My wife has a three children's books being published this year and she's going to be filmed for something or other. I'm quite excited, she's very nervous.

in "Nowhere Boy". The exterior shots were filmed next door to my mother's house in Pinner last March. I had just come to visit and found the whole street cordoned off and lights, cameras and action.

They had her move her car from the drive and parked a pristine vintage Morris in its place, as a few scenes had "John" (Mr Taylor-Wood) running past the house. I managed to watch a couple of scenes being filmed and afterwards, the very affable Aaron Johnson gamely said hello and posed for pics with the throngs of teenage girls who had been giggling at him throughout the take

Kristen Scott Thomas in Mimi, loitered around our wheeliebins one morning while they set up a shot. Gave me quite a shock as I looked out the kitchen window while making tea.

EDIT: Sorry, should have pointed out - The crews were very polite and efficient - they cleared up and out on schedule and efficiently and pretty painlessly. I shouldnt think the Tiler household will suffer any undue bother!

yes to all of 'em

I used to live two streets away from Hugh Grant's front door in the film and people would regularly stop to take photos.

I have heard horror stories about furnishings moved out of the property to sit out in the rain because they blocked a shot.

Back in the 80s the tv series Traffik used an empty flat in our block for the junkies' flat. We were stopped from coming out of our front doors whilst filming was going on by a very bullish production assistant. I was about 15 at the time so managed to annoy the crew no end by getting my mates around to disrupt filming!

...let me in.

I don't even like inviting them over for supper. But it's part of the job.

years ago, Tyne Tees did a local drama about two blokes living in a half way house - my flat. They were going to be filming for three days. They gutted the place, spent a week there and left it as they finished - looking and smelling like a doss house. Never again.

Had their house used as Lenny Henry's for that rather rubbish series in which he was a headmaster. They did redecorate, they did pay, they did stick to the timescales, but no no-one turns up taking photos...

tiler, as someone who has worked on these sort of things, don't be overawed or excited about the prospect. Treat is a business proposition, which it is.

Rewards? Yes, any bona fide company expects to pay for location filming. Do not be fooled by location managers who sense your eagerness to be involved, and thus hope to exploit your enthusiasm. A daily fee should be agreed - this is negotiatable, depending on number of rooms used, whether redecoration is involved, removal of existing furniture etc. It is not unusual to be in the hundreds per day (also depending on how much they want it, of course). It is also usual to be recompensed for electricity usage.

Provisions for repair and redecoration are also normal - this is very important, given that you may have enormous amounts of people in your house moving a lot of equipment and redesigning your house.

Timescales are also usually agreed, although filming inevitable goes over those. However, you can insist on a cut-off point at night, if you intend to stay there, or still be able to talk to your neighbours.

You need to have an agreed document signed - known as a location agreement. If they are a decent company, they will be happy to do this, as they will be used to doing so, you will be compensated and hopefully it will go smoothly. If you start having suspicions or doubts about them, knock it on the head - it is not worth getting involved with people who want a lot, but are not prepared to pay the price, or treat you or your property in a professional manner. With no agreement in place, you can be in for a nightmare, with your place left in a mess, your nerves shot to pieces, and thoroughly disillusioned.

For advice, you could try contacting one of the many film location agencies, some independent, some attached to local authorities.

But go in with your eyes open.

the frontage of my pad. Got a nice bottle of champagne. Cheers!

question in a row.

One day I turned up to my office in the middle of nowhere to find dozens of people milling about with all sorts of equipment. Once inside I asked a collegue what was going on and they said "They're filming a police show." Well, half an hour went by and I'd forgotten about it so I nipped out the door for a smoke just as two policemen threw a handcuffed man at my feet.

With the unlit cigarette dangling from my lips I said,"What the f..?" and I noticed this incredibly bright light on me. Then I remembered, I turned and snuck back the way I came, hoping no one noticed but I heard "Cut! and the man in handcuffs on the ground saying "Thanks a lot dickhead."

I imagine I was quite a hit on the cast Christmas blooper reel.

- a DIY / makeover show - featured our place once. It was only 2 days of filming (+ a couple of preparatory visits) but the crew were a thoroughly all right bunch, being both friendly and highly professional. Given that they were providing us with free building work, you wouldn't for a minute begrudge them endless cuppas and a little disruption. Or would you? The producer had some terrible stories about householders not allowing them to use the loo, stopping them from eating in their precious house and all sorts. This was in the early days of such shows and they soon changed the standard location agreement to specifically state that you would provide basic amenities.

On this type of show, the deal is: you assign us full broadcast rights and we'll finish the job + you keep any furniture and fittings we use.

I'd also add that one of the 2 big strong boys of the title was a complete t*sser. 10 minutes of z-list celebrity seems to have turned his head and he acted like a spoilt prima donna for the 3 hours of the 2-day shoot he deigned to attend. But the lady who presented it + the crew + 1 star were a great bunch.

Normally it's news stuff but the odd bit of drama creeps in.

The best news bit was one morning watching Carol Kirkwood get absolutely soaked trying to do the weather standing on top of the Round Tower in utterly filthy conditions. From where I was looking out of the window, it looked like she threw a right strop after she finished and they cut back to the studio. And, I have to say, with good reason. There's a time for OBs and that wasn't one of them.

Having got the perfect mix of sound advice and entertaining anecdotal asides, my faith in the Massive was well-founded. A big thanks to everyone.

Since my original post, the location guy has been round and is interested enough to let the director have a look. I'll keep you posted on what happens.

Amazing what a glimpse of fame will do: I was away for the week with work, and when I came home I discovered that my partner had dusted and tidied my playroom - previously the subject of a cleaning boycott - and fixed the hanging-off wallpaper in the hall - a job that's been on my list for weeks.

Others in my situation might consider a setting up their own location filming hoax to achieve the same effect.

Thanks again, and keep them coming.