According to numerous celebrity gossip websites, in 2006 American actress Lindsay Lohan collapsed on the set of her movie Georgia Rule, after a gruelling 12-hour shoot in 105 degree temperatures and was hospitalised. She is not the first actor to suffer such a fate through simply being too hot at work. There have been countless similar instances over the years: on film sets, in TV studios, on music video production sets and sound stages, during the indoor and outdoor shooting of adverts, and even in the creation of animated sequences and feature-length animated films.

Each of these different businesses are worth billions of pounds, and producers are always keen to keep expenses down. That is why filming often takes place around the clock – to minimise costs and maximise profit.

The downside of all this is that essential equipment such as heat-producing lighting, cameras and sound gear will be almost constantly operational on set. Sometimes lighting is used not to light a specific scene, but for Health & Safety reasons; to ensure actors do not trip, fall and injure themselves on set when filming or waiting to be "called" to scene." These extra lights add to the overall heat created.

Also, depending on the period or style of the production being made, actors may be wearing a variety of costumes (some classical dramas can involve cast members having to wear several layers of clothing, beneath blisteringly hot lighting). Production support staff working in remote and hot locations (usually in tents) can also ‘feel the heat’, so their well-being also needs to be considered.

The good news is that suitable air conditioners can be hired from an air con hire specialist to help combat the sometimes sweltering heat on film sets.

Hiring air con makes perfect sense

To ensure that filming can continue in the best possible conditions, it makes sense for producers to rent portable air conditioning units, to maintain comfortable surroundings for all (and also to help keep equipment cool as far as possible).

A key advantage of leasing air con units for film sets from an expert, rather than buying, is that the most appropriate units can be supplied to best suit each individual film location. An established air conditioning rental specialist with experience in providing solutions to the film industry will have the equipment, personnel and expertise to ensure the most appropriate air con units are made available each time (even for the most unusual of locations).

When air conditioning in hot weather is a must on set, but the production team just want it to arrive and be installed with minimum disruption, it is vital that the rental specialist is experienced in working in this particular field. Every film set will be different and have differing air con requirements. This is something a good hire team will see as a great challenge. They will pull out all the stops to ensure that the right solution is provided, in an affordable and hassle-free way.

About Producers’ on-set responsibilities

Although there are no specific rules and regulations in place to ensure actors work in a comfortable temperature on a film set (or other) – as these would be impossible to devise and enforce. By law, producers do have a responsibility to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that persons (and animals) working on set are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

As part of their production team, a producer should have at least one experienced crew member who is aware of possible Health & Safety issues.

Time is money

If film production ceases due to excessive conditions, tens if not hundreds of people will all be wasting time on set waiting for production to restart. This can have huge budgetary implications. To a producer, a good air conditioning rental specialist can, therefore, be worth their weight in gold.

Throughout the filming process, in fact, any area where financial savings can be made is seen by a producer as a godsend. Hiring (rather than buying) air con is a perfect example of this. Even on sets and in locations where space is at a premium (and/or where noise needs to be kept to a minimum), an experienced specialist will be able to advise on the best portable air conditioning solution – the most suitable units can be quickly delivered, positioned and made operational, often without a single minute’s filming being lost.