About San Diego
San Diego, affectionately known as “America’s Finest City” is a vibrant coastal Southern California city located along the Pacific Ocean. Also dubbed the “City in Motion,” it experiences the best weather in the United States, with diverse outdoor activities to enjoy year-round. Home to numerous cultural attractions and world-class institutions, San Diego is known for its richly diverse culture, unparalleled natural beauty, and progressive attitude.
San Diego isn’t just renowned for its beauty; it’s quickly becoming one of the top film production locations in the country. The city has a long history of producing some of the most memorable movies ever made, from Forrest Gump to Top Gun and The Italian Job. Content creators have selections of venues to explore, including hospital filming locations.
Diverse hospital settings in San Diego, ranging from full-scale medical centers to abandoned asylums, provide distinctly different aesthetics that suit everything from commercial shoots to dramatized productions.
Hospital Filming Options in San Diego
- Filming Equipment
Various filming equipment, including cameras, lighting, audio and video recording technology, tripods and stabilizers, editing software, microphones, and headsets, are required during video production.
- Props
Props are essential when filming in a hospital setting as they help create the illusion of a medical environment. For the location, popular props include medical uniforms, charts, and documents such as patient records, x-rays and lab results, wheelchairs, beds, and various medical tools such as stethoscopes and surgical instruments.
- Post-Production Services
Post-production services include editing the footage captured during a video shoot, combining it with sound effects or voiceovers, and adding titles or graphics. Color correction and adjusting audio levels during playback so that dialogue is clear are also part of the process.
Hospital Filming Vendors in San Diego
- San Diego Film Equipment
With services and equipment ranging from high-end cameras like the RED Epic Dragon camera or the Arri Alexa EV camera to HMIs, LED lights, SkyPanels, and much more, San Diego Film Equipment has the industry standard gear needed to bring your vision to life. They even offer a three-ton liftgate grip truck for easy loading and unloading.
- Cal Uniforms
Cal Uniforms is a one-stop shop for all of your professional needs. With over forty years of experience in the industry, the veteran-owned and operated business provides customized apparel and top-of-the-line accessories for any profession, from paramedics to police officers or nurses to hospitality workers. Their comprehensive offerings include tactical gear and scrubs, t-shirts and ball caps, sunglasses, boots, and everything else.
- Lead Wolf
Lead Wolf is a San Diego-based video production company specializing in corporate interviews, film, music videos, and documentary-style products. Whether it’s for a product launch, brand video, or marketing campaign, Lead Wolf approaches every project with the same enthusiasm and dedication. They offer scriptwriting, storyboarding, casting, location scouting, access to professional production crew members, professionally lit sets, and cinema-grade cameras.
Pros and Cons of Hospital Filming Locations in San Diego
Producing content in a medical environment allows for creativity and realism, along with the potential to contribute to dramatic tension. While renting out a hospital location for production has several advantages, there are also some drawbacks.
Advantages
- With San Diego being close to Los Angeles, it is an ideal option for production companies that don’t want to travel too far from the production hub.
- Hospitals in San Diego offer an array of locations, from small clinics and waiting rooms to large operating theaters, that can easily be adapted for all kinds of productions.
- San Diego has several centrally located hospital film locations that make them easily accessible by car or public transport, minimizing travel time and eliminating additional transportation costs.
Disadvantages
- Due to their sensitive nature and confidential data, hospitals have stringent security measures that may delay filming and require extra paperwork procedures to gain access.
- As hospitals are active working environments, they generally have limited space, and restricted timing could impede production deadlines.
- Filming in a hospital involves following strict health & safety regulations regarding personal protection equipment (PPE) usage, and decontamination protocols must be strictly followed.
Tips on How to Organize Hospital Filming Locations in San Diego
Planning a hospital filming session in San Diego can be a complicated task. To ensure the best results, plan efficiently to create an ideal environment for production. Here are some tips on how to prepare a hospital setting in San Diego for a filming session:
- Research possible filming locations: Look into available hospitals, clinics, or other facilities that could serve as ideal settings for your project. Consider the distance from other filming locations and factors such as parking, accessibility, and equipment availability.
- Book the space in advance: Locking down the desired location gives you time to make any necessary arrangements with the staff at the facility and clarify any questions that may arise during pre-production.
- Ensure safety protocols are followed: Follow safety protocols like providing access to medical personnel if needed during filming or adhering to the standards set by healthcare organizations when filming within medical facilities. Discuss these measures with the production staff before production commences.
- Prep props and equipment: Choose props and filming equipment based on what is needed for each scene to reduce clutter or distractions. Clearly label everything, and store them neatly so they are easy to find when needed during production.
- Have a contingency plan: In case of unforeseen issues like power outages or weather-related problems, have an alternate filming location ready so that production does not suffer from delays caused by unexpected circumstances.
Famous Locations in San Diego
- Long-Waterman House
Located in the heart of Bankers Hill, The Long-Waterman House is a testament to the architecture of 1880s California. Built by San Diego architect D.B. Benson and initially inhabited by California Governor Robert Whitney Waterman, this impressive building showcases ornate porches and towers that have been kept in excellent condition for over a century. Visitors should respect its status as a private residence but still take time to admire the gorgeous Queen Anne style from afar. The Long-Waterman House has been passed down through just one family since 1897 and still provides incredible insight into the grandeur of years past.
- Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
Stroll across the historic Spruce Street Footbridge, suspended high above a majestic canyon between Front St and Brant St. Constructed in 1912, the suspension bridge is a sight. As you traverse its 375ft length, keep an eye out for spectacular views of Hillcrest. It may sway beneath your feet, but fear not; this is entirely intentional, just another reminder that you’re walking on a piece of history.
- La Jolla Recreation Center
The La Jolla Recreation Center has been a part of the San Diego community for over 100 years. It was commissioned by prominent philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps and designed by influential architect Irving Gill in 1915. Today, the center is a great spot to enjoy outdoor activities with family and friends. There are basketball and tennis courts, play areas, picnic facilities, and more. Check the schedule for free adult classes like Ashtanga yoga, tai chi, and pilates.