City Guide Filming in Harlem, NY
Production Permit Fees
- New project application fee - $300
- Optional Permit Fee - $0
- Letter in Lieu of an Optional Permit - $0
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability - $1,000,000
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Harlem
Harlem is a New York neighborhood that's had a rollercoaster history. It's seen its good times, its bad times, and times that have been worse than bad, but it always seems to rise in phoenix-like form to regenerate itself again.
Harlem's long association with New York's artistic African-American and Hispanic communities has established strong links with the music, theater, dance, and film worlds. That said, though, when it comes to film, it's often the darker, gangland side of Harlem that tends to be portrayed on screen.
Film crews have been a regular sight on the streets of Harlem since the late 1930s, and the neighborhood's name has been used in numerous film titles. Many of the film industry's most acclaimed directors have tried to capture the essence of Harlem in their movies. Some have succeeded, and others have failed.
Many of the early films shot in Harlem portrayed the social racism of their era. The 1939 movie Moon Over Harlem and the 1947 comedy-drama Hi De Ho were among the first screen representations of the theme.
A Cool World was a 1960s movie about gangland life in Harlem that was considered culturally important and is now part of the collection kept by the National Film Registry. That production was followed by many action, crime, and thrillers featuring African-American actors with Harlem as a backdrop for the dramas. The comedy genre didn't ignore Harlem either.
The list of movies filmed in Harlem isn't inexhaustible, but there are way too many to mention all of them. Here's just a fraction of them. Some you'll recognize and some you might not, but for a filmmaker looking for filming locations in Harlem, they're worth taking a look at.
Movies filmed in Harlem include:
Shaft – 1971
Across 110th Street – 1972
Hell Up In Harlem – 1973
Live And Let Die – 1973
The Cotton Club – 1984
Harlem Nights – 1989
A Rage In Harlem – 1991
Juice – 1992
Die Hard With A Vengeance – 1995
Take a preliminary scout of Harlem filming locations on Giggster, and you'll probably be totally amazed at what's available. There really is something for every genre of film. Before you get carried away and rush off to start filming, make sure you know what the filming regulations for Harlem and New York City are. Being properly in the know will save you a bundle of problems during your shoot.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Harlem?
You may need a film permit to film in Harlem, and then again, as with much of New York, you might not. Whether or not you need to apply for a film permit depends on the type of production you'll be filming, what you'll be filming it with, and the locations you've chosen to film at.
You won't need to apply for a permit if:
You don't want exclusive use of public property
You'll be filming using only hand-held equipment
No special effects are involved
No stunt work is involved
There's no use of fake weapons
There's no use of prop vehicles like police cars
You won't be filming in a neighborhood park
The shoot involves no road or sidewalk closures
Should your production include any of the above, then you will need to apply for a film permit.
To prevent problems with the public or police, you can obtain what is called an Optional Permit or a Letter in Lieu of an Optional Permit if your production fits into the category that doesn’t technically need a permit for filming. These are a substitute for a regular film permit that you can keep on set and produce if anyone questions what you are doing.
Student Permits
Student productions are treated in the same way as regular productions. In this case, if a student production involves any of the above-listed factors, the student filming needs to be permitted. Apart from a film permit, if your student production involves fake weapons, actors dressed as police officers, firemen, or paramedics, the use of prop service vehicles, or is considered a possible risk to public safety by the permitting authority, you will have to have police present during filming. NB: While no fee is charged by the City of New York for police presence, the service is only available for student film shoots from Monday to Friday. Make sure you take the time to arrange this before diving in and starting filming.
Permit Management in Harlem
OFTB of the MOME
Almost all film permitting for the New York neighborhood of Harlem is managed by the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting (OFTB) which is a department of MOME, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.
The only time you may need to deal with any other department is if you want to film in a park or state park. You can find out more about park and state park filming permits in the special requirements section of this article.
Obtaining a film permit from the OFTB if yours is a production that requires one is relatively simple. Film permit applications are made online via the OFTB's Online Permit Application app, and for most productions, students included, the process takes around seven days.
When your production does not need to be permitted, but you want to have an Optional Permit or obtain a Letter in Lieu of an Optional Permit, you will need to register on the OFTB's Online Permit Application app. These optional permits are usually worth getting if you have the time. They give you a document to show to anyone who asks what you’re up to and lend legitimacy to your endeavors.
To obtain a Letter in Lieu of an Optional Permit, you will need to complete an eligibility questionnaire. Once you have filled in all the details, you just need to print the form and keep it with you when you're filming.
To get an Optional Permit, register online and then complete the corresponding application form. Optional permit applications need to be printed, signed, and then faxed to the OFTB who will then fax you back the authorized copy.
Optional permit applications can also be delivered and collected in person from:
The Film Office
1697 Broadway
6th Floor
New York
NY 10019 (212)
NB: The OFTB office hours are from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 4 pm.
What Insurance Do I Need in Harlem?
Some people might think that the question of whether or not you need insurance to film in Harlem really shouldn’t be treated as a serious query. You’re talking about Harlem after all. But to answer the question, as it is pertinent, the only time the OFTB makes having liability insurance obligatory is if your production requires a film permit.
If you are going to be applying for a film permit, your insurance broker must submit a valid insurance certificate to the OFTB 48 hours before you make your online permit application. Insurance certificates sent by the production company won't be accepted, so don’t even try.
Should you be filming with either an Optional Permit or a Letter in Lieu of an Optional Permit, you are not obliged to have insurance coverage. In most cases, no matter what size of production you're filming, it's a good idea to have some sort of insurance coverage as a backup, especially when filming on location in Harlem.
Student productions can check with the OFTB to see if they have your school's insurance on record. If they do, all you'll need to do is submit a letter from your school on letterheaded paper, and you'll be covered. If they don’t have it, you or your school will need to provide them with a copy.
If you can’t meet any of these requirements, you’ll need to explain in writing why you can’t meet the requirement to the Office. They will determine if the shoot can go ahead without the necessary insurance.
Note that these requirements are minimum requirements. Larger and more complex shoots may require additional insurance which will be determined by the Office.
What Kind of Filming Locations Are Available in Harlem?
If there's one New York neighborhood that's literally full of filming locations, then it's Harlem. Whether you go to West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, or Central Harlem, guaranteed you'll find exactly what you're scouting for.
There's no arguing that the brownstones of Harlem, with their decorated entry staircases, are classic film fodder. How many times have you seen actors heading up a set of those? Yes, you're not wrong. The answer is countless, and they've become emblematic of this NYC neighborhood.
There are still some derelict apartment blocks in Harlem where you can film, but they're not as prolific as they were in the 70s. Then there are the housing projects like the Dunbar Apartments and the St Nicholas Houses that epitomize Harlem and its communities.
What remains prolific in Harlem are churches, so if you want to film in front of, or even in one, you'll have over 400 to choose from. Some are enormous historic landmarks, while others are smaller premises that have been renovated to serve as a place of worship, but they're churches nonetheless.
Several of Harlem's parks, including Morningside and Marcus Garvey Park, have been used as filming locations in the past. Don't forget, though, if you plan on filming in a park, you'll need to get special permission.
Internal filming locations in Harlem are as varied as the letters of the alphabet. There is nothing you won't find here, and you won't have to search too hard for it either. Home-type spaces range from Victorian mansions to lofts with park views to townhouses with Renaissance décor. There's a surplus of apartments, too, with décor that ranges from classy to trashy, so seek and you will find.
In Harlem, there are filming locations like event spaces, fitness facilities, hair studios, cinemas, dance studios, and art galleries. There aren't so many restaurants or coffee shops that are willing to welcome film crews but search hard enough and you'll come across a few.
Special Requirements in Harlem
Filming In Parks
Not all of Harlem's parks are film-worthy, but there are a couple that are. To film in any park in Harlem though, you will need to ask for permission from the New York Parks Department. If you are applying for a film permit, then you need to do this before submitting your application to the OFTB. The regular film permit is only issued once you can provide proof you have obtained permission to film in any park listed as a location on your application.
To get permission to film in a park you will need to register and complete a Parks Film Shoot Request Form. You will find the relevant app on the Parks Department's official website. Complete and submit the request form, and it will be forwarded to the manager of the park you want to film in. You will normally get a reply within seven working days. If the response from the park manager is positive, you can add the park as a filming location on your film permit application and proceed with your application to the OFTB.
NB: You must get permission from the Parks Department even if your production does not require a film permit.
Filming With Special Effects
Any film shoot that takes place in New York which involves pyrotechnics, smoke, or flames is obliged to undergo a set inspection conducted by the New York City Fire Department before filming commences. You will also be required to have a fire department specialist present throughout the filming of the scenes involving the pyrotechnics.
As Harlem is known to be a volatile neighborhood, you may also be required to have a police presence on set if you will be filming using fake weapons and ammunition, even if you're not a student production.
NB: The attendance of police at a film shoot is cost-free, but the attendance of the NYC Fire Department isn’t. Make sure you account for this in your film budget!
What Does it Cost to Film in Harlem?
It costs the same to film in Harlem as it does in any other New York City neighborhood. The film permitting service provided by the OFTB carries a one-off application fee only. They do not charge a permit fee or fees per location. The OFTB will, in some cases, waive the application fee if hardship can be proved.
Additional Fees
New York City, including its neighborhoods like Harlem, is a film-friendly city. Besides the non-refundable fee of $300, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) charges a fee of $3,200 for filming in one of the City buildings. This fee should be paid along with the submission of the DCAS permit to the Film Office.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Harlem?
The neighborhood of Harlem occupies almost one and a half square miles of Upper Manhattan in the City of New York. It's a multi-race low-income community with around 200,000 inhabitants.
Harlem's northwestern and northeastern borders are easily defined. The neighborhood is bordered to the northwest by the Henry Hudson Parkway and Riverbank State Park. To the northeast, it is bordered by Harlem River Drive and the Harlem River.
To the southwest, Harlem is bordered by the neighborhood of Manhattan Valley and to the southeast by Yorkville. To the north of Harlem is Washington Heights.
Should your chosen filming location fall outside of the jurisdiction of Harlem, the same film permitting regulations will still apply as all surrounding neighborhoods are part of New York City.
Should your chosen filming location encroach into the waterfront Riverbank State Park, even though it is a state park, you will need to apply for permission to film from the New York Parks Department. The park has been formally renamed, so use Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park on your film request form.
Outreach in Harlem
While you, or whoever you employ, might need a bodyguard to accompany you, you will have to do outreach if you want to film in Harlem. The OFTB insists that all production companies filming anywhere in New York City conduct outreach, so there's no escape from doing it, no matter whether your production requires a film permit or not.
The notification you hand out must be written to the standards set by the OFTB. You can download an example of a notification letter from the OFTB website to make sure you get the content right. Depending on your chosen filming location in Harlem, you may need quite a few as there are many multiple occupancy buildings, and they all need to be given a notification.
The OFTB doesn't stipulate the size of the radius around a filming location they require you to deliver notifications to. If you’re unsure or need some advice on the subject, the best thing to do is get in touch with the OFTB and ask.
Harlem has a relatively high level of Hispanic residents, so to make sure your notification is fully understood, you might want to consider having it translated into Spanish as well as printing it in English.
Community Management in Harlem
It's a good idea to have a community manager on your team if you're going to be filming in Harlem. Whoever you choose will need to understand all about the neighborhood and its various cultures.
In the past, production companies who have been filming in Harlem have been extorted for money by gangs who operated on the streets, it's not so common now. Although that said, you never know what's going to happen, so as well as a community manager, you may want to consider requesting police presence throughout your film shoot. The New York City Police Department provides a free service to film units, so why not take advantage of that and keep your cast and crew (and your budget) safe?
Conclusion
Harlem has been a preferred New York filming location for years. Yes, there have been times when it's not been the easiest of places to film in, but times change, and if you have the right people with you to back you up, your film shoot should be problem free.
Plus, the OFTB is truly your one-stop shop for film permits in Harlem, and their goal is typically to make things as easy for you as possible. What more could you ask for?