South Carolina Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in South Carolina? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in South Carolina

For an introduction to shooting in South Carolina see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.

South Carolina Film Locations

South Carolina, the Palmetto State, is a Deep South state on the Atlantic Ocean. It is best known for the historic cities of Charleston, Beaufort, and Columbia, as well as antebellum plantations, winding roads shaded by Spanish Moss covered oak trees, military installations, lighthouses, islands and beaches, and upcountry mountain wilderness.

Agricultural film locations include farms that produce corn, soybeans, cotton, peanuts, peaches, wheat, and tobacco. Lumber yards are available for filming. Shrimp trawlers are also available for filming. South Carolina mines gold, iron, titanium, copper, and thorium. Energy locations include nuclear power plants, as well as coal and natural gas fired power plants.

South Carolina has hosted productions such as Outer Banks (2020-), Halloween (2018), The Strangers (2008), The Notebook (2004), Cold Mountain (2003), The Patriot (2000), Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995), Forrest Gump (1994), The Jungle Book (1994), The Prince of Tides (1991), Days of Thunder (1990), and Deliverance (1972).

Columbia is the state capital. Film locations include the South Carolina State House, Governor’s Mansion, South Carolina State Museum, South Carolina Military Museum, Columbia Museum of Art, McKissick Museum, Koger Center for the Arts, Hampton-Preston Mansion, Robert Mills House, Riverbanks Botanical Garden, and Fort Jackson US Army installation. University of South Carolina campus buildings of note include the Melton Memorial Observatory, and Williams–Brice Stadium.

The state’s largest city, Charleston is a charming old city known for its beautiful antebellum homes and plantations, historic buildings, cobblestone streets lit by gas lamps, old churches and cemeteries, verdant parks and gardens, islands, and beaches. Charleston film locations include The Battery, Pineapple Fountain, Fort Sumter Civil War site, Old Slave Mart Museum, Gibbes Museum of Art, International African American Museum, Charleston City Market, US Customs House, Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, The Old Charleston Jail, Charleston Library Society, North Charleston Fire Museum, Calhoun Mansion, John Rutledge House, Edmondston-Alston House, Nathaniel Russell House, Williams Mansion, Aiken-Rhett House, Joseph Manigault House, Heyward-Washington House, St Philip’s Episcopal Church, Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Grace Church Cathedral, French Huguenot Church, St Michael’s Episcopal Church & Cemetery, Unitarian Church & Cemetery, Circular Congregational Church & Cemetery, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue, Magnolia Cemetery, College of Charleston campus, The Citadel military college, Military Magnet Academy, White Point Garden, Hampton Park, Washington Square, Port of Charleston, Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, Angel Oak Tree, Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island Beach, Kiawah Island, and Fort Moultrie. Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is home to the decommissioned USS Yorktown aircraft carrier. Magnolia Plantation, Boone Hall Plantation, Middleton Place Plantation, Drayton Hall, and McLeod Plantation are located on the outskirts of Charleston. Outer Banks (2020-), Halloween (2018), The Notebook (2004), Cold Mountain (2003), The Patriot (2000), Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995), and The Prince of Tides (1991) filmed in Charleston.

Beaufort, located on Port Royal Island, is known for its antebellum mansions, and Spanish moss covered oak trees. Antebellum mansions of note include John Mark Verdier House, Marshlands, Old Barnwell House, Secession House, Cuthbert House, Robert Smalls House, The Oaks, and Tidalholm Mansion, to name a few. Other Beaufort film locations include Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort History Museum, Beaufort National Cemetery, and J.E. McTeer Bridge. Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995), Forrest Gump (1994), The Jungle Book (1994), The Prince of Tides (1991), and Deliverance (1972) filmed in Beaufort. Nearby Fripp Island was filmed for Forrest Gump (1994), The Jungle Book (1994), and The Prince of Tides (1991).

Myrtle Beach is a resort city located on the Atlantic coast. Film locations include beaches, golf courses, beachfront boardwalk are arcades, Family Kingdom amusement park, The SkyWheel, WonderWorks, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, and Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show.

Florence has a picturesque small town main street.

South of the Border is a unique roadside attraction in Dillon.

Darlington Racecourse is a NASCAR racecourse that featured in Days of Thunder (1990).

Bluff Plantation, located in Yemassee, played Forrest Gump’s house in Forrest Gump (1994).

Hampton Plantation is located in McClellanville.

Martins Point Plantation in Wadmalaw Island featured in The Notebook (2004).

Kings Mountain National Military Park is a Revolutionary War site near Blacksburg.

St Helena Island is known for its abandoned luxurious oceanfront mansions.

Oyotunji Yoruba African Kingdom is located near Sheldon.

The Patriot (2000) also filmed in Historic Brattonsville, Botany Bay Plantation, Rock Hill, Chester, Fort Lawn, Lowrys, York, and Georgetown.

Lake Jocassee was filmed for Deliverance (1972).

Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge is home to the red wolf, as well as nesting loggerhead turtles, and migratory birds. Bull Island is a photogenic beach location strewn with dead trees.

Cypress Gardens, located near Moncks Corner, is known for its blackwater Cypress-Tupelo swamp. The Notebook (2004), and The Patriot (2000) filmed Cypress Gardens.

Congaree National Park protects the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States.

Other nature parks of note include Francis Marion National Forest, Huntington Beach State Park, Woods Bay State Park, Edisto Beach State Park, Caesars Head State Park, Table Rock State Park, Devils Fork State Park, Coligny Beach Park, Paris Mountain State Park, Oconee State Park, Jones Gap State Park, Dreher Island State Park, Santee State Park, and Falls Park.

Lighthouses of note include Morris Island Lighthouse, Georgetown County Lighthouse, Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse, Harbour Town Lighthouse, Governor’s Lighthouse, Cape Romain Lighthouse, and Hunting Island Lighthouse which featured in Outer Banks (2020-).

Nuclear power plants include Catawba Nuclear Station, H. B. Robinson Nuclear Generating Station, Oconee Nuclear Station, and Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station.

South Carolina Film Location Permits

The permitting process varies depending on what part of the state you are shooting in and the type of permit you require. On the whole, South Carolina has very few permitting requirements. Small footprint, handheld shoots do not require permits. Larger footprint projects require permits. An Encroachment Permit is required for projects looking to control road traffic. A license for pyrotechnic operators is required when using any pyrotechnic effects. For larger projects a Certificate of Insurance is required. Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

South Carolina summers are hot and humid. Winter temperatures are colder inland than on the coast. Tropical storms last from June to November.

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in the United States.

Unique Local Stories

Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.

If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.

If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.

South Carolina Tax Incentives For Filming

South Carolina offers a cash rebate of up to 30% on qualified local expenditures.

South Carolina Film Crew & Equipment

Crew. South Carolina has a good pool of local crew.

Contact us if you are looking for a Charleston, Columbia, or Greenville based director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew in South Carolina.

Talent. The state’s population is predominately Caucasian and African American. South Carolina stereotypes include Seersucker-wearing southern gentlemen, good ole boys, gospel singers, and tobacco plantation farmers.

South Carolina Film Equipment

Equipment. South Carolina has some standard grip, lighting and camera gear for hire.

Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.

Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.

For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.

South Carolina Studios & Post Production

Studios. South Carolina has several studios to choose from.

South Carolina Film-Friendly Accommodation

Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and other areas of South Carolina.

Final Notes

Safety. South Carolina is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.

Down Time. Southern hospitality is world famous. Enjoy an ice tea or mint julep on a rocking chair of an antebellum mansion veranda.

Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in South Carolina, please see below:

Hire South Carolina Production Support & Shooting Crew

If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in South Carolina, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in South Carolina, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.

We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.