Is the recce for these things physical or via a google earth or similar??
A physical ground recce is rare due to cost. Combination of google pilots knowledge is the norm, followed by "lets have a look". So it can get pretty intense if a director has high expectations and a low budget.
One aspect of aerial filming that requires particular diligence to counter is a change of plan by tv/film crew in the following ways:
1/ subtle alteration of a flight path that contravenes previous agreements.
2/ request to change the shot during the shot
3/ ground activity altered without informing pilot
4/ heated, lenghty, irrelevant or misleading requests which pilot has to decipher whilst airborn.
5/ after a successful "take" the pilot succumbs to the request to go lower, closer or slower.
6/ tracking uncoordinated ground action whilst maintaining ability of cameraman to get the shot.
In respect to number 6 this is far more difficult if the camera is side mounted than nose mounted. Not surprising that the incident of accidents is higher for side door flights than nose mounted flights.
Sadley the instances of crew being killed when shooting out a side door are significantly higher than when using nose mounts, for obvious reasons.
A pilot recieves instructions by "non pilots" to position the helicopter to very specific positions often without due regard to the capabilities of the aircraft or the pilot, the weather or rules of the air!
Pilots in all experience brackets succomb.
Accident investigations rarely give the pressures and distractions by the film crew enough weight.
Since the media crew are casual or freelancers one relys on social media, conferences, and the like to educate TV folk.
Mickjoebill