City Guide Filming in Park Slope, NY
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Application Fee: $300 (non-refundable)
Minimum Insurance
- Commercial general liability coverage of at least $1 million per event.
- Auto liability coverage of at least $1 million for each car utilized in the shoot. A Non-owned Auto Endorsement to your General Liability Policy is sufficient if you use rental cars or other vehicles you do not own.
- The City of New York and OFTB must be named as supplementary insured by your production firm.
Additional Permits
- Police and Fire Requirements: Organized through the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting where needed.
Discounts
About Park Slope
Park Slope has many resources for filmmakers, including a wide range of locations, talented actors, experienced crew members, and state-of-the-art production facilities. The neighborhood also has proximity to Brooklyn, where many major film studios are based, making it a convenient place for filmmakers to work on their projects.
Filmmakers keep returning to Park Slope to shoot because of its stunning landscapes and scenery. In addition, the neighborhood has a variety of locations that are suitable for different types of films. Several prominent films, ranging from The Age of Innocence to Mr. Popper's Penguins, have been shot in Park Slope.
With its tree-lined streets, historic brownstones, family-friendly attitude, and locally owned stores, Park Slope sometimes feels like it belongs on Sesame Street. However, the gorgeous Brooklyn neighborhood has served as the setting for a diverse range of films not aimed at children. Films directed by John Huston, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola are among them.
Between Ray Liotta, Gene Hackman, and Adam Driver, the neighborhood has been home to a star-studded cast of actors and actresses. But before filming, it is recommended that you learn about Park Slope filming regulations.
If you are looking for the best filming locations in Park Slope, check out these great places listed by Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Park Slope?
In general, you will need to obtain a filming permit in Park Slope if you are planning to shoot a film on public or private property with the owner's permission. Several different types of filming permits may be required in different situations. Some common types of permits include:
Student Filming:
In Park Slope, a student filming permit may be required if you are a student or group of students who wish to film a movie or video on location. Fortunately, these permits are free for student productions, although there may be expenses associated with other municipal permitting agencies.
Non-profit Filming:
Permit costs may be waived for non-profit groups. Before filming can commence, you must provide proof of your non-profit status in the form of a 501(c)3 letter to the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting.
Street Closure Permit:
This permit is required if you need to close a street or a part of a street for filming.
Drone Permit:
This permit is required to fly a drone for filming purposes.
Pyrotechnics Permit:
This permit is required to use pyrotechnics, such as fireworks, in a film shoot.
Animal Handling Permit:
You need to obtain an animal handling permit in Park Slope in order to use animals in a film shoot.
Permit Management in Park Slope
Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting (OFTB)
OFTB is the official film permit office for all five boroughs in New York. Unlike other cities, such as Los Angeles, which have multiple film permitting authorities, the OFTB is a one-stop shop for all television and shooting permits in NYC.
Obtaining insurance for your film production is the first step in applying for a film permit in Park Slope. You must submit a Certificate of Insurance (COI) to the OFTB at least 2 days before submitting your online filming permit application. Then, OFTB demands a pre-production meeting for narrative movies and television, as well as expensive music videos or commercials, shot outdoors. This meeting will go through production timetables and shooting strategies. You can then submit your New Film Project Application after the pre-production meeting.
You can complete the application in a reasonably simple procedure. You'll need to supply details about your production, such as the budget, cast and crew size, and insurance policy number. When filming in a residential or business sector, you must appropriately notify each business owner or neighbor who will be directly affected by your production.
A film permit in Park Slope is valid for one day of filming. If you are planning to shoot for several days, you'll need to get a separate permit for each day of filming. If you need to shoot in the area, it can take up to 5 business days to secure a permit and up to six days for sophisticated projects involving the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
What Insurance Do I Need in Park Slope?
There are several types of insurance that filmmakers may need to protect themselves and their production in Park Slope. Some of the most common types of insurance for filmmakers include:
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 Park Slope?
Park Slope is known for its diverse range of filming locations, from historical landmarks and bustling streets to tree-lined streets and scenic parks. Additionally, Park Slope is home to a variety of unique neighborhoods, each with its distinct character and atmosphere, making it a great place to shoot films and TV shows in a variety of different periods and settings.
Park Slope, which Dutch farmers settled in the 17th century, began to develop as a residential community in the mid-1800s. The many brownstones and limestones, Romanesque townhouses, and Victorian Gothic mansions drew upper-class New Yorkers looking for an idyllic urban retreat by the late 1890s and early 1900s. Because Park Slope has Brooklyn's largest historic district, film producers looking for old-world authenticity and architectural character go there.
Those wishing to film amid the gorgeous brownstones in Park Slope have many alternatives. Across the street, at 17 Montgomery Place, is the brownstone where Amanda Popper lives in Mr. Popper's Penguins, a 2011 family comedy starring Jim Carrey as a businessman who inherits a penguin colony.
Take Montgomery Street down to 8th Avenue. Peek forward to the section of 8th Avenue between Carroll and President, and you can almost see Daniel Day-Lewis as Newland Archer on horseback in the snow in Scorsese's Edith Wharton adaption The Age of Innocence (1993). The scene was shot on the street, then Scorsese continued filming in Prospect Park.
The Prospect Park Zoo is one of the principal attractions, housing various wild animals. The other feature is the park's natural forest; Prospect Park is Brooklyn's only natural forest. Prospect Park is Park Slope's green oasis, and it is the origin of the neighborhood’s name. The green sanctuary spans 586 acres and hosts a variety of activities.
Another great location to film in Park Slope includes Montauk Club, a unique venue and social club near Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park. This social club is available to the public and serves as a venue for various events in this one-of-a-kind Venetian Gothic-style edifice designed by Francis Kimball. If you are a fan of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, you will be happy to know that scenes from the show were shot at Brooklyn's Montauk Club.
Special Requirements in Park Slope
NYC Parks
Filming shall be restricted in areas where it may threaten the privacy of park visitors (ex: comfort stations and locker rooms).
The fee for Special Events permits is $25, which cannot be waived or refunded.
Shooting in a city park necessitates a General Liability insurance policy with at least a $1 million coverage limit, and the park must be mentioned as Additionally Insured on your insurance documentation.
Prospect Park
Most film shoots will require the following paperwork for final clearance and authorization after you have secured the date and location approval: The Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting must issue an original film shoot permission. The Mayor's Office's original Schedule A New insureds added to the insurance certificate: Prospect Park Alliance, City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation, City of New York Refundable Bond Fee and other production-related expenses, as applicable.
Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) Permits
Any production vehicle longer than 33 feet requires a permit in the Park Slope. As a result, contacting the RV company about your permission is critical because there will almost certainly be vehicle-specific questions.
Parking Features
The permit offers special parking rights in important areas for vehicles needed for your shoot in Park Slope. These vehicles include equipment trucks, tents, cranes, and honey wagons. Unfortunately, the permission excludes personnel and personal vehicles.
To acquire parking permissions, you must list your film production cars in the Vehicle Tab. If license plate numbers are not accessible, enter the type of vehicle (cube truck, freight van, campers, and so on) and plate numbers by the first shoot date. If no production vehicles are mentioned in your Tab, your parking requests will be withdrawn, but your filming permit will be issued without them.
A copy of the film permit must be displayed on the dashboard of every film production car.
Special Jurisdiction
There are a few often sought-after city locations that fall under the control of other governmental agencies and are not covered by the permission of the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting and require other permits. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), for example, coordinates shoots involving subway stations, buses, or trains in Park Slope. As a result, you must arrange ahead of time with the MTA at least one to three weeks before production.
What Does it Cost to Film in Park Slope?
The cost of a filming permit in Park Slope can vary depending on several factors, such as the location of the shoot, the duration of the shoot, and the type of production. OFTB typically issues filming permits, and the cost is generally intended to cover the expenses of managing and coordinating the shoot.
Additional Fees
City officials stress that it is a processing cost, not a location fee, and that there will be no further expenses for subsequent location requests. While some cities charge film production fees, OFTB has stated that it will continue to provide free police assistance, parking, and access to the majority of City-owned outside sites. It will also offer free bus shelter advertising to productions that shoot at least 75% of their project in New York City.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Park Slope?
Park Slope is a neighborhood in Brooklyn located between Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum. The area has a rich history dating back to the early 19th century when it was developed as a residential neighborhood for the wealthy. In the early 20th century, the area became a hub for artists and intellectuals, and it continues to be a popular destination for young families and professionals today.
Before Europeans arrived in the 17th century, the Lenape inhabited the Park Slope. Until the early nineteenth century, the area was largely farmland and woodland until it was separated into rectangular parcels. The western half of the neighborhood was settled in the mid-nineteenth century due to its proximity to the industrial Gowanus Canal. In the 1880s, with the creation of Prospect Park, several rowhouses and mansions were built in the neighborhood’s eastern part. Park Slope saw social and infrastructure degradation in the mid-twentieth century, but the building stock was renovated once the neighborhood became gentrified in the 1960s.
The historical area of Park Slope, which includes both a New York City landmark district and a National Historic District, covers much of the neighborhood. The neighborhood is known for its historic buildings, greats bars, restaurants, and shops and its proximity to Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Brooklyn Public Library's Central Library, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and Park Slope branches.
According to the 2000 census, the neighborhood had a population of around 62,200 people. Park Slope is often regarded as one of the most attractive neighborhoods in New York City. The neighborhood is located in Brooklyn Community District 6, and the NYPD 78th Precinct patrols it.
Outreach in Park Slope
If the Film Permit includes using parking space, notify the City Council Member, relevant community board, and any known block and business associations about the activity at least two days before the date and time on the film permit. If you don’t have parking available, you must notify any affected business and residential structures. Notification may be sent via email, letter, or phone and must include filming dates and hours, parking that will likely be affected in the area, and other unique events.
Following these disclosures, the responding resident or business owner can express their reservations about the proposed activity. If a resident or company owner has no worries, they can indicate this on the form before the surveyor continues. You can use this sample resident letter as a template and personalize it for your film production to alert the neighborhood.
Community Management in Park Slope
Maintaining strong ties with the local community is critical, especially when filming in a residential or commercial area, because you may need a significant percentage of residents to sign off on your filming project.
There are many ways a filmmaker can manage the community, depending on the specific goals and objectives of the project. Here are a few ideas:
Engage with local organizations and groups: Many communities have organizations or groups that focus on specific issues or interests. Filmmakers can reach out to these groups and offer to screen their film or conduct a Q&A session to engage with the community and get feedback on their work. Host a community screening: Filmmakers can organize a screening of their films in a public space, such as a community center or local theater. This can be a great way to engage with the community and get feedback on the film. Participate in local festivals: Many communities have festivals that showcase local talent and art. Filmmakers can submit their work to these festivals and participate in events and panel discussions to engage with the community and promote their films. Use social media and online platforms: Filmmakers can use social media and online platforms, such as blogs and forums, to promote their films and engage with the community. This can be a great way to reach a wider audience and get feedback on the film.
Overall, the key to successful community management is to be proactive and engaged and to make an effort to connect with the community and understand their interests and needs.
Conclusion
There are several reasons why filmmakers choose to shoot their films in Park Slope. Some of the most common reasons include the neighborhood's diverse locations, the availability of experienced crew members and actors, and the presence of film studios and production companies.
Doesn't that seem exciting? To film your breakout moment — the one that grabs critics and audiences by the neck – in one of Park Slope's diverse locations, you must first obtain permission from the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting. The Film Office issues a film permit that allows you to film your scene and may provide further information on what you'll need for a successful and secure film shoot.
Obtaining a film permit can be a time-consuming process, but it is vital to do so to avoid legal problems with your production, such as penalties or being barred from shooting at all. The Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting is always available to assist if you have any questions about the application process.