Michigan 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 Michigan? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Michigan
For an introduction to shooting in Michigan 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.
Michigan Film Locations
Michigan, the Great Lakes state, is a midwestern state located on Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and Lake St Clair. Film locations include the cities of Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, as well as unique buildings, rust belt locations, rivers, forests, waterfalls, beaches, lighthouses, deep water ports, universities, museums, covered bridges, beautiful mansions, and ski resorts.
Agricultural film locations include thousands of farms that produce goods are diverse as dairy products, cattle, sheep, hogs, corn, soybeans, wheat, sugar beets, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, plums, pears, apples, grapes, peaches, and Christmas trees. Iron ore, copper, gold, and silver are mined. Michigan is a centre for automobile manufacturing. Energy locations include coal and natural gas fired power plants, nuclear plants, and wind farms.
Michigan has hosted a long list of films including Barbarian (2022), Don’t Breathe (2016), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), It Follows (2014), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Up in the Air (2009), Gran Torino (2008), Transformers (2007), Out of Sight (1998), and Beverly Hills Cop (1984).
Lansing is the state capital. Film locations include Michigan State Capitol building, Michigan Supreme Court, Library of Michigan, and Michigan History Center. Michigan State University campus buildings of note include Beaumont Tower, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum by Zaha Hadid, Wharton Center for Performing Arts, Munn Ice Arena, and Spartan Stadium. Michigan Science Center. Michigan State University was filmed for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).
Detroit is the state’s largest city. The Automobile Capital of the world. The home of Motown. Detroit’s skyline has a variety of impressive architectural styles. Albert Kahn designed many buildings including the Packard Automotive Plant, Fisher Building and Theater, Detroit Athletic Club, Maccabees Building, Cadillac Place, Detroit Free Press Building, Russell Industrial Center, Edwin S. George Building, First National Building, Vinton Building, Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education, and First Congregational Church of Detroit.
Wayne State University in Detroit has several notable buildings designed by Albert Kahn including Bonstelle Theatre, and Metropolitan Center for High Technology. Minoru Yamasaki designed the DeRoy Auditorium, McGregor Memorial Conference Center, and Education Building. Other Wayne State University buildings include Old Main Building, Hilberry Theatre, Charles Lang Freer House, and Tom Adams Field.
Other Detroit film locations of interest include the GM Renaissance Center, Ally Detroit Center, Penobscot Building, Detroit Masonic Temple, Hart Plaza, David Stott Building, Wayne County Building, Detroit Opera House, Detroit Public Library, Guardian Building, Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, Fox Theater, Book Tower, and Ambassador Bridge. Post-industrialism and economic decline has left entire neighborhoods abandoned and many buildings derelict. Architectural ruins of interest include Michigan Central Station, Harbor Terminal Building, Old Michigan Theater, St Agnes Church, Southwestern High School, Vanity Ballroom, and the dilapidated mansions of Brush Park. Museums of note include Detroit Institute of Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art, Cranbrook Art Museum, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Arab American National Museum, Motown Historical Museum, Detroit Historical Museum, Henry Ford Museum, and Automotive Hall of Fame. Sport venues of note include Comerica Park, Ford Field, and Little Caesars Arena. Other Detroit film locations of interest include Livonia City Hall, Eastern Market, Meadow Brook Hall, Cranbrook House & Gardens, Affleck House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Greenfield Village, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and the Port of Detroit. Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is located on Belle Isle Park.
Barbarian (2022), Don’t Breathe (2016), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), It Follows (2014), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Up in the Air (2009), Gran Torino (2008), Transformers (2007), and Beverly Hills Cop (1984) filmed in Detroit.
Grand Rapids is known for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Steelcase Pyramid building, and Meyer May House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor. Campus buildings of note include University of Michigan Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, Michigan Union, Ross School of Business, William W. Cook Legal Research Library, Detroit Observatory, Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum, and Michigan Stadium. Albert Kahn designed Burton Memorial Tower, Hill Auditorium, Angell Hall, and William L Clements Library.
The Islamic Center of America is a mosque located in Dearborn.
Zekelman Holocaust Center is located in Farmington Hills.
Grand Hotel is a majestic location on Mackinac Island.
Colonial Michilimackinac is a former French and British fort on the Straits of Mackinac.
The Soo Locks are located in Sault Ste Marie.
USS Edson decommissioned destroyer is located in Bay City.
Michigan Firehouse Museum is located in Ypsilanti.
Michigan International Speedway is located in Brooklyn.
Michigan’s Adventure amusement park is located in Muskegon.
Gilmore Car Museum is located in Hickory Corners.
Durand Union Station is located in Durand.
Wooden bridges of note include Holz Brücke Wooden Bridge, Ada Covered Bridge, Fallasburg Covered Bridge, and Pierce Stocking Covered Bridge.
Ski resorts of note include Boyne Mountain, Big Snow, Crystal Mountain, Ski Brule, Mount Bohemia, Nub’s Nob, Pine Mountain, Shanty Creek, Caberfae Peaks, Marquette Mountain, Mt Brighton, and Big Powderhorn Mountain.
Kitch-iti-kipi, located on the Upper Peninsula, is the state’s largest natural freshwater spring.
Nature parks of note include Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Isle Royale National Park, Pictured Rocks National Seashore, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Ludington State Park, Warren Dunes State Park, Holland State Park, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Hiawatha National Forest, Wilderness State Park, Petoskey State Park, Bond Falls Scenic Site, Saugatuck Dunes State Park, Grand Haven State Park, Muskegon State Park, Fisherman’s Island State Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Leelanau State Park, and Sleepy Hollow State Park.
Lighthouses of note include Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, Rock of Ages Lighthouse, Point Iroquois Lighthouse, White Shoal Lighthouse, Crisp Point Lighthouse, Tawas Point Lighthouse, Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, New Presque Isle Lighthouse, Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse, Big Red Lighthouse, Point Betsie Lighthouse, Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse, St Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer, Mission Point Lighthouse, and Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse.
Nuclear power plants include Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station, Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant, and Palisades Nuclear Generating Station.
Michigan Film Location Permits
Permits are required for filming on federal, state and tribal property. Special permits are required for highways, national parks and historical sites. Military sites will also require security clearances. Proof of insurance is also required. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Southern and central Michigan has a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. Northern Michigan has a more severe climate with warm, short summers and long very cold, snowy winters.
Events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include the following:
• Tulip Time Festival is held in Holland in May.
• National Cherry Festival is held in Traverse City in May.
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.
Michigan Tax Incentives For Filming
Michigan does not offer a production incentive program.
Michigan Film Crew & Talent
Crew. Michigan has a good pool of local crew as well as all of the standard grip, lighting and camera gear for hire.
Contact us if you are looking for a Detroit, Grand Rapids, or Lansing 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 Michigan.
Talent. The local population is predominately Caucasian and African American. Film characters associated with Michigan include blue collar autoworkers and dairy farmers.
Michigan Film Equipment
Equipment. Michigan offers a good range of standard and specialised camera, grip, and lighting equipment.
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.
Michigan Studios & Post Production
Studios. Michigan has several studios to choose from including Michigan Motion Picture Studios which hosted Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), and Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013).
Michigan Film-Friendly Accommodation
Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and other areas of Michigan.
Final Notes
Safety. Michigan is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Explore Detroit.
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 Michigan, please see below:
Hire Michigan Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Michigan, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Michigan, 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.
