Exploring Life & Business with Alex Kolodkin of Set Scouter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Kolodkin.

Hi Alex, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started Set Scouter because I had trouble finding film-friendly spaces. While working as a commercial and corporate producer, I found location scouting to be one of the slowest and most fragmented parts of putting a shoot together. We often relied on personal networks or scattered listings. Even when a location looked right, it was not always prepared for what a production involved.

I remember trying to find a modern kitchen for a food shoot. I eventually used a family friend’s space because I knew what it looked like and already had photos I could show the director. At that point, I did not have another viable option.
That experience made me think there had to be a better way to connect production teams with spaces that were genuinely ready to host a shoot.

Set Scouter launched as an online film location marketplace. The goal was to make location scouting easier for production teams while giving property owners more support through the process.

Since then, we have expanded into production markets across North America. That includes a dedicated marketplace for film locations in Los Angeles. Today, thousands of producers and creative teams use Set Scouter to find production locations for commercials, music videos, photo shoots, and branded content.

We also help property owners understand what it means to welcome a production into their space. We help them prepare before the crew arrives and support them throughout the booking.

The business works only if both sides trust the process. Producers need to know that a location will work for their shoot. Property owners need to understand what they are agreeing to and feel supported along the way.

What began as a problem I faced in my own work turned out to be a problem shared by a much larger community. We built Set Scouter from inside the production industry, and that still shapes how we support the people working in it.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building a business is always challenging, especially in an industry that continues to evolve. Each shift has pushed us to improve Set Scouter and find new ways to support the production community.

The pandemic was one of the biggest tests we faced. Production stopped almost overnight, and much of our core business paused with it. We could not control when shoots would return, so we focused on being ready when they did. We rebuilt parts of the platform and made it easier for producers to find and book film locations.

When production returned, we added services that allowed crews to arrange disinfection or have PPE delivered directly to set when booking a location. We also simplified the location scouting and booking experience.

We launched Safe Sets International as well. The platform provided education that helped productions around the world return to work more safely. It was our way of responding to what the production community needed at that moment.

The industry strikes and interest-rate increases brought a different set of challenges. Production budgets became tighter, which made efficiency even more important. We stayed close to our customers and continued improving how we connect production teams with film-friendly locations.

AI is now changing how content is planned and produced. We see it as another tool that can make parts of the process more efficient. At the same time, productions involving real people and real environments still need good locations. They also need people who understand the realities of production.

Our team is human, and that matters. Producers often need more than search results. They need someone who can help solve the practical issues that come up before a shoot. We use technology to make location scouting easier, and we do so with a team of experienced people who are in love with the production process.

The main lesson for me is that change creates an opportunity to become more useful. The original plan will not always fit the situation in front of you. Our job is to listen to what our customers need and keep improving how we serve them.

As you know, we’re big fans of Set Scouter. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Set Scouter is a marketplace for film and photo locations across North America.

We connect producers with film-friendly residential and commercial spaces for commercials, music videos, branded content, and other productions.

Thousands of brands and production teams use Set Scouter to find and book locations, while we help property owners manage the complexity of hosting shoots.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When looking for a mentor, I think it is important to find someone you can be honest with. If you only share the polished version of what is happening, it is difficult for anyone to give you useful advice. The best conversations happen when you can admit what is not working or what you do not know.

I would not necessarily start by asking someone to become your mentor. Start with a specific question. If they offer advice, act on it and let them know what happened. A mentoring relationship can grow naturally from those conversations.

It is also worth thinking about how you can be helpful to that person. You may be able to make an introduction or offer a perspective they have not considered. You do not need to have the same level of experience to contribute something valuable.

I enjoy being mentored because I learn from someone else’s experience. I also learn when I mentor other people. They bring me new problems and show me experiments that I would not otherwise see. It gives me more data points and sometimes makes me question my own assumptions.

For me, local incubators were a good place to build those relationships. Being part of a community meant I could get to know founders and advisers over time instead of trying to force a connection through a single networking event.
My advice is to find a community where you can show up consistently. Ask good questions and be honest about where you need help.

Pricing:

• Free to list
• Free signup and message spaces

Contact Info:

• Website: https://setscouter.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/setscouter
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/set-scouter-inc-

Image Credits
Set Scouter