Visitors and locals agree that Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has much more to offer than meets the eye. Hundreds of steel bridges link local neighborhoods, transporting you back to when the city thrived on the steel industry. The city's landscapes, thanks to the famous Pittsburgh incline, the breathtaking North Shore views, and the Pittsburgh skyline make it one of the world's most picturesque settings.
Travel through the local neighborhoods to discover Heinz Field, home of the Panthers and Steelers. Pittsburgh's preservation of its historic places earned it an entry on the National Register and numerous awards. A filmmaker's journey through the local landscapes reveals cinematic backdrops that have featured in the Dark Knight Rises, Living Dead, Mothman Prophecies, and other Pittsburgh movies and TV shows.
Giggster can help you find production locations in downtown Pittsburgh and the nearby Evans City, Washington, and Sharon. Browse our 77 listings to plan your film shoots.
If you are ready to make your silver screen debut or produce the first season of a show, Pittsburgh, PA, has diverse filming locations to explore. A brief journey reminds us that the city opened the world's first modern movie theater, Nickelodeon, in 1914. Dubbed "Hollywood East," the Pittsburgh Film Office has helped produce over 120 TV shows and movies. You can soon add your title to the list of iconic Pittsburgh movies, and Giggster can help you book a production venue in town.
Book a video production studio with a teleprompter, lighting, camera, and audio equipment. Produce social media content, business training videos, and interviews in a space with a green screen and crew support.
A university campus is the best setting for vox pop-style interviews, documentaries, and educational video shoots. However, you can also book a renovated warehouse or modern movie theater with a lecture hall setup to stand in for a class setting.
Book a neighborhood bar for movie scenes, commercials, or music video shoots. Pittsburgh has diverse options, including whiskey bars and Gatsby-themed watering holes.
A cathedral can substitute for a museum or vice versa. As a production setting, it can produce religious scenes for a movie, fashion shoots, commercials, and magazine editorial spreads.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Pittsburgh has hosted iconic plays and served as the setting for many movies. Giggster can help you rent a private estate with a game room, a modern movie theater, or a film studio in Pittsburgh or the nearby Evans City and Washington.
Hassle-Free Booking: Use filters to narrow your search for a production venue. Decide on your must-have features and then message the host for a custom rate and to plan a location visit.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Plans can quickly change, and we understand. If your production location booking is at least 48 hours away, you can cancel your booking at no cost within 24 hours of receiving a confirmation.
Platform Protections: Opt for an event liability policy, which is a requirement you'll need in most cases when applying for a permit from the Pittsburgh Film Office. We offer platform protections, so you have peace of mind.
Pittsburgh was the hometown of actress Rosie Perez and many other celebrities. The city's landscapes appear in An Unremarkable Life, Valley Town, Mayor of Kingstown, and other Pittsburgh movies. This makes Pittsburgh an ideal backdrop for plays and film productions, but you should learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of filming a movie in the city.
Advantages
You can travel to Pittsburgh from nearby Washington, Evans City, and just about any world setting. Just be sure to check your trip details so that you don't end up in the same-named township in Ontario, Canada!
The city's neighborhoods have hiking trails, parks, and outdoor recreation spots, which have been featured in many big-screen productions. Giggster can help you rent a scenic production setting anywhere in town.
Pittsburgh's low living and housing costs also make most production spaces affordable.
Disadvantages
The tunnels across the city contribute to road congestion, and downtown Pittsburgh has the worst snarl-ups. So, when scheduling your production, remember the peak hour timing.
Have an emergency production budget to cover increased costs related to high sales taxes.
The warm season starts from the end of May to mid-September. October has mild weather, and the cold season starts at the tail end of November. December is the coldest month, so it is not the best time to plan an outdoor production.
Giggster can help you book an iconic production setting in Pittsburgh featured in one of the award-winning blockbusters the city has produced. Our suggestions for the best film venues for movie scenes, commercials, or documentary interviews can help you pick a top spot like our Unique Photo/Film Studio.
Bars – Movie Scenes. A bar is the perfect setting for social gatherings and gritty movie scenes. The dim lighting adds a cinematic tone to lighthearted, tense conversations and confrontations. The setting can also create the perfect point of connection where different characters’ lives intersect.
Production Studios – Advertisements. Production studios have controlled lighting, pre-built sets, and equipment. They are flexible enough to produce movies, music videos, and commercials. Green screens can help advertisers bring their concepts to life.
Theaters – University Scenes. Rent a modern theater to record an on-screen university lecture hall. It's also the best place to record college plays, awards, and other events. A theater building can also serve as a setting for recording establishing shots and montage sequences.
Galleries – Museum Stand-ins. Art galleries can serve as museum stand-ins when filming movie scenes or establishing sequences. They have high ceilings, massive windows, and sometimes skylights, which are important features a film space should have.
VR Spaces – Music Video Shoots. The rise of virtual reality (VR) spaces has made them popular event and film venues. Producers and artists can manipulate the digital environments to create music videos.
Pre-production is what determines how the film production will turn out. Hollywood East has scores of filming locations that have produced award-winning movies, and Giggster can help you book a production space that meets all your requirements. With that sorted out, use these production tips to keep your project on track.
Rent the Best Filming Space – A film location recce is the process of scouting for production settings. Giggster is your boots on the ground, with listings across Pittsburgh and beyond. You can message the property owner for custom pricing and request a visit.
Apply for Filming Permits – You will need a film permit to record your project in public spaces, government buildings, or other city venues. Giggster offers optional event liability insurance, which is usually required when applying for film permits.
Hire a Director – A director is among the first crew members you should hire, mainly when producing a movie. They help break down the script and choose a filming space. A director also hires crew members and actors and handles other pre-production processes.
Create a Shooting Schedule – A filming schedule breaks down the scenes you should record on different days and times. It also helps plan crew and cast pick-ups on the production day.
Producing movies, TV commercials, music videos, or plays will cost you money. Giggster can help you book a production space, studio room, or other film setting for as low as $30/hour. Produce a budget-friendly film or screen project using our handy tips.
Film in a production studio.
Filming in a production studio does not include high travel costs or permit requirements. Studios are an all-in-one production solution that provides cameras, sound, and lighting equipment. You do not need to rent from other sources, which lowers your budget.
Use pre-built movie sets.
Rather than building custom sets, opt for a soundstage or production studio with pre-built movie sets. This significantly reduces construction costs and saves time spent setting up different sequences.
Rent film equipment.
Instead of purchasing expensive production gear, renting filming equipment will lower your budget. It allows you to access the latest cameras, sound, and lighting gear at a fraction of the cost.
This concludes our rundown of filming locations in Pittsburgh, which should help you better understand the best production setting for your project. From a contemporary townhome to a renovated warehouse, the Giggster app is your connection to the best places to film in Philly!
