About San Francisco

Over the years, filming in San Francisco has given us many opportunities to see parts of San Francisco on the big screen. Hit movies like Mrs. Doubtfire and The Wedding Planner, for example, have given us give a glimpse at San Francisco's many charming neighborhoods, including City Hall, and City College. And, of course, there's the famous Golden Gate Bridge...a modern spectacle that's been in too many movies to count! With so many famous sets, and so many unique venues, it's no wonder that San Francisco is film-production powerhouse, with plenty of options for sets, production companies, and attractions.

Production Options in San Francisco

• Unique Venues
  San Francisco has many local options for film production, including homes, film studios, standings sets, industrial warehouses, and more. It has noteworthy places with their own unique aesthetic, glamorously modern mansions, lofts, studios, beaches, parks, and even luxurious yachts.
  
  
• Caterers
  In San Francisco, you can have drop off catering - perfect for a quick on-set lunch - or even employ a full service caterer for a post-film celebration. Many caterers will even work with you to create a custom menu.
  
  
• Transportation
  San Francisco has wonderful transportation options, from cabs and cars, to bikes, buses and trains, you’ll have no problem getting from point A to B.
  
  
• Equipment rental
  Need equipment for your San Francisco film production? You'll find everything you need - from printers and projectors to lighting equipment and more - with San Francisco’s abundance of equipment rental options.

Production Companies in San Francisco

While many think of southern California for film producers, you can certainly find them in San Francisco, too. Here are a few well worth a mention.

• Studio B Films:
  Studio B Films is nationally-acclaimed video production company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. They’ve produced web commercials, event videos, corporate media communications, coverage of live events and more, and have worked with reputable clients including Adobe, Grammarly, and Facebook.
  
  
• The Hive Studios:
  With a mission to inspire positive change through film, The Hive creates branding videos, commercials, and documentaries, for anyone with a message. They'll work with you every step of the way, from the conception of your idea, to its completion.
  
  
• Purposeful Films:
  Having worked with clients around the world for almost 20 years, Purposeful Films has been noted as one of the leading video production and digital media companies in San Francisco. They'll start by consulting with you on how to best captivate your audience, and work backwards until they come up with something that does.

Pros and Cons of Filming in San Francisco

Filming in San Francisco is not without it's own unique pros and cons. Here are a few to consider.

Advantages

• Great weather
  The weather is nice. There aren’t many rainy days and the summers are cool. Not only does nicer weather make most things easier, but filming outdoors in San Francisco is possible most days of the year.
  
  
• Things to see
  There’s a diverse mix of architecture around this charming city. This keeps things intriguing and interesting. There are also tons of well-known locations. Many movie watchers love to see places they know or hear of on the big screen and this is more than doable when filming in San Francisco.
  
  
• Great discounts
  Given the plentitude of production companies and ancillary services in the San Francisco area, many businesses offer discounts to crews and production companies just to compete. You can get discounts on many film production services, flights from airlines, rooms from local hotels, and even city tours.

Disadvantages

• Hidden Fees
  There’s often a daily fee each day for filming and parking. And application fees are often required when requesting police support--such as when booking a high-traffic spot.
  
  
• Strict Rules
  Given San Francisco's commitment to reduce its environmental impact, there are now specific requirements for 'green filming,' to keep filming sustainable.
  
  
• Bad Traffic
  While San Francisco has plenty of transportation services and options, traffic can get a little dense, especially during rush hour. Alas, the time it might take for you to get around needs to be considered.

Famous Film Locations in San Francisco

San Francisco is filled with tons of historical film locations, backdrop landmarks, and more. Perfect spots for evening get-togethers, cast outings, or general movie-buff excursions, after you've finished filming on set.

• The Golden Gate Bridge

Let’s start with an iconic landmark that’s known around the world: The Golden Gate Bridge, the bright-orange behemoth. The Golden Gate Bridge has been around for more than 80 years and has been seen in countless movies including Star Trek, Dirty Harry, Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, John Huston’s crime classic The Maltese Falcon, and countless others.

• San Francisco City Hall

San Francisco’s elegant City Hall has been a backdrop in several hit movies. You can spot it in The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey, and the classic Dirty Harry with Clint Eastwood.

• Chinatown

San Francisco Chinatown, the largest outside of Asia and the oldest in North America is filled with attractions, culture, and history. It too, has been in its fair share of blockbuster film including Dirty Harry in The Dead Pool, The Age of Adaline, and Big Trouble in Little China.

Other well-known film spots include the notorious Alcatraz penitentiary, the green-filled Golden Gate Park, and the admirable Palace of Fine Arts.