City Guide Filming in Williamsburg, NY
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Application Fee: $300 (non-refundable)
Minimum Insurance
- At least $1 million in commercial general liability coverage per event.
- Automobile Liability of at least $1 million for every vehicle used in the shoot. A Non-owned Auto Endorsement to your General Liability Policy is adequate if you use rental automobiles or other vehicles you do not own.
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Williamsburg
The neighborhood of Williamsburg's diverse population and locations ranging from metropolitan streetscapes to picturesque parks, are the ideal settings for a film or TV production. Williamsburg was formerly recognized as the spot to visit in New York City. It is the ideal location since it is full of creativity and creative expression.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984) features scenes filmed in Williamsburg, though the story focused on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Coming to America (1988) was primarily shot in Williamsburg, even though it was set in Queens. The Sopranos episode "Walk Like a Man," which aired in 2007, also includes a sequence shot in Williamsburg. Many recent filmings have taken place on South Second and South Eighth streets, including "The Unusuals," "Gossip Girl," and "Law & Order."
In Brooklyn, photogenic Williamsburg is second only to Midtown as the city's most-filmed district. The 47th Regiment Armory in Williamsburg is Brooklyn's most popular filming location. Because people want to come to Williamsburg, the neighborhood can successfully compete as a film production destination. But if you plan to shoot a film here, it is important you learn about filming regulations in Williamsburg and state legislation managing film production.
Need help choosing the perfect location for your film production in Williamsburg? Giggster makes it easy to find a range of amazing places to film. Click here to learn more about the location options available to you.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Williamsburg?
Film permits are required for most professional film shoots in Williamsburg. Essentially, this implies that you'll need film permission most of the time! However, in some other cases, a filming permit is not required.
So, your first order of business is to ascertain whether or not you need a filming permit to shoot in the city. Because permissions are required for various shoot conditions, The Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting (OFTB) can also help you navigate the filming permit procedure and understand the jurisdictions in which you require authorization to work.
Since filming permits aren’t one-size-fits-all, you may require multiple permissions to film in the district of Williamsburg, depending on the extent of your film production.
Student Filming:
Students who want to shoot a film in Williamsburg may be able to get their permit fees waived. However, students must provide a letter from their school confirming enrollment in a film course, displaying the school letterhead, and that the school's insurance would cover the filming. In addition, students must provide a school ID card and a current school email address.
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.
Pyrotechnics Permit:
If you're planning to use explosives, you'll need permission from the NYC Fire Department's Explosives Unit. This agency within the Bureau of Fire Prevention strictly controls the usage, storage, and transportation of special effects and pyrotechnics for films and special events.
Permit Management in Williamsburg
Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting
The Agency of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting (OFTB) is New York City's official filming permit office for all five boroughs. The OFTB is a one-stop shop for everything related to television and filmmaking licenses in New York City. The OFTB is one of four departments of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), which supervises New York's artistic sector.
Filming permit applications need to be turned in two days in advance. Obtaining insurance for your filming production is the first step in applying for a film permit in Williamsburg. You must submit a Certificate of Insurance (COI) to the OFTB before submitting your online permit application. The COI, on the other hand, cannot originate from you; it must come straight from your insurance broker.
The OFTB also demands a pre-production meeting for narrative film and TV shot outside. This meeting will go through production timetables and shooting strategies. In general, your production manager, location manager, members of the OFTB, and officials from other relevant authorities should participate.
After the pre-production meeting, then you can submit your New Project Account application. Completing the application is a reasonably simple procedure. First, you'll need to supply details about your production, such as the budget, cast and crew size, and insurance policy number.
Keep in mind that if you need to shoot in Williamsburg, it can take up to five business days to secure a permit, and up to six days for sophisticated projects involving the NYPD, so offer as much notice as possible.
What Insurance Do I Need in Williamsburg?
Insurance coverage is required for production companies that need a filming permit in Williamsburg. Similarly, insurance is unnecessary for productions that do not require a film permit. When completing your online permit application, make sure the Company Name matches the name on your insurance certificate exactly.
The insurance coverage limitations may differ depending on the activity and location. Therefore, we do not recommend purchasing insurance without first consulting with an Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting insurance consultant about your filming intentions.
Generally, you must ensure that your insurance covers the following:
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 Williamsburg?
Greater Williamsburg, with its magnificent colonial architecture, culinary inventiveness, and natural beauty, has filming location opportunities around every corner. The Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting helps producers find locations, and one of the resources is the office's enormous database of locations. But don’t forget that Giggster also has an amazing availability of film locations, too.
You can feel the trendy, vibrant culture as you walk along the streets. For example, the bridges in Williamsburg have appeared in several films. The Williamsburg Bridge is one of the key East River bridges, linking Manhattan and Brooklyn and servicing some of New York City's busy highways. American Gangster, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Naked City, Scent of a Woman, The French Connection, and The Siege all featured the Williamsburg Bridge. Likewise, the City of Bones, Alienist, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and The Last Olympian makes references to the bridge.
Domino Park is also a man-made park that features everything a filmmaker could want: river-side views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, flawlessly artificial grass, a dog park, and even a bocce ball court for people-watching. This, along with adjoining Grand Ferry Park, is the location for your filming production in Williamsburg. Of course, you could also consider using Williamsburg Waterfront Park for your production.
The various artisan shops in Williamsburg, where costumed workers practice and show the skills required in any flourishing 18th-century city, are among the most intriguing locations to shoot film. The Blacksmith Shop, Silversmith Shop, Geddy Foundry, Harness & Saddlemaker Shop, Bootmaker, Gunsmith Shop, Wheelwright, and Cabinetmaker Shop are among the most intriguing shops.
Aside from that, Williamsburg has a variety of residential houses where you may film a movie. As you get closer to the city center, more residential condo buildings in the city center may be found. Downtown Williamsburg is steeped in history but firmly devoted to its contemporary culture. From a weekly farmer's market to summer concerts to street movies, a unique combination of arts, entertainment, and local custom ensures something for filmmakers.
Special Requirements in Williamsburg
NYC Parks
Each park has its director, and you must contact the one for the park you want to use.
Certain film and photography shoots on NYC Parks land may necessitate permission from the Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME).
All materials brought into the park by permission holders, including rubbish, must be removed. Your production company may be penalized for leaving waste behind and damage to park property. All locations should be left in the same state where they were discovered.
Filming will be prohibited in areas where it might jeopardize park visitors' privacy, like locker rooms and comfort stations.
The charge for Special Events permits is $25, which cannot be waived. They try to accommodate your wishes, but whether the permit is approved or not, this money is non-refundable.
Shooting in an NYC Park requires a General Liability insurance policy with a minimum $1 million coverage limit, and the park must be listed on your insurance documents as Additionally Insured.
Colonial National Historical Park
Under federal law, all commercial filming within a National Park Services requires permission.
All performance bond and liability insurance requirements must be met. In addition, as a condition of the permit, you must reimburse the National Park Service for all costs incurred in writing the permit, providing protection services, monitoring, or supporting filming or photography activities.
The permits may also require you to get liability insurance in an amount appropriate to the risk presented to park resources by your intended activity, with the United States as an additional insured. You may also need to post a bond to ensure the payment of all fines and fees, as well as the necessary repair of the area.
Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) Permits
In the neighborhood of Williamsburg, any production vehicle longer than 33 feet requires a permit. Therefore, contacting the motorhome business regarding your permit is important because there will most likely be vehicle-specific inquiries.
Parking Features
A film permit grants unique parking rights in key areas for cars required for your shoot. Equipment trucks, tents, cranes, and honey wagons are examples of these vehicles. Unfortunately, the permit does not cover crew or personal vehicles.
You must list your cars in the Vehicle Tab to receive parking rights. If license plate numbers are unavailable, enter the vehicle type (cube truck, freight van, campers, etc.) and plate numbers by the first shoot date. Your parking requests will be withdrawn if no vehicles are listed in your Vehicles Tab, and your permit will be authorized without them.
Each production vehicle must have a copy of the permit posted on the dashboard.
Special Jurisdiction
There are a few areas that fall under the authority of other governmental organizations that are not covered by Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting permission and require other permits. For instance, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) coordinates shoots that involve subway stations, buses, or trains. Therefore, you must plan with the MTA well in advance, at least one to three weeks.
What Does it Cost to Film in Williamsburg?
A film permit application fee in Williamsburg is $300. It is non-refundable and is charged per project. A single permit typically covers film production for several locations. However, any dates that fall outside of your specified dates necessitate a new project application, and you’ll have to pay another $300 fee. OTFB filming permits are free for student productions, although there may be expenses connected with other municipal regulatory agencies. The Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting defines a student project as a class assignment covered by their school's insurance. If your film requires permission but shows that the permit price is an undue burden, you can request a waiver of the permit fee. You can include the waiver with your permit application, and OTFB will evaluate it to determine if they can waive the costs in your situation.
Additional Fees
In addition to these expenses, there will be additional charges for any city personnel who will be required to help with the film production. Your Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting Coordinator can work with you and your budget to fulfill your production's demands while keeping these expenses to a minimum.
While these costs might easily add up, the repercussions of failing to observe all Williamsburg filming requirements are far more severe. They may penalize your production company or even shut it down until any compliance concerns are resolved. So be sure to budget for everything you'll need to film here to avoid breaking any of the restrictions.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Williamsburg?
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bounded to the south by Bedford-Stuyvesant, to the north by Greenpoint, to the east by Bushwick and East Williamsburg, and to the west by the East River. The neighborhood has a population of 151,308, according to the 2020 United States Census.
Williamsburg has witnessed major gentrification since the late 1990s, marked by hipster culture, a contemporary art scene, and dynamic nightlife that has projected its image globally as a "Little Berlin." During the early 2000s, the area became a hotspot for electroclash and indie music.
Brooklyn Community District 1 includes Williamsburg. The New York City Police Department's 90th and 94th Precincts patrol it. Politically, it is represented by the 33rd and 34th Districts of the New York City Council, which comprise the neighborhood's western and southern sections.
It was an autonomous city until 1855 when Brooklyn annexed it; at that time, the spelling of Williamsburgh (with an "h") was changed to Williamsburg. In 1827, the Village of Williamsburgh was established inside the Town of Bushwick as the Village of Williamsburgh. It had a post office, a fire department, and a population of over 1,000 people within two years.
The deep drafts along the East River enticed entrepreneurs, many of whom were German, to develop shipyards in the Williamsburg area. Raw materials were transported, and completed goods were delivered directly to the docks. Several sugar barons erected processing refineries, all of which are now gone, except the now-defunct Domino Sugar plant. Other prominent industries were shipbuilding and brewing.
Outreach in Williamsburg
When filming in a residential or business district, you must appropriately notify each neighbor or business owner who will be directly affected by your film production. This must be completed at least 48 hours before filming in the area. OFTB recommends using this sample resident letter as a template and personalizing it for your production in order to alert the neighborhood.
You'll also need to contact the local Community Board, Business Improvement District, and City Council District. Reaching out to these organizations not only makes your production run more smoothly, but it also connects your film to a long-term plan for improving the lives of the community's residents and businesses. Notification can be sent through email, letter, or phone and must include the permittee's name and contact information and the Film Permit date, and the start and finish hours.
Community Management in Williamsburg
Residents' and businesses' support is required for film production to succeed. They frequently have a lot to say about the continuous film production activity in their area. If they are unhappy, their elected authorities will hear about it and attempt to prohibit specific types of production. The local communities are also fantastic assets. The more help you receive from them, the happier and more successful your film production project will be.
Good communication with local communities is essential for developing a positive connection. If possible, try to attend a municipal meeting or another public event to inform people about your production plans and how you expect to minimize interruption to their everyday life. It is also beneficial to conduct community outreach so that they can see what your production entails. However, you must obtain permission from the all-powerful Special Events & Film Office.
Conclusion
Williamsburg is the ideal location for your next film, TV, commercial, or music video project. Because the city is a 'Film Friendly Community,' you can be certain that your film production experience is smooth, efficient, and pleasurable.
However, keep in mind that making your first film in Williamsburg may be a difficult process. The best thing you can do in any city is to surround yourself with a strong team and the tenacity to see it through.
The Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting can help you take advantage of a city with much to offer filmmakers because they understand the filming process and have a solid knowledge of Williamsburg. To facilitate safe and efficient film productions, the organization offers film permits and information on local productions and serves as a liaison between the local community and filmmakers.
If you're planning to shoot a film, these Williamsburg filming guidelines will help you understand important things you need to know as a filmmaker in the city. It addresses the most often asked questions by producers, such as how to obtain a Williamsburg film permit, how much permits cost, filming locations available, special requirements, and a lot more.