bayside Bungalow in Queens– A charming bungalow retreat with stunning natural light, ideal for lifestyle shoots and intimate productions.
Conclusion
Claudia Bloom has established herself as a leading location scout and representative on the East Coast, transforming Rock Locations into a premier destination for film production locations, commercial shoots, editorial photography, and brand activations. By curating an extensive portfolio of unique filming locations in New York, The Rockaways, and beyond, she has made it easier than ever for creatives to find the perfect space for their projects.
As the demand for high-quality, film-ready locations continues to grow, Claudia remains at the forefront—bridging the gap between location owners and production teams. Whether you’re looking for a modern loft for a photoshoot, an industrial warehouse for a commercial, or a scenic beach house for a film set, Rock Locations provides a seamless, hassle-free experience for securing top-tier spaces.
For those seeking exclusive filming locations on the East Coast, Claudia Bloom and Rock Locations continue to be the go-to resource. Check out some of her featured listings on SpacePal to book your next production space.
