City Guide Filming in Scranton, PA
Production Permit Fees
- Permit Fees - Unknown
- Pennsylvania Film Office Coordination Fees
- Independent Features - $250 per day
- Single Episode TV & Documentary - $200 per day
- Web Shorts - $175 per day
- Student Filming – Free
- Late Fee - $50
- Additional Daily Charge - $50 per day for the duration of the shoot.
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability - $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Property Damage - $1,000,000
- Workers’ Compensation - $100,000 per accident
- Employers' Liability - $100,000 per incident
- Bodily Injury Limit - $500,000
- Commercial Automobile Liability - $1,000,000
- Miscellaneous
- NPS Permit Application Fee - $50 non-refundable
Additional Permits
- NPS Permit Application Fee - $50 non-refundable
- NPS Daily Location Fees
- Cast and crew of 1 to 2 - $0 if using a hand-held camera only
- Cast and crew of 1 to 10 - $150 per day
- Cast and crew of 11 to 30 - $250 per day
- Cast and crew of 31 to 49 - $500 per day
- Cast and crew of over 50 - $750 per day
Discounts
About Scranton
Scranton in Pennsylvania, two hours north of Philadelphia, owes a lot to the film industry or, to be more specific, to the television industry. While Scranton does have plenty of filmable assets, it's the mentioning of its name and landmarks in a certain long-running TV series that shot the city to fame, and that's what has, inevitably, captured the attention of filmmakers from across the country.
Scranton is the city in which the mockumentary The Office was set, and although most of the series was filmed elsewhere, Scranton has not missed out on making the most of its claim to fame. Scranton has been used as a setting on several occasions for various other productions, too, and not just for TV. The 1996 movie Kingpin was set in the city, but once again, most of the production was filmed elsewhere.
Has Scranton been used as a filming location? Yes, it has, and on numerous occasions too. The early 1980s saw the cast and crew of the movie That Championship Season roll up in Scranton to film. The movie was an adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play and featured a fictional Mayor of Scranton as one of the lead characters.
A couple of decades later, it was Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams who strolled into Scranton to play their parts in the critically acclaimed film Blue Valentine. There are many more besides those, including:
1970 – Wanda
1987 – Night Visitors
1991 – Brain Twisters
2010 - Forged
2013 - Hostage
2019 – A Hundred Acres of Hell
2023 – The Fetus
You won't be the first production company to consider Scranton as a filming location, and that's a fact. If you've already decided you'd like to check the city out to see if it's right for the script you have, take a look at the filming locations in Scranton that are available on Giggster.
There's quite a surprising selection of filming locations in this Pennsylvanian city, so you're bound to encounter just what you're scouting for. Before you go, though, make sure you're aware of all the filming regulations in Scranton as well as those set in place by the state authorities.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Scranton?
While there are areas of Pennsylvania, including parts of Scranton, that are permit-free for filming, there are occasions when you will need a permit. They include:
Street Closure
If your production involves one or more street closures
Sidewalk Closure
If your production involves sidewalk closures
Outside Catering
You will be employing an outside catering company with food trucks
Pyrotechnics
Your film shoot involves pyrotechnics or other special effects
Steamtown National Historic Site or any other National Parks Service property
You have chosen the Steamtown National Historic Site or any other National Parks Service property as a filming location
State Park
You want to film in a state park
State-owned Property
You want to film on state-owned property
Drone Filming
You want to film with a drone
Permit Management in Scranton
City of Scranton & Various
There is no blanket film permit available for filming in Scranton, so it's a case of dealing with each relevant authority individually. That can become confusing and time-consuming, so it's wise for a production company to seek advice from local film industry specialists like those who work or volunteer for the Pennsylvania Film Office (PFO).
The closest film office sub-branch of the PFO to Scranton is the Northeastern PA Regional Film Office which is headquartered in Lackawaxen, around 50 miles east of Scranton. While the Northeastern PA Regional Film Office doesn't issue film permits, they are familiar with the permitting regulations for Scranton and Lackawanna County.
The Northeastern PA Regional Film Office doesn't deal with permitting, but they can provide a liaison service that will help you negotiate the maze of red tape you may need to find your way out of. It doesn't come free of charge but is worth every cent. The coordination fees are standard ones set by the PFO, which go towards maintaining the service as the people in the Northeastern PA Regional Film Office work voluntarily.
Pennsylvania Film Office Coordination Fees
Independent Features - $250 per day
Single Episode TV & Documentary - $200 per day
Web Shorts - $175 per day
Student Filming – Free
Don't leave your communication with them until the last minute. They're voluntary workers, not miracle workers. If you contact them five days or less before you want to film. If they're able to assist you within such a short period, you'll need to pay late fee charges.
Additional Fees
Late Fee - $50
Additional Daily Charge - $50 per day for the duration of the shoot.
What Insurance Do I Need in Scranton?
The City of Scranton or its sub-branch, the Northeastern PA Regional Film Office in Lackawaxen, doesn't publish any specific requirements concerning insurance. As a responsible production company, though, you should have at least the minimum liability coverage. You may also be asked for proof of coverage by some of the city authorities you'll need to apply to for permits.
The figures below are given as a guide. It's always a good idea to consult with a specialist entertainment insurance broker and one who's licensed to work in the state of Pennsylvania before contracting any type of insurance.
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 Scranton?
Some filming locations in Scranton are not your usual run-of-the-mill filming locations. If you're scouting for locations for a historic movie, then Scranton may well deliver what you're looking for.
There are two unusual sites in Scranton, and they are the Steamtown National Historic Site and the Scranton Iron Furnaces. The first is managed by the National Parks Service, and the second by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Steamtown is a 60-acre locomotive museum with functioning steam trains, and the furnaces are a complex of tunnels that were used for the production of iron.
They're not the only historical filming locations in Scranton either. There's also the Lackawanna Coal Mine which has already been featured in a television series, The Man in the High Castle, which was streamed on Amazon Prime. The mine was also mentioned in an episode of The Office.
The city itself has some interesting architecture in the form of the Lackawanna Station Hotel. Owned by the Radisson Hotel group, it's an impressive neoclassical building with a Tiffany glass vaulted ceiling in the lobby. Scranton City Hall, with its Gothic spires, is just as impressive. One building that can't be mentioned is the one belonging to the Pennsylvania Paper and Supply Company, one that was used as the opening image in The Office. It's still standing and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
When you need somewhere with a small-town appeal, you need to check out Downtown Scranton. There you'll come across artsy areas like Bogart Court, an old-world commercial spot with a big Bohemian atmosphere.
In addition to its unique and historic film locations, Scranton isn't short of natural wonders. You don't need to go all the way out to the Pocono Mountains to film somewhere scenic, either. Nay Aug Park in east Scranton is a wonderland of filmable features, including the Nay Aug Gorge, a waterfall, a 150-foot-high treehouse, and two summertime Olympic-sized swimming pools. For a winter sports and snowy scenes filming location, the Montage Ski Resort just south of Scranton is ideal.
Scranton is a true treasure trove of outdoor filming locations. It also has an excess of great indoor ones too. Restaurants, bars, cafes, art galleries, and more museums than previously mentioned, including one dedicated to the legendary escape artist Houdini. Homes that range from penthouses to bungalows with private grounds and the odd Victorian mansion or two. As a filming location, Scranton does have it all.
Special Requirements in Scranton
Filming At The Steamtown National Historic Site
The Steamtown National Historic Site comes under the jurisdiction of the National Parks Service, so you will need a permit if you want to film there. Permit processing can take, on average, 45 days or more, so apply well in advance of your proposed filming date. This definitely isn’t a site you can add on at the last minute. If you want to film on or with the trains, then you should contact the park at least 180 days in advance.
Any commercial filming conducted on National Parks Service property incurs fees. The fees depend on the size of your cast and crew and are:
NPS Permit Application Fee - $50 non-refundable
NPS Daily Location Fees
Cast and crew of 1 to 2 - $0 if using a handheld camera only
Cast and crew of 1 to 10 - $150 per day
Cast and crew of 11 to 30 - $250 per day
Cast and crew of 31 to 49 - $500 per day
Cast and crew of over 50 - $750 per day
Filming At Lackawanna Coal Mine
If you want to film at the Lackawanna Coal Mine, then you'll need to do it between April and the end of November, as the installation closes the rest of the time.
To start organizing your film shoot, your first course of action is to contact the mine management via the contact details on their website. They will then assess the feasibility of your project to see if filming there is possible. Location rates are charged on a case-by-case basis, so you’ll have to leave your budget a little open-ended for this one.
Filming On State Roads
Before you can film on any state road in Pennsylvania, you will need to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Transport for a permit. You will need to do this at least eight weeks in advance of your proposed filming dates. It’s safe to say that nothing gets done in a rush here!
What Does it Cost to Film in Scranton?
Because there is no blanket Scranton film permit, the cost very much depends on what local permissions your production will need. Each local authority department will charge you administration fees, for a permit, and for employing city employees.
Additional Fees
The actual cost will be calculated based on your specific needs. This is another reason why you can’t set a specific budget until you contact all the appropriate parties.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Scranton?
Scranton is a low-rise city that covers around 25 square miles of Lackawanna County in the northeastern region of the state of Pennsylvania. Only about half a square mile of those terrains are covered with water, and that area is mostly made up of the Lackawanna River. Scranton itself is home to approximately 76,000 people, but its larger metropolitan area that consists of five cities and 40 distinct boroughs is occupied by over half a million residents. The boundaries of Scranton form an irregular shape that reaches as far south as the slopes of the Montage Mountain Ski Resort. To the southwest, Scranton is bordered by Moosic, Taylor, and Old Forge. To the west, its borders are formed by Ransom and the Susquehanna River while to the northwest are Chinchilla, Clarks Summit, and Clarks Green. To the north of Scranton are Throop and Dickson City, while to the northeast is Dunmore, beyond which is the Eales Preserve and several private golf courses. Should your chosen filming location fall outside of the geographical jurisdiction of Scranton, your starting point to find out about local film permitting will still be the Northeastern PA Regional Film Office and the Pennsylvania Film Commission.
Outreach in Scranton
To date, the City of Scranton, the Pennsylvania Film Commission, and its sub-branch, the Northeastern PA Regional Film Office, do not publish any stipulations regarding outreach. If you're going to be filming in urbanized areas of Scranton, outreach is not something you should skip doing.
You can do the distribution of notifications yourself or delegate the task to a community manager if you're otherwise occupied and don't have time to do it. Standard practice is to distribute notifications to all households and businesses within a 300-foot radius of each of your filming locations. A standard notification should contain the following:
Name of the production company
Contact details for questions and objections
Title and type of production being filmed
Dates of filming
The exact locations of the filming
Details of any street or road closures
Details of any parking restrictions that may occur
NB: When you're creating the notifications to hand out in Scranton, there's one more optional detail you may wish to add, and that's where the funding for the project has come from. This is not a common detail to have to include, but it may save you or your community manager from having to answer a lot of awkward questions.
Community Management in Scranton
If there's one city where you'll need a good and very diplomatic community manager on your crew, it's Scranton. The local community may well question you about the origins of your production's funding, and they have good reason to do so.
Just over a decade ago, several hundred thousand dollars of Scranton taxpayer's money was invested in a film project that, while the movie was made, didn't achieve box office distribution. Quite a few Scranton residents were not too happy about that, even though they were invited to attend a free entry premiere.
When you're filming in Scranton, it's a good idea to make your community manager aware of the past film flop and the community money lost so they're able to handle any cantankerous citizens who decide to try to check out your project’s financing. It is a one-off situation but one you should be prepared for.
Conclusion
Scranton has some amazing filming locations that vary from woodlands with waterfalls to buildings with attractive architecture to steam trains and coal mines. That's a diversity you won't find in many other cities, so it's worth taking time to scout around Electric City to see what you can discover.
While there is no specific department that manages all the permitting in Scranton, the City of Scranton, the Pennsylvania Film Commission, and the Northeastern PA Regional Film Office are available to help you coordinate everything. It’s a small price to pay for all the amazing places in town suitable for filming. Just don’t forget to get everything started as early as you can!