Next up on our Filming Location series, let’s talk about finding filming locations in New York City!
As a New York City business owner, you already have your hands full. The last thing you need is to be bogged down with finding the right filming locations for your video marketing campaign. Fortunately, you can count on us at C&I Studios to help you out! Not only can we give you a few tips and tricks in this blog post, but we also have a studio in New York City and can help you to produce your video marketing content.
Fortunately, New York City is a diverse landscape that offers a wide range of filming locations for just about every occasion. When it comes to New York City filming locations, you have various options. New York City filming locations can include city streets, restaurants, retail stores, professional offices, and even private residences.
But how does one go about finding the right place to film marketing content? Through research and scouting, you’ll be able to seek out the right places that fit the theme and tone of the videos you want to create.
Read on to learn about how to find all the New York City filming locations you can have access to as a video marketing New Yorker.
Research
Your first step should always be to do some research on filming locations, no matter where you want to film. Research before booking a place will really set the stage, if you will, for the entire production. You’ll be able to budget appropriately, know what to expect from the venue, and be able to plan for any issues that may come up with the space such as the weather if it’s outside.
Not only will location scouting save you time and headache, but it can also give you inspiration on how to present your message in an engaging way that will reach your audience.
Online
Starting your research with a simple Google search is probably one of the smartest things you can do. You’ll be able to create a list of places to look into further, find out if something is in a public space or not, and get some price estimates.
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation gives great guidelines on what locations are available to film. Also, the New York State Film Commission has a New York City filming page that contains everything you need to know about New York’s filming policies. The New York City Office of Motion Picture & Tv Development website also does an amazing job at providing New Yorkers with New York City filming deals.
But there’s more! New York State has a New York City filming FAQ webpage that covers some of the most popular questions asked about New York City filming.
Lastly, NewYork.com offers an extensive list of New York City filming locations for you to check out as well as New York City filming deals. New York City Filming Locations is also a great site that allows New Yorkers to check out New York City filming locations and New York City film permits.
Word of Mouth
If you haven’t asked anyone about possible filming locations, what’s stopping you?
New York City is full of entrepreneurs who are looking for video marketing New Yorkers to film at their place.
When asking around, be sure to reach out to businesses that have a similar theme or style as you so you can get an idea of what the vibe will be like when the two of you work together. You’ll also want to see if the location has any specific requirements that may affect your video shoot, such as parking or additional fees.
Social Media
Speaking of word of mouth, New Yorkers love using social media to spread their message and tell a story. Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram are all great places to find New York City filming locations in New York City.
You may not think it, but New York City social media influencers are often looking for New York City filming locations to host their next Instagram shoot. Social media can be a great resource because so many New Yorkers use it as an outlet to share their business story. New York City filming locations will be easy to find if you ask around on social media or see who’s using New York City filming locations for their shots.
Scouting New York City Filming Locations
Sometimes finding the right place to film your video content means going out into the field to find the right place. This is called scouting. You’ll go to each place, find out what about it works, what doesn’t work, any costs, and any other information that you’ll need. Think of it as a job interview, but for a location.
You should bring a checklist of the necessary amenities you’ll need for filming. Things like access to electricity, bathrooms for your talent and workers, space to move and set up are all important things you should be looking out for. There may even be amenities you need that are specific to the video you’ll be filming.
Working
When you’re out and about already working on another video production, you can easily come across new possible filming locations. New York City has a variety of different neighborhoods that were built for specific New Yorkers. New Yorkers are passionate about their boroughs, so finding New York City filming locations near you shouldn’t be too hard when you’re already out in the city working.
Hire a Company
Hiring a company, like C&I Studios, to do all of the hard work for you will take a huge weight off of your shoulders. Some New York City filming locations may not be easy to find, but the city has some great facilities that New Yorkers can use for their video productions. New Yorkers and film production companies like C&I Studios will take care of the New York City filming permits and set up the New York City filming location for you so that you don’t have to worry about a thing!
C&I Studios knows all of the ins and outs of the New York City area. We know what filming locations would work best for you, your company, and your industry. We can take care of everything from booking the right location to everything in post-production. It’s important that you hire a company that really understands not only New York as a city, but also your industry’s marketing needs and how to truly create amazing videos for many different uses.
What types of places should I consider?
New York City is huge. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of possible places to film marketing content for your business. There are many different kinds of places to consider for your video shoot.
Consider the Picturesque
If you’re creating a video that very clearly takes place in New York City, you want to consider the sights and scenes that automatically come to mind when you think of New York City. New York City’s skyscrapers, New York City’s bridges, New York City’s outdoor sidewalks are just a few places you might be able to find New York City filming locations for your production.
Some New Yorkers have beautiful gardens that are perfect for video marketing shoots. Others will have rooftop views that overlook New York City’s skyline or New York City subway trains that are just waiting to be filmed in. You may not think of New York City filming locations when they first start creating their video marketing campaign, but those who do take the time to find the perfect filming locations will ultimately have a more New York City-centric video about their business, which is ultimately the goal.
Think about what represents New York City. Is it the Statue of Liberty? Chrysler Building or Empire State Building? Or is it the green scenes of Central Park? Write down the places you automatically think of that fit the vibe of the video or campaign you want to create.
Think Outside the Box
When New York City businesses choose filming locations, they think outside the box to find a location that fits their message. For example, a New York fashion design company may film a fashion show in an odd location for the subject such as the New York Public Library. New York City filming locations don’t have to be traditional New York City landmarks. They just have New York City-inspired or New York City-specific features that will help New Yorkers remember why they enjoy your business so much.
Think Outside the City
If New York City is your location of choice, New Jersey is also an option. New Jersey offers filming locations that New York City businesses can access for their video marketing campaign. New Jersey sites include beaches, service stations, diners, and so much more.
When you are ready to film a video marketing campaign, New Jersey filming locations such as colleges and universities can serve as filming locations for your video marketing production.
With New York City and adjacent filming locations at your disposal, you have the freedom to explore a variety of options. Before making a selection, be sure to determine what kind of atmosphere you need for your New York City video marketing campaign. New York City can be noisy, crowded, and full of New York City traffic.
Now that you have a few ideas of where to look, what to look for, and to make sure you’re getting what you need out of a filming location, you’re ready to go out into the City to find the right filming location for your video production!