Interview with Gabriel Georgiev, CEO ScoutAround
Bridging Cinema and Technology through ScoutAround
TL;DR: Gabriel Georgiev — producer of The Hurricane Heist, War of Letters, We Die Young — shares how his decades of film experience inspired the creation of ScoutAround, a platform designed to make location scouting faster, smarter, and more transparent. Built by industry professionals, ScoutAround helps filmmakers find verified cinematic locations across Europe within minutes. Georgiev highlights that while AI and technology streamline the process, the human touch remains essential. Mapping Europe’s film potential is the platform’s biggest challenge — and its greatest mission. If ScoutAround were a movie genre? “Definitely sci-fi,” Georgiev says — because it’s shaping the future of filmmaking.
With more than two decades in the film industry, Gabriel Georgiev is a producer whose career spans international blockbusters and local productions alike. Known for titles such as The Hurricane Heist, War of Letters, We Die Young, Gabriel has worked across continents and production scales — from Hollywood epics to European art films. His experience behind the camera and in production logistics has given him a panoramic view of how the industry operates. Today, he stands behind ScoutAround - a platform born out of his deep understanding of the challenges filmmakers face when searching for the perfect filming location.
1. How did ScoutAround start? Why does the industry need it?
Gabriel Georgiev:
The idea came logically from years of experience in production. In every project, one of the biggest challenges was always the same — finding the right location on time and within budget. The process could be slow, manual, and very dependent on personal connections. I realised that while almost every aspect of filmmaking had evolved with technology, location scouting still has a way to go.
ScoutAround was born from that gap. We wanted to create a professional platform focused exclusively on the film industry — not just another real estate site. The industry needed a solution built by people who understand production needs, who can merge the precision of technology with the creative demands of cinema.
2. What problem does ScoutAround solve?
Gabriel Georgiev:
The core problem is inefficiency. Filmmakers waste enormous amounts of time and money searching for the right place to shoot. The process involves calls, folders, emails, and uncertainty. ScoutAround solves that by allowing filmmakers to answer a key question — “Where do we shoot?” — within a short time.
It digitises location logistics, not creativity. The platform helps productions find verified cinematic locations, with transparent conditions, photos, and availability. It’s a tool that saves time, improves collaboration between team-members, and ultimately reduces production costs and risk.
Our goal is not just to make scouting faster but to make it smarter — to help producers and location managers make informed decisions backed by structure and technology.
3. The team of ScoutAround is full of professionals in tech, business and filmmaking. What is the role of technology in location scouting?
Gabriel Georgiev:
Technology is transforming scouting, but it will never replace the human touch. Historically, we went from printed location binders to Google Street View, and now to platforms like ours that integrate mapping, data, and AI assistance.
AI can significantly reduce the time to find a location — for example, by filtering according to light conditions, accessibility, or architectural type. However, film is still a human art form. You can’t automate intuition, communication, or the emotional match between story and space.
ScoutAround is built to collaborate with professionals. It empowers location managers to work more efficiently, earn extra income, manage more projects simultaneously, and offer better service. The platform is a partner — a technological backbone in an industry where every hour counts.
4. What are the main challenges for ScoutAround?
Gabriel Georgiev:
The biggest challenge is scale — mapping Europe’s cinematic potential is a massive task. It’s like trying to chart the Earth all over again, location by location. Each country has its own laws, infrastructure, and production ecosystem, which requires coordination and trust.
Another challenge is quality. To make the platform valuable, we need verified and film-ready locations. That means working closely with property owners, studios, and local authorities to ensure accuracy and reliability. So, every property owner can fill out the form to list their location on the platform.
We’re currently focused on Central and Eastern Europe — specifically Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Poland — regions with a long-standing filmmaking tradition, skilled crews, and competitive conditions. The plan is to gradually expand westward, connecting the entire European landscape into one unified network.
5. If ScoutAround were a film genre, what would it be?
Gabriel Georgiev:
Definitely science fiction. We’re creating something visionary — a bridge between technology and creativity that we can say didn’t exist before. ScoutAround is about exploring new worlds, just like a sci-fi film. It’s futuristic but grounded in reality, and it helps people imagine once impossible possibilities.
Like in good science fiction, the story is about progress — about using technology to make human work more meaningful, not redundant. For us, it’s not just about locations. It’s about reimagining the future of filmmaking.