‘The Scout’ at Tribeca Festival Illuminates the Unsung Role Behind Film Locations

Cities often serve as vital backdrops that shape the atmosphere and story of films—think of New York City’s role in Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” or Hong Kong’s presence in Wong Kar Wai’s “In the Mood for Love.” Yet, it is the work of location scouts that uncovers the everyday streets and homes that bring authenticity and depth to these cinematic settings. This pivotal but seldom highlighted profession is the focus of “The Scout,” debuting Thursday at the Tribeca Festival.

Paula González-Nasser, who spent approximately six years working as a location scout, wrote and directed this film. Originally from Colombia and Miami, she entered the industry after relocating to New York in 2016, when she stepped into the role following the departure of a scout on a project where she was assisting with locations. Her scouting career included projects like “High Maintenance,” “Search Party,” “Broad City,” and the film “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” involving extensive travel around neighborhoods, knocking on doors, and distributing flyers to find the perfect scenes’ locations.

To capture the breadth of her experiences, González-Nasser began maintaining a diary of her daily appointments and observations. When she decided to craft a film about her profession, she was intent on steering clear of the typical behind-the-scenes hustle often portrayed in movies about filmmaking.

“The mundane, unglamorous side of film production is rarely shown,” González-Nasser remarked during an interview at a café in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, an area where she scouted locations for the HBO series “High Maintenance.”

She added, “I also wanted to portray a character navigating a role that merges personal and professional demands, pulling her in multiple directions.”