City Guide Filming in Winston-Salem, NC
Production Permit Fees
- Permit Fee: $50-$200
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability: $1 million
- Worker’s Compensation: As per state requirements
- Automobile Liability: $1 million per incident
- Watercraft Liability: $1 million
- Aviation Insurance Coverage: $5 million
- UAS/Drone Insurance: $2 million
- Product Liability Insurance: $1 million
- Liquor Liability Insurance: $1 million
Additional Permits
- Police & Firefighter Monitoring: To be arranged by the film production
- Intent To Film Form Submission Benefits:
- Tax Rebates
- Assistance from the North Carolina Film Commission
Discounts
About Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is situated in North Carolina’s Forsyth County. It’s the fifth-largest populated city in the state and just over an hour northeast of Charlotte. It gets its name due to its history when in 1913, neighboring Salem and Winston were merged, and this is also why the city today is referred to as a "Twin City," although you may come across natives who refer to it as Winston. Besides being a major urban center in the state and a hub for economic and educational titans in the area, the city also boasts an impressive skyline and tons of scenic spots dotted across the area. The tallest office tower in the area, the Wells Fargo Center, is also located in the city and is a prominent feature of its cityscape.
Winston-Salem is by no means unacquainted with the sight of production teams laboring around to make the best Hollywood-worthy movies and addictive series. Titles like Cabin Fever, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, Leatherheads, Are You Here, The Bedroom Window, The Longest Ride, Thank You for Smoking, Goodbye to All That, The Lottery, and The Music of Chance are all excellent examples of what the local resources and venues can help you create. When a city is part of the “Best Places to Live” list and has also been branded as the “second-best tech market for women,“ you can feel comfortable placing your bets in its favor.
The city appears to be filming-friendly enough and has seen enormous success in the area too, and the same can also be said about the productions that worked here. So, you're probably half convinced already to head that way (if you weren't already), but let's take a pause for the cause and look at the filming guidelines in Winston-Salem to understand what you've got on the table. And when picking the most suitable locations for filming in Winston-Salem is concerned, you can leave your worries behind for that chore and let Giggster help you connect with the most premium options in the area!
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Winston-Salem?
Yes. As per the filming guidelines in Winston-Salem, filming in both public and private requires the necessary permissions from the relevant parties. In the first case, that would be the local government, while in the second, you’ll have to get written permission (and sign an agreement) with the property owner. You can reach out to the local special events office in Winston-Salem at 101 N Main St if you need to speak with them in person. The fees are minimal at most, and you don’t have to deal with the whole process on your own. Instead, you can reach out to the North Carolina Film Office to ease your way through the film permit issuance process.
Pyrotechnics Permit
this is needed for fire-based special effects, explosions, and similar activities; you must get approval from the local fire department and hire fire safety personnel to handle the special effects.
Animal Control Permit
this permit (alongside the associated precautions) is needed when animals like dogs are part of the shoot and need to be restrained to avoid any damage.
Aircraft Usage Permit
the local aviation department will issue this permit if you have to use an aircraft or helicopter in film production; additional insurance requirements also apply.
Drone Filming Permit
to be able to use a camera drone for your film production activities, you need to get a special permit and submit liability insurance proof; FAA regulations on UAS/drone operation also apply.
Student/Non-Commercial Filming Permit
students and not-for-profit film productions can get their permits at discounted rates.
Permit Management in Winston-Salem
North Carolina Film Office
The local authorities handle North Carolina permits, and the same applies to filming permits in Winston-Salem. The North Carolina Film Office is a focal point for accessing the regional offices (in this case, the Office of Business Inclusion and Advancement) and to ease the process. The best approach to getting your permit in the city is to contact the North Carolina Film Office staff, share your details with them, and then apply for the local authorizations as per their instructions. This way, you can navigate the permit issuance process smoothly.
The film permit application form is available online on the website. Download it from there, fill it up, and submit it to 101 N Main St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Also, if you don't wish to submit the form manually, you can complete it online. Just be sure to reach out to the state Film Commission first.
The fees are minimal, but you must pay for any services rendered by the local departments, as per their quote. The local special events office will not contact the police, fire, and other departments. Instead, you’ll have to get in touch with them yourself. However, you can always request assistance from the North Carolina Film Office regarding the contact information. You can benefit from tax rebates if you submit the “intent to film” form on the State Film Commission website. And even if you don’t qualify for them, you can still get production assistance from their team.
What Insurance Do I Need in Winston-Salem?
Overall, there are no strict regulations for filmmakers in Winston-Salem, but insurance coverage is one of the requirements for filming in the city. Insurance coverage secures the production staff and all possible affectees if something goes wrong. Accidents can happen in a split-second, and you need to be prepared to deal with the aftermath — the city requires you to carry sufficient insurance coverage to pay for the losses sustained by any accident. The higher the risk, the higher the production insurance requirements in Winston-Salem; we have highlighted the baseline requirements below to help you get some perspective.
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 Winston-Salem?
After going through the basics of the filming laws in Winston-Salem, you’re probably curious about what the city offers. Well, there, you've hit the jackpot. Winston-Salem has long been a center of attention for film production teams, and for good reason. The city is dotted with local attractions and venues — for instance, the Bethabara Historic District, which hosts a museum highlighting the history of settlement in the area in addition to natural elements. Old Salem, another local attraction, is a living history museum reconstructed to reflect the original look as it was in 1766.
Other impeccable local venues include the Reynolda Gardens, which are spread over 4-acres of land nestled among woodlands, Kaleideum North, which is an interactive science exhibition/museum, Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex, where the annual autumn Carolina Classic Fair is hosted, and Salem Lake which also has a hiking trail.
Other options include the Albert Butler MCM-style house, a masterfully designed and themed private filming venue conceived by the mind of Byron Simonson (a protégé of Addison Mizner). Words fail to do justice to the architectural excellence of this 1963 house. Spread over 7500 square feet of land, the house boasts vintage-themed walls, divider screens with intricate carvings, a concave ceiling (yes, not flat!), wooden floors, a stainless fireplace, and a dining room shaped like an octagon, among other things. The whole house has backup power, and you also get ample parking space in the driveways, big enough to accommodate trucks and similar vehicles. And since this is a privately owned property, you won’t have to deal with as much paperwork!
Another notable private filming space in the area is the Sylvia Lodge, a gated filming location packed with all the amenities you need to make your filming experience worthwhile. In contrast with the previously mentioned vintage-style home, the Sylvia Lodge is an outdoor vacation spot, but the setup and ambiance are as comfortable as things get.
Indoors or outdoors, premium or basic, public space or private, you have options for the most suitable film settings in Winston-Salem. With so many options at your disposal (and we have barely scratched the surface here), there’s bound to be something that fits your script perfectly. Everything is expertly laid out for you with Giggster. You can browse all the options from your home or office.
Special Requirements in Winston-Salem
Filming In Winston Salem & Forsyth County School District
You can secure conditional permission for filming in the Winston Salem & Forsyth County School District. For that, you’ll have to:
Submit a filming permission proposal/application to the school board.
Send your request as early in advance as possible; ideally a month.
Schedule your filming activities with the school administration.
Arrange for $1 million in general liability.
Complete the film permit process with the city government after the school’s approval.
Filming at Salem Lake
The only extra requirement for filming at or in Salem Lake, if you’re planning to use a water vessel, is to submit proof of $1 million in watercraft liability insurance to the permit issuing authority. Also, you’ll have to ensure that you don’t pollute the lake.
Filming In State Parks
To film in nearby state parks like Hanging Rock State Park or Pilot Mountain State Park, you’ll have to:
First, submit the initial film permit application form to the North Carolina Film Commission.
Contact the superintendent of the park you plan on filming in.
Discuss your filming activities with them.
Get approval from both the film commission and the park authorities.
Start filming once you get your permit.
You may have to hire a park official as a production monitor.
Filming In Military Bases
You can reach out to the Department of Defense to film on a military base in the area – this request will be subject to their scrutiny and approval; the contact information can be found here.
Use Of Drones
You need to obtain a special permit for using camera drones for filming, submit the required liability insurance coverage proof, and also comply with the FAA regulations.
Regulations Regarding The Arrival Of Production Vehicles
All film production vehicles can only enter the production site (if it is near a residential space) at the designated time, not earlier than that. The vehicles must file in one by one, not together, and as soon as the crew members can, they must shut off their vehicle engines.
Wear Your Filming Pass
All production crew members must wear their pass at the filming venue (if it is public property).
What Does it Cost to Film in Winston-Salem?
The fees for filming privileges in the city, though minimal, are to be paid in advance before you can start your production activities. As per the filming regulations in Winston-Salem, you should pay for both the permit issued and any services the local authorities offer, though the latter is to be decided by the concerned departments for your specific case.
Additional Fees
In addition to this, some other fees will also apply when you’re requesting services from the local departments, and these payments (once you get the quotes) must be made directly to those departments. These services are either offered on an hourly basis or as per a fixed quote; the former include:
Besides these hourly expenses, other services will cost you as per the quote given by the concerned department: Police equipment rental for film production – get a quote from the police department. Placing parking signs – get a quote from the Department of Transport. Exclusive access to a street or public right of way – get a Department of Transport quote.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Winston-Salem?
The city sits in the northwest Piedmont area and is bordered on all sides by other cities. The boundaries are well-defined: to the north, the city borders Rural Hall, King, and Germantown. The eastern boundary is marked by Walkertown, Kernersville, and Wallberg. To the south, the city is bordered by Midway. Lastly, Bermuda Run, Clemmons, Lewisville, and Pfafftown form the western boundary.
Outreach in Winston-Salem
You should notify all affected residents about your upcoming filming activities at least two days before the scheduled shoot, but you can do so earlier. The filming laws in Winston-Salem don’t generally require you to conduct local surveys for your film production. You may also have to do so if your filming goes beyond the extent allowed by a general filming permit. Also, when notifying the community, mention your contact details on the notification letter, a list of anticipated activities, alternative routes in case of street closures, and other information that may concern the residents.
Community Management in Winston-Salem
The city has been ranked as the fifth best in the state and has earned recognition even on a grander scale, though not as much as major metropolitan centers in the USA. Overall, it is not just the light filming regulations in Winston-Salem that you've got on your side; the people are very nice. The local community is warm, welcoming, and, most of all, highly cooperative. They're no strangers to the sight of production crews in their neighborhood and will not bother you if you stick to the rules and don't create an annoyance. You won't have to reach out to the residents individually for a survey, but if you do have to do so, show enthusiasm and let them know what their cooperation will mean to you and your project.
Conclusion
The city has all that one could hope for in a filming destination. Not only does it have an impressive and prominent history in the region, the memories of which are fresh to this day, but you can also see how flexible and easy the filming guidelines in Winston-Salem are.
We've already seen that the city hosts some of the most impressive and top-tier filming venues, including themed interiors and luxurious mansions. From purpose-built recording and filming studios to private residential spaces, the city has all you'll need to make your script stand out. And you won't be the first! Films like Cabin Fever and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth were produced in the city and have smashed their way into the must-watch lists of fans ever since. Plus, the North Carolina Film Commission has all the resources you need to make your production efforts as fruitful as possible.
If you complete their intent to film form, you can benefit from their complete assistance during the film production and possibly even secure tax rebates for your expenses. The fees and costs are also minimal, which indicates the pro-filming policy. And if you do plan on filming here, you can always count on Giggster to help you pick the most premium filming locations there are in the area.