Find Video Shoot locations for rent in Chicago, IL

About Chicago

In Chicago, you’ll find food, festivities and merchandise from all over the world. Thanks to its key location by Lake Michigan and the development of railways, the city quickly expanded to become the third-largest in the state. People have migrated here from all around the world, bringing new ideas and ways of life to Chicago. The city is well known for its impressive architecture which brings in many tourists on its own, its art scene, as well as its beautiful scenery like the 26 miles of beaches along Lake Michigan.

Chicago is home to the first skyscraper ever built which is the second tallest in the hemisphere at 110 stories high. In Chicago, there are many fun traditions like on Saint Patrick’s Day when the Plumbers Union turns the Chicago River green. There are over 500 parks and some sites with amazing views of the city, making it a great place for a Chicago video shoot location.

Video Shoot Options in Chicago

Events like video shoots require a lot of planning, and to make the best video everything needs to be perfect. Your Chicago video shoot location will need the following things before you can start recording.

• Video Recording Equipment
  You won’t get much done at your video shoot if you don’t have the right equipment. It can also be a hassle to bring everything all the way to Chicago, so you might want to rent a camera, tripod, boom microphones, lighting and other equipment from a local company.
  
  
• Props and Decorations
  You might need some props or decorations for your video and to decorate your venue. There are great stores in Chicago where you can buy objects, backdrops, furniture and accessories to be used in your video shoot.
  
  
• Transportation
  A big city like Chicago can be hard to navigate, and with all of your actors, equipment and props you might have a hard time getting everything to one place. Consider finding some form of transportation like a moving truck or bus that can bring everyone and everything to the shoot location at once.

Video Shoot Companies in Chicago

Recording a video in a big city like this one can be difficult to plan especially if you don’t know your way around. It can be a good idea to get help from companies that are familiar with the way things work in the city to help you plan your Chicago video shoot location.

• ProGear
  ProGear has been open since 2008 and offers rentals for both still and motion cameras. They pride themselves on customer service and can help supply you with all of the equipment that you need from lenses, lighting, production equipment and camera accessories.
  
  
• Zap Props
  This is a fun store that offers antique furniture and a huge selection of movie props for rent. On their website, you can find thrones, guns, casino games, western props and many more. They can also make custom-designed props if you need something specific.
  
  
• Pontarelli Chicago
  At Pontarelli you will find shuttle services, bus rentals, meeting or event transportation and more. This company is experienced, reliable and can get your equipment and your team to the video shoot location in Chicago. They’ve been providing car services for over 40 years.

Pros and Cons of Video Shoots in Chicago

Video shoots bring specific requirements and you will have to make sure the city you choose has the right things for your event. Written below are the pros and cons of this city, which can influence where to book a Chicago video shoot location.

Advantages

• Public transportation is good
  Although the city’s public transportation can still be improved on, it does well considering how many people use it on a daily basis. Chicago has one of the biggest bus and train systems in the country and it is definitely a better alternative than driving.
  
  
• The city is beautiful
  One thing that you cannot deny about Chicago is that the city is stunning. This is great for a video shoot location because whether you are looking for a scenic shot of the city or a beautiful greenspace to record in, Chicago has you covered.
  
  
• Great citizens
  One of Chicago’s best characteristics is the people themselves. Everyone who visits Chicago agrees that the citizens here are lovely. The friendliness of your neighbors can make a big difference in how you see a city, and the people in this one are known to be some of the best.

Disadvantages

• Unpleasant weather
  In Chicago, seasons can be pretty intense and both summers and winters can be unpleasant. If you are planning your video shoot in the summer be prepared for the heat, and recording during the winter will be difficult in the extreme cold and snow.
  
  
• Violence and gang activity
  Chicago is often displayed as a crime-ridden city in most shows and videos and has a reputation for violence and gang activities. The city has a fairly high crime rate overall.
  
  
• Finding parking
  The people of Chicago have a sort of tradition called the dibs system, which is where people will place upside down furniture outside to reserve a parking spot. The parking here gets even worse in the winter months and finding somewhere to keep your car for your video shoot location can be a struggle.

Famous Locations in Chicago

• Art Institute of Chicago
  This world class museum houses a grand selection of artworks that are from recent and ancient times. They have prints, photographs, sculptures, paintings, architectural drawings and other forms of creative art in the impressive 400,000 square foot building. The establishment was built by Shepley, Coolidge and Rutan in 1893 for the World’s Columbian Exposition.
  
  
• 360 Chicago
  The John Hancock Center building offers an impressive observation deck called 360 Chicago and is over 1,000 feet up high. It is located on the 94th floor of the building and offers a new feature called the tilt, which offers visitors a view while being tilted in a way that lets you look straight down. The rest of the building is also interesting being filled with shops, apartments, offices and a multimedia exhibit.
  
  
• Shedd Aquarium
  At the Shedd Aquarium, you can learn all about aquatic animals around the world. This is a great event for people of all ages but children will especially enjoy the Polar Play Zone and the Stingray Touch Zone where you can pet real stingrays. Whether you are curious about aquatic animals from the Arctic or Caribbean, you can find out all about them at this aquarium.