Long Island City

About Long Island City

Long Island City is a neighborhood in Queens, NY, with residential, commercial, and recreational areas that offer good opportunities for different kinds of commercial film productions. Filming commenced here in the 1910s, which is why folks here are no strangers to having various production casts and crew in town any time of the year to do their thing. Much of the neighborhood’s growth took place in the early 2000s, particularly in the arts and entertainment scene, further contributing to Long Island City’s growing reputation among filmmakers.

Here in Long Island City, filmmakers enjoy the use of amazing indoor and outdoor locations for their projects. Some of the common places to film in the neighborhood include waterfront areas in Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter’s Point State Park, as well as studios, museums, bridges, historic landmarks, tall buildings, and restaurants, to name a few. Find more locations in Long Island City for your film project on Giggster and prepare for a memorable experience in the neighborhood.

To get an idea of what you’re in for, you can check out projects filmed in Long Island City to see what the community offers to the filmmaking industry. Examples are Manifest (2018 TV series), The Sopranos (1997-2007), Scrooged (1988), Gossip Girl (2007–2012), Sex and the City (1998–2004), Daredevil (2015–2018), Person of Interest (2011–2016), and Fringe (2008–2013).

Do I Need a Filming Permit in Long Island City?

The nature and scope of your production in the neighborhood will determine whether or not you need a filming permit. According to Long Island City's filming regulations, there are typically three types of projects: those that do not need a permit, those that can have an optional permit, and those that require a film permit.

No permit is required to film in Long Island City if your project takes place under the following conditions:

Your production equipment will be a hand-held camera, a piece of hand-held equipment, a camera on a tripod, and/or hand-held props.

You will not assert exclusive use of any property belonging to the city or the municipality.

You will not make use of prop vehicles or prop weapons.

You will not conduct stunts while filming or use special effects.

None of your actors will wear police uniforms during production.

You will not request parking privileges for the entire duration of the film shoot.

If you intend to film under the aforementioned conditions, you may still choose to apply for an Optional Permit. If you want an optional permit, you won't have to pay the application fee or show proof of insurance. Instead, you'll have to follow some other rules. If you want, you can also ask for a Letter in Lieu of Optional Permit.

You require a filming permit for your project in Long Island City if your project comprises any of the following:

You will film with equipment packages that are more than those permitted under the no-permit condition (such as boom mics).

You will require parking privileges for your personal or production vehicles.

You will make exclusive use of property that belongs to the city or municipality during filming.

Your actors will wear police uniforms or perform stunts during production.

You will make use of prop weapons or prop vehicles while filming.

You will be required to submit a request for a student filming permit if you are a filmmaker who intends to carry out production activities in Long Island City as part of your educational program

Permit Management in Long Island City

Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting

The agency in charge of issuing filming permits to filmmakers planning to shoot production in Long Island City is the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting, also known as The Film Office or OFTB. The Film Office offers additional services to support film productions as well, so filmmakers can reach out to them for assistance on issues other than local film permits.

The OFTB will provide you with free police assistance and free access to numerous neighborhood exterior locations if you intend to shoot films in Long Island City. Also, you get to enjoy free parking privileges in the vicinity of the film production. The Film Office also leads the effort to communicate with the Police Department and other city units because they collaborate closely with the city departments whose services will be required to facilitate the film production.

If you want to film in Long Island City, the first thing you need to do is set up a pre-production meeting with the OFTB before you start production. The ideal time is three weeks in advance, but you must ensure it is not later than five days before the date you want to start filming in the neighborhood. All parties involved will review your filming plans and schedules at this meeting. You can then proceed with your application for a film permit.

Complete your online film application no later than two business days before the date of filming if you intend to shoot a simple production. If you have a complex production scheduled – like one that requires road closures or parking requirements – the NYPD Movie & TV Unit will be involved in the review process, meaning the processing time will be longer than two business days. Therefore, submit your complete application three to four business days before the start date so that you will not experience any delays. The safest bet is to apply for the permit as early as possible.

Each permit application you submit to the OFTB to shoot production in Long Island City incurs a non-refundable application fee. You will also be required to provide evidence of insurance that satisfies Long Island City's production insurance requirements. In addition, you are required to notify the people in the community where you intend to shoot your commercial film. Note that you may also need approval from the Fire Department, depending on the nature of your project.

What Insurance Do I Need in Long Island City?

You must provide liability insurance that meets Long Island City’s production insurance requirements before the Film Office permits you to film in the neighborhood.

Before you submit your online film permit application, the Film Office must receive your insurance certificate 48 hours ahead so that the certificate will be duly processed ahead of your application. Additionally, the Film Office only accepts certificates from insurance brokers, not filmmakers or production companies. Therefore, ensure that the certificate of insurance is submitted via email by your insurance broker.

The City of New York, its employees, and officials must be listed as additional insureds on your insurance certificate, which must include a comprehensive general liability policy of at least $1,000,000. The details of your insurance broker and the dates the policy was in effect must also be included on the certificate. Give the OFTB seven days' notice in writing before changing or canceling the insurance policy.

If you are a student filmmaker, your school's insurance policy will do. However, you must get a letter from your school with your name, active student status, film production dates, and an authorized signature.

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 Long Island City?

There are lots of amazing film locations in Long Island City that attract production companies to the neighborhood year in and year out. Some of these include art and studio spaces, lofts, townhouses, offices, rooftops, country houses, streets, tunnels, and bridges.

Long Island City is home to a historic district – Hunter’s Point Historic District – and several other historic places like the Queensboro Bridge, Long Island City Courthouse Complex, Chase Manhattan Bank Building, and the Fire Engine Company 258. Any of these places in the neighborhood can be adapted for film production purposes or used as is if you so desire.

Here in Long Island City, there are two production studios – Troma and Silvercup Studios. Troma Entertainment focuses on producing and distributing low-budget independent films, while Silvercup Studio promotes full-service commercial film production. There are over a dozen film studios and sound stages within the Silvercup facility, among a host of other production resources.

As a neighborhood that sits on the banks of the East River, Long Island City offers opportunities to film in waterfront areas, particularly as the neighborhood features several waterfront parks such as the Gantry Plaza State Park, Hunter’s Point South Park, and Queensbridge Park. Other parks within the neighborhood that present brilliant outdoor filming opportunities include Andrews Grove, Bridge and Tunnel Park, Hunter’s Point Community Park, and Old Hickory Playground.

Long Island City’s unique location on the shore of the East River also means that filmmakers get to choose from various bridges, roads, and streets that suit their script requirements. Pulaski Bridge, Queensboro Bridge, Queens-Midtown Tunnel, Roosevelt Island Bridge, and 21st Street are some common filming locations here.

Special Requirements in Long Island City

Gantry Plaza State Park

Gantry Plaza State Park welcomes filmmakers to apply for a permit to shoot production in the park in line with the New York State Parks film permitting procedures. The first thing to do is to complete and submit an NYS Park Film Shoot Request Form for Gantry Plaza State Park by email. If the request is considered feasible, the NYS Parks Office will provide the filmmaker with the permit application form and the list of required documents to support the application. Additional requirements include:

A non-refundable application fee of $30.

Additional fees for the location, personnel, site visit, etc.

A certificate of general liability insurance of $2,000,000 aggregate,

A detailed site plan.

A copy of the script.

Park walk-through.

In terms of timing, it takes about five business days for a film request form to be processed and up to ten business days for an application to be reviewed. Complex shoots may take longer. Therefore, apply as early as possible. Student filmmakers are welcome to film in Gantry Plaza State Park and must commence their application at least two weeks before the production date.

Hunter’s Point South Park

To film in Hunter’s Point South Park, complete the NYC Parks Film Shoot Request Form. The request will be treated by the park manager in about five business days, and you will get a response on whether your request can be accommodated in the park. If your request is approved, proceed to apply for an OFTB permit and reference the park manager that approved your park film shoot request.

Some Hunter’s Point South Park filming rules and regulations are as follows:

Do not park vehicles within the park unless you have prior authorization.

Do not shoot films in areas that will infringe on the privacy of park patrons.

Do not carry out any extensive setup on lawns except you have clearance to do so.

Do not post or stake any directional sign(s) for filming locations into the ground.

Take out all materials you bring into the park.

Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) requires a DCAS permit and a non-refundable $3,200 application fee before you can film on DCAS property in Long Island City. The Film Office also collects an application fee for the film permit, but the DCAS fee is distinct. You should receive consent to film on DCAS property before you apply for the OFTB film permit, and these are the steps to follow:

Submit all required forms and documents to the DCAS Special Events Office no later than seven business days before the start of production.

Provide a certificate of insurance with general liability cover of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.

List DCAS as an additional insured on the certificate of insurance.

Provide workers’ compensation insurance that complies with the statutory laws of the state of New York.

Pay all fees required by DCAS.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

Production companies are permitted to film on Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) property. You must contact the MTA at least three weeks before the filming date and meet the following conditions to obtain approval for this:

Provide a certificate of insurance that covers general liability, auto liability, worker’s compensation, and railroad protective liability.

Provide a letter of intent, the script, and the storyboard for the project.

Pay the required fees.

Comply with MTA safety instructions.

You will receive additional information from the MTA's Special Events Unit regarding the exact or estimated costs of your production's insurance and filming.

NYC Ferry

Hornblower operates the NYC Ferry and welcomes filmmakers to shoot films on the ferry, provided proper arrangements are made in advance of filming. Contact the Marketing department to arrange for your production, complete the application form, and submit it via email. Depending on the nature of your production, you may need to attach a proposed site plan to your application or seek additional authorization from the Port Authority.

Port Authority

An online application is required if you want to shoot commercial films on Port Authority property. However, you should first get in touch with the Port Authority to talk about the specifics of your production and what you need for the project to succeed before filling out the application. If a scouting visit is required, it may be set up during your first contact. After the scouting visit, you can then continue with your online application.

All commercial film producers are required by the Port Authority to submit a request to film at least 30 days before the filming date. Each application has a $250 non-refundable filing fee, which is separate from any other fees that may be required to use filming locations. The following is the required documentation:

A signed cover letter that contains an overview of the scheduled production

Operations and Security Plans

Signed and Sealed Drawings and Code Analyses

Insurance certificates

Other applicable licenses and certificates

The insurance minimums for your project will be communicated to you by the Risk Finance team at the Port Authority. A rough cost estimate for your production will also be provided to you. This will include the costs associated with the personnel and services that will be provided to ensure the safe and smooth operation of your project.

The Roosevelt Island Tramway

The Roosevelt Island Tramway is popular among filmmakers and welcomes production cast and crew for business. In addition to the permit from the OFTB, filmmakers must comply with these additional guidelines:

No filming on weekends or peak periods

Filming on weekdays may be allowed from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm and 8 pm to 6 am.

What Does it Cost to Film in Long Island City?

Every film permit application that a filmmaker submits to the OFTB must be accompanied by a $300 application fee that is non-refundable. However, the OFTB reserves the right to waive the applicant's application fee if the filmmaker can demonstrate an unreasonable hardship that prevents them from paying it. In any case, the filmmaker is responsible for covering any costs associated with city services that the production requires.

Additional Fees

Although the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting grants filmmakers free access to the majority of Long Island City's exterior public spaces, there may be additional fees for using interior locations in the neighborhood. The overall cost will mainly depend on the production location, nature of the project, duration, and the impact of the filming activity on the area.

Geographical Jurisdiction of Long Island City?

Long Island City is bordered by the East River to the west, Astoria to the north, Newtown Creek to the south, and New Calvary Cemetery to the east. Other nearby municipalities include Sunnyside (east), Greenpoint (south), and Midtown East (west across the East River)

Outreach in Long Island City

Conducting community outreach before filming is one of the things that every filmmaker must do to comply with Long Island City's filming laws. According to the filming guidelines in Long Island City, a filmmaker must inform the residents and businesses that the filming activity will impact, whether it is parking, filming, feeding, or base camps. The minimum amount of time for notification is 48 hours before filming begins.

For the notification that will be sent to those who the production will impact, filmmakers can use a sample resident notification letter as a template. Make sure the letter contains every specific detail about the scheduled production, such as the contact information of the filmmaker and the production dates and times.

Community Management in Long Island City

Filmmakers should familiarize themselves with the neighborhood where they intend to film by taking note of special areas like schools, hospitals, religious centers, and other sensitive facilities. That way, they can conduct their business with only minimal impact on these areas. Filmmakers can also engage the local community board that represents Long Island City to get to know the different ways of contributing to the local community. Nothing beats a direct connection with the locals too.

Conclusion

The Pepsi-Cola sign is one of the most iconic features of Long Island City to date and stands out in films and projects shot in the neighborhood. But that’s not all there is to this residential neighborhood that was once an industrial hub in the region. It comprises beautiful landmarks, arts and culture scenes, business areas, production spaces, and hospitable residents – all the ingredients for a remarkable production experience. Simply figure out the location(s) that you like here using Giggster, obtain your permit to shoot here from the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting, and carry out your production in line with Long Island City’s filming guidelines.

City Guide Filming in Long Island City, NY

Production Permit Fees

Minimum Insurance

Additional Permits

Discounts