Montauk

About Montauk

If there's one spot in the metropolitan area of New York that's about as far removed from the big city mayhem as you can get, it has to be Montauk. Montauk sits on the eastern coastline of the Long Island peninsula, and while it may be just a hamlet, it garners a lot of attention from filmmakers.

Even though it is, Montauk doesn't need to be associated with the salubrious Hamptons to attract folks from the film industry. It's not just filmmakers who want shots of the lighthouse and the surging surf who head to Montauk either, but ones who delve into the darker genres. Montauk suits horror well, and there are enough mysterious legends attached to the local Air Force base to inspire any writer to produce another script, let alone the one you're planning to film here.

Horror stories aside, the movies shot in Montauk have covered just about every other genre in the book. From the creepy 1960s sci-fi Flesh Eaters to the Cocaine Cowboys of the late 1970s, Montauk has hosted just about every variation of screen story possible.

From documentaries to dramas, Montauk has given its name to numerous productions too. Here are just a few: The Montauk Chronicles, Montauk 77, Return To Montauk, Incident At Montauk, In Montauk, and Montauk.

And they're just the tip of the Montauk movie iceberg. Sunburn, Fishing With John, Nadja, and The Eternal were all filmed in Montauk during the 1990s. Then in 2004 came the movie with probably one of the longest titles ever, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – Meet Me In Montauk.

Montauk certainly knows how to show its best side when being filmed. If you're already favoring it as a place to shoot your production, take a look at the filming locations available in Montauk on Giggster. They'll whet your appetite for filming here even more.

Before you leave New York behind drive down the Old Montauk Highway and get your camera out to film on Ditch Plains Beach, make sure you're fully aware of the filming regulations in Montauk.

Do I Need a Filming Permit in Montauk?

All production companies that want to film in Montauk must have a film permit. This applies regardless of whether the filming will be taking place on public or private property.

Applications for a Montauk filming permit can take up to 14 days to process and sometimes longer if it's a complex shoot involving a large cast and crew.

All production companies are expected to pay all fees incurred before the film permit is issued. That includes any charges for police attendance, which is a very likely probability, for traffic control, parking fees, and public property clean-up charges, plus an application fee. If all fees are not paid in full before the permit is due to be issued, it won't be granted.

Should a production company be found in violation of any of the local laws, including noise restrictions, filming hours, and parking restrictions, or violation of the rules and regulations of the film permit, the permit can be canceled, and the film shoot will cease.

The production company must have the film permit on set at each filming location, so it's available for inspection by any employee of the local authorities should they request to see it. Not having the film permit available on set during the shoot is a violation of the film permit rules and regulations, so make sure it's kept somewhere handy.

NB: They take film permitting and production company behavior very seriously in this neck of the New York metropolitan area, so make sure you get it right and stick to the rules, or you could find yourself well out of pocket and unable to continue filming.

Permit Management in Montauk

Town Clerk for the Town of East Hampton

Montauk is part of the Long Island town of East Hampton and so falls under the jurisdiction of the Town of East Hampton for film permits. The Town Clerk of the Town of East Hampton is the person who deals with film permit applications and collects all fees for the film shoot.

The application form you will need to complete can be downloaded from the Town of East Hampton's official website in PDF format. You can only submit the form for review when you have all the relevant documentation.

The 14-day processing timeframe won't begin until the Town Clerk has all of the correct paperwork, so if you get it wrong or miss something, your application will be delayed. Allow time for the paperwork to arrive by snail mail, too, as online submissions, either by email or app, are not accepted.

Film permit applications, the relevant documentation, and checks covering all fees should be sent to:

Town Clerk

159 Pantigo Road

East Hampton

NY 11937

NB: Don't try to buck the system or get your film permit quicker by offering sweeteners, donations to town causes, or backhanders to town employees. It won't be accepted or appreciated, and you're likely to get your permit application rejected before it has even been looked at.

Tip: While they don't issue film permits for Montauk, you may find both the Suffolk County Film Commission and the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment in New York good for local film industry resources.

What Insurance Do I Need in Montauk?

Having adequate liability insurance is an integral part of being issued with a film permit for Montauk. If your production company doesn't have the right insurance coverage, then you won't be issued a permit.

But, and it's a big but, as the production company is required to be held liable for any property damage or personal injury to town employees or company workers, it's wise to consult with a broker about adding property damage coverage and workers' compensation to your insurance.

Take note that in all cases, the insurance certificate must state the Town of East Hampton and its employees as additionally insured. There will also need to be a hold harmless clause added to the certificate, which excludes the Town of East Hampton from all responsibility and states the production company will take sole responsibility for any untoward occurrence, /whatever category that may fall into.

Public Liability Insurance

$1,000,000 per occurrence

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 Montauk?

The filming locations available in Montauk can truly create cinema or TV gold. Montauk is located on the Long Island peninsula in a position where the North Atlantic Ocean breakers roll onto sandy shores. Anywhere along this part of the East Coast is an ideal spot for filming surfing movies that just gets better after Labor Day when the regular tropical depressions increase the swelling and turn it into a surfer's paradise.

Even without the surf, Montauk's beaches are a cut above. That said, you do need to be aware of whether they come under the jurisdiction of the Town of East Hampton or New York State Parks before you start filming on any of them. You can find out more about filming on Montauk beaches in the special requirements section of this guide.

For scenic driving shots, there's no better road than the Old Montauk Highway, which runs adjacent to the coastline and Montauk's seemingly never-ending, longest stretch of beach. For even more scenic shots of sand and ocean, head to Nominicks Overlook, and you won't be disappointed. Goff Point is great too.

Navy Beach Pier is ideal for early morning fishing scenes when you want to catch the sun coming up to add another dimension to the background color palette. The Montauk harbor area is lined with luxury hotels and full of cruisers and fishing boats at anchor unless they've all sailed away for the day. Find Montauk Point, and you'll find Montauk's famous lighthouse, which has appeared in several movies.

There's no arguing that the landscapes of Montauk are something else, but you can't shoot an entire movie among the dunes. You won't need to either, as there are plenty of internal filming locations available. The business owners and residents in Montauk are not averse to seeing their properties on screen.

In Montauk, you'll be able to film in some pretty classy homes that range in size from beach huts to mansions. Many are by the waterside or have ocean views and if they don't, guaranteed, they'll have a pool in the garden. They're furnished in every style imaginable, too, from vintage to ultra-modern. If you can't find the filming location you're looking for in Montauk, it's because it hasn't been invented yet.

Special Requirements in Montauk

Filming In Montauk State Parks

All of the six state parks in Montauk fall under the jurisdiction of the State of New York Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). The parks are:

Hither Hills State Park

Montauk Point State Park

Camp Hero State Park

Amsterdam beach state park

Shadmoor State Park

Montauk Downs State Park

You will need to apply to the OPRHP for a film permit if:

You will be using props or actors or want to construct a set

Your filming may interfere with regular park activities

You want to film out of normal park opening hours

You want to film in areas restricted to visitors

You will be filming with vehicles

You will be filming with a drone

You want exclusive use of a particular area in the park

To apply for a film permit from the OPRHP, you will need to complete the application form available on their official website. You will need to explain your project in full during a pre-production walk-around meeting with the manager of the park you want to film in. You will also need to provide a full script treatment or a copy of the scenes from the script that will be filmed in the park.

Fees will apply, but they depend on the impact the filming will have on the park and the park environment, the location, and whether you will need park staff or police in attendance. Once your application has been fully assessed, you will be informed of the fees and will need to pay them in full at least seven days before the proposed filming date.

Filming On Montauk Beaches

Should you choose to film on a beach in Montauk that doesn't fall inside the boundaries of any of the aforementioned state parks, then you will need to apply for a film permit from the Town of East Hampton Town Clerk.

A beach location is classed the same as any other public property location, so if you're filming elsewhere, too, you can include it on the same permit application. The same location fees apply as stated in the following section. You may also need to pay beach parking and clean-up fees if they are applicable.

Beach Parking Fees

Vehicles under 16ft - $50 per day per vehicle

Vehicles over 16ft - $100 per day per vehicle

Overnight beach parking - $3000

What Does it Cost to Film in Montauk?

Plan on filming in Montauk, and you'll be facing quite a few fees regardless of whether you're filming on public or private property. It's good to know that privately owned filming locations and state parks may be a lot more economical, especially if the film shoot is lengthy.

Basic Filming Fees Permit application fee -

$100 non-refundable

Public Property Filming Fees

Cast and crew up to 5 members - $150 per day

Cast and crew of 6 to 15 members - $300 per day Cast and crew of 16 to 50 members - $600 per day $1200 per day Cast and crew over 100 members - $1800 per day

Private Property Filming Fees

Cast and crew of 20 members or less - $150 per shoot

Cast and crew over 20 members - $300 per shoot

Public Land Clean-Up Deposit

If you are going to be filming on public land or on public properties, then you will need to present checks as deposits for any clean-up operations that might be needed for each day the permit is valid. The checks are returned to the production company after the end of the shoot if no clean-up operation is deemed necessary.

Clean Up Deposit

$250 per location per day

Traffic Control Fees

Should your production require traffic control organized by the local police force, you will be charged a daily traffic control fee.

Traffic Control Fee

$1000 per day

Any amendment or extension of a permit once it has been issued also incurs fees.

Permit Amendment Fee

$50

Permit Extension Fee

$100

Additional Fees

Filming costs vary, and exactly how much of your production budget you'll need to lay out depends on the size of your cast and crew rather than the location you've chosen.

Geographical Jurisdiction of Montauk?

Montauk occupies around 36 square miles of Long Island's South Fork peninsula. It's a territory that is almost equally divided between land and water. In total, Montauk is home to approximately 4500 permanent residents, but each summer season sees a massive influx of visitors numbering anywhere from 30,000 to 40,000.

Montauk occupies the entire width of the peninsula, so is bordered to the north by Napeague Bay and Fort Pond Bay and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean. Montauk is bordered to the west by Napeague and the Napeague State Park, which separates it from East Hampton.

If your chosen film location should encroach into the Napeague State Park, then you would need to apply to the State of New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) for a filming permit.

If your chosen film location falls in Napeague itself, you would need to apply to the Town of East Hampton Town Clerk for a film permit as Napeague is within their jurisdiction.

Outreach in Montauk

There are no guidelines published by the Town Clerk of East Hampton regarding outreach in Montauk. That doesn't mean that outreach shouldn't be done. It should be and preferably well in advance of your proposed shoot date, especially if it's taking place during the peak visitor season.

Montauk is a small place, and the businesses here rely on the summer trade. Causing any sort of interruption to that trade or blocking access to people's businesses isn't going to go down well. Montauk residents are quite an elite crowd, too, so letting them know about your filming activities in advance is a good idea.

You won't need to distribute notifications about your filming activities if you're filming in any of the state parks. If you're going to be filming on any of the beaches, check if there are hotels or resorts nearby and let the management know what's going to be occurring. Once they're aware, they can inform their guests or post the filming notification in the reception where guests can see it.

Community Management in Montauk

Depending on your chosen filming location in Montauk, you may or may not need a community manager. If you're only going to be filming in isolated places, then you'll be better off keeping your film budget in your pocket.

If you're going to be filming in a residential or commercial area or on a beach where people might be none too happy to have their stroll on the sands interrupted, having a community manager is a good idea.

Montauk is not one of the most economical places to be filming, and any interruptions you get are going to cost money. A community manager will be able to smooth over any problems and act as a distraction to keep people away from the shoot location so everyone else can get on with their jobs.

Conclusion

While it might not be the cheapest, Montauk is certainly a fantastic shooting location. The beaches, ocean views, harbor, and state parks all have something different but undeniably scenic to offer. Will your production be as successful as other productions that have been made here? On that score, you're going to have to wait to find out.

City Guide Filming in Montauk, NY

Production Permit Fees

Minimum Insurance

Additional Permits

Discounts