Find Hospital Filming locations for rent near me

From childbirth and emergency room scenes to more complex surgeries and medical procedures, many TV shows and movies have shown it all. But have you ever wondered where those medical scenes were filmed? Some seem to be insanely realistic to be just sets built on soundstages.

The possibilities are endless when looking for a hospital filming location, thanks to state-of-the-art production studios that provide dedicated medical film sets, from hospital wards and pathology labs to operating theaters and ICUs. You’ll also find medical offices and clinics that open their doors for various production projects including movies, medical shows, music videos, and more.

Discover The Best Hospital Filming Locations

Some antics and acts you’ll see on TV or the big screen can be far from the truth, but they do a fantastic job creating realistic medical sets that make viewers get fully immersed in the scene. If you want the same thing for your next production, here are the top hospital filming sites to consider:

Hospital
There’s probably no better place to film a medical scene than a functioning care hospital because it provides an authentic setting that enhances the story. They have realistic environments, like patient wards, emergency rooms, and surgery rooms for a cinematic masterpiece.

Medical Clinics
Hospitals are usually full. They may allow you to shoot only in a certain room or on a particular time, so if you want a filming location that’s not too busy, medical clinics may have time to accommodate your production needs. Clinics aren’t typically open 24/7 for patients, so your crew can schedule shoots after hours.

Derelict Hospital
An abandoned hospital building seems like a perfect setting for a horror film or a ghost tour, but they can be excellent hospital locations for filmmakers. You can build a set complete with medical equipment or use the existing ones, albeit not functioning, as props.

Film Studio
Filmmakers may choose to film in a studio for a more controlled environment and easy scheduling. It will be more convenient if you find a studio with a dedicated medical film set with modern hospital tools and equipment for photo shoots and filming.

What to Look for in Hospital Filming Locations

Authenticity and aesthetic matter, but they're not the be all and end of filming. There are other elements you must consider when looking for a site to shoot medical-related scenes.

Accessibility
Even when filming in a derelict medical center that the world has seemingly forgotten, you still want it to be easily accessible for the cast and crew. Getting there and getting inside the facility should be a breeze, especially if you're handling heavy filming gear.

Production Equipment
From hospital beds and surgical supplies to PET/CT scanners and MRI machines, medical equipment and devices aren't cheap. It doesn't make sense to invest in expensive brand-new medical items you'll only use for a certain show or movie, so choosing a well-equipped hospital filming location is a must. You can rent from a production supplier, but it would be a lot easier to choose a location with the essential equipment you need.

Size
You wouldn’t rent a huge hospital for a small indie project or single hospital room for an 8-episode medical drama. The size of the location should always match the scope of your project, and it should have plenty of space to accommodate the crew and filming gear.

Style and Layout
Can you visualize the sequences shot in that space, or does it need major renovation to create the look you want? Before you set your heart on a certain film set, think about how its ambiance, style, and overall layout match the scenes you’ll capture. You might need multiple areas, including a nurses' station, hallway, hallway, or an ER setup.

Get Creative With Your Hospital Filming Location

You work hard on your music video, short series, or feature film, so you don’t want it to belong to the list of the most questionable medical-related shows or videos. How the story is conveyed plays a critical role, but the setting for the hospital sequences is just as important. So, think outside the box to find creative ways to maximize your filming space as you combine your story and the surroundings.

A big part of creating visually appealing scenes and professional-looking videos is the lighting. Use the lights to your advantage, whether it’s coming from artificial or natural light sources. As you plan for the shoot, determine the types of lights you need for the sequences and where you’ll place them to get your desired effect.

Play with different camera angles, especially when capturing complex surgery procedures. A high angle gives the viewers a better sense of the surroundings and allows them to have a clearer view of the characters, the busy hospital setting, or the operating room.

After watching a pretty convincing surgery scene, you might wonder how they filmed it and made it realistic. Aside from the hospital room setting, surgeries and medical procedures in TV series and movies look real thanks to clever camera techniques, practical effects, and CGI. Combine these three methods to create an illusion of surgery and enhance the scenes.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to achieve a polished, professional video. Having high-end equipment is a plus, but you must first realize your creative filmmaking style for excellent results.

Behind the Lens: Hospital Filming Location Checklist

Whether you're new to the filming industry or an established veteran, there are several steps to follow for a seamless production and minimize the hurdles you'll encounter when filming in a hospital location.

Research
Don’t go to the set without doing your homework. Before stepping into the filming site, you should understand the story and the characters to be able to convey your message clearly to your audience.

Secure Permits
Every city or town has its own filming rules and regulations your team should adhere to. You might be asked to pinpoint your chosen shooting spots, which include private and public spaces, before applying for a permit.

Gather the Supplies and Equipment
The film crew must be the first people to arrive at the location to gather, set up, and prepare all filming supplies and equipment to avoid delays. Coordinate with vendors or rental providers if you’re renting camera equipment and gear.

Pick the Right Talent
Whether it’s a short clip or a full 2-hour movie, having the right actors to bring the script to life is vital. You can organize an audition to choose from different candidates and find the perfect fit for the role.

Begin Filming
You've planned the shots, the equipment and supplies are complete, and the actors are ready—it’s time to shoot the scenes and use your unique filmmaking styles to immerse the viewers into the cinematic world you created.

Lights, Camera, Action: Hospital Filming Inspiration

Can’t find a medical facility or even a clinic to film hospital scenes? Perhaps you’re looking for excellent alternatives in case your first choice doesn’t work. Here are some ideas to give you inspiration:

Training Centers
It’s easier to book medical training centers and educational facilities for filming because they don’t typically operate 24/7, unlike in busy hospitals. You can schedule shoots during breaks and use their existing medical devices and equipment for more realistic scenes.

Converted Spaces
Imagine filming in an old factory, firehouse, or church that was once buzzing with life. You can transform these empty non-medical spots into a hospital setting set in a bygone era or a remote location. It’s up to you how you want to dress it up as long as it aligns with your narrative, theme, and ambiance you want to create for the scene.

Historic Mansion
Old buildings and historic mansions can double as hospital film sets. You can convert the spacious rooms into patient wards, outpatient areas, ERs, or nurse stations. They’re great for modern dramas but their vintage look and style will complement sequences for period medical pieces.

Old Military Base
Many historic military complexes once built for soldiers are now open for photography and film productions. You can benefit from their spacious rooms and several versatile areas you can modify to cater to your filmmaking needs. Set up the medical devices and improve lighting before filming.

Commercial Spaces
It could be an empty space with a stage, a retail facility with multiple sections, or an industrial building designed for storage, distribution of goods, or production. Pick the visual aesthetics and vibe that you think will work well with your story and its mood.

TV Shows Set in Hospitals

From Bollywood to Hollywood and hit K-dramas, there are countless television series and movies set in a hospital setting. If you're a fan of this genre, here are a few TV shows to add to your watchlist:

Scrubs
Doctors and healthcare professionals have their list of top and least favorite medical TV shows and in terms of accuracy, many of them favor Scrubs. This workplace sitcom does an amazing job showing various aspects of real-life situations in the medical world that many other shows leave out.

House
This award-winning medical drama series premiered on November 16, 2004, and ran for eight seasons. It earned several People’s Choice awards, so there’s no question about its popularity. The series was set in the fictitious Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, though it uses multiple locations for the hospital scenes.

Hospital Playlist
If you’re into a slice of life medical series that explores the lives of doctors and their patients in the hospital, you’ll love the famous K-drama Hospital Playlist. The Yulje Medical Center serves as the workplace of the five protagonists, but some scenes in the show were shot in Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital.

Rent Hospital Locations With Giggster

Streamline your search and find hospital filming locations with ease to achieve cinematic perfection. Whether you're looking for a modern medical clinic, an animal center, a functional hospital, or an industrial property you can transform into a film set, Giggster has an outstanding selection of locations in numerous cities for your next production work.