District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in District of Columbia
For an introduction to shooting in District of Columbia 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.
District of Columbia Film Locations
Washington DC is the capital of the United States of America. Located on the Potomac River, the District of Columbia is home to government buildings, historic sites, museums, monuments, hotels, parks, unique neighborhoods, metro stations, and sport stadiums.
Government and services are the economic mainstay.
The District of Columbia has hosted productions such as The X Files (1993-2018), Jason Bourne (2016), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Minority Report (2002), Hannibal (2001), Election (1999), Deep Impact (1998), Enemy Of The State (1998), Contact (1997), Forrest Gump (1994), Clear and Present Danger (1994), The Firm (1993), Patriot Games (1992), A Few Good Men (1992), JFK (1991), and The Exorcist (1973), to name a few.
The White House is the residence of the President of the United States of America.
United States Capitol is the seat of the US Congress.
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States of America.
The National Archives Building houses the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.
Library of Congress is the de facto national library of the United States.
Treasury Building was filmed for Enemy Of The State (1998), and Contact (1997).
J Edgar Hoover FBI Building is the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Department of Agriculture Building featured in The X Files (1993-2018).
The Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building houses the main offices of the Board of Governors of the United States’ Federal Reserve System.
United States Institute of Peace Headquarters was designed by Moshe Safdie.
Historic monuments of note include Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool, Jefferson Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, National World War II Memorial, George Washington Masonic Memorial, Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool was filmed for Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Election (1999), Deep Impact (1998), Forrest Gump (1994), The Firm (1993), and JFK (1991).
Smithsonian museums of note include and the National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of African Art, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of American History, National Portrait Gallery, National Postal Museum, Anacostia Community Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Arts and Industries Building, Freer Gallery of Art, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and Smithsonian Institution Building.
Other museums and galleries of note include National Gallery of Art, National Gallery of Art East Building designed by I. M. Pei, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Victims of Communism Museum, National Building Museum, Phillips Collection, African American Civil War Memorial Museum, National Geographic Museum, National Museum of Women in the Arts, International Spy Museum, Museum of the Bible, American University Museum, George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum, Art Museum of the Americas, Kreeger Museum, National Bonsai Museum, Defense Intelligence Agency Museum, and Newseum.
Folger Shakespeare Library is an independent research library on Capitol Hill.
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center featured in Minority Report (2002).
Marine Barracks is the main ceremonial grounds of the Corps.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is located on the Potomac River.
Ford’s Theatre is the site of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
Carnegie Library is located in Mount Vernon Square.
Intelsat Headquarters is a unique building.
Embassy of China was designed by I. M. Pei.
Embassy of Canada was designed by Arthur Erickson.
The house and staircase in The Exorcist (1973) are located in the Georgetown neighborhood.
Georgetown University campus buildings of note include Healy Hall, Gaston Hall, Dahlgren Chapel, Riggs Library, Heyden Observatory, McDonough Arena, and Cooper Field. The Exorcist (1973) filmed in Georgetown University.
Howard University is a historically black college. Campus buildings of note include Founders Library, and Greene Stadium.
Faith locations include Washington National Cathedral, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, Masonic House of the Temple, Adas Israel Congregation synagogue, and Islamic Center of Washington.
Hotels of note include the Watergate, Willard Washington, Washington Hilton, Hotel Washington, Mayflower Hotel, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hay-Adams Hotel, and Mansion on O Street. Hay-Adams Hotel was filmed for Election (1999). Hotel Washington featured in Contact (1997), and The Firm (1993). Willard Washington was filmed for Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), and Minority Report (2002).
Parks of note include the National Mall, National Zoo, United States Botanic Garden, United States National Arboretum, Lafayette Square, President’s Park, Rock Creek Park, Theodore Roosevelt Island Park, Dumbarton Oaks Park, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, and Meridian Hill Park. The Tidal Basin is the best place to film cherry blossom blooms in spring. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) filmed Theodore Roosevelt Island Park.
Mansions of note include Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, and Tudor Place Historic House & Garden.
Stadiums of note include Nationals Park, and Capital One Arena.
Washington Union Station is a major train station. Hannibal (2001) filmed Washington Union Station.
Washington Metro stations are also available for filming.
Ruins of the McMillan Sand Filtration Site is a unique film location.
St. Elizabeths Hospital was a psychiatric hospital.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park is located in Washington DC.
Francis Scott Key Bridge was filmed for Deep Impact (1998).
Capitol Power Plant is a fossil-fuel burning power plant which provides steam and chilled water for the United States Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and 19 other buildings in the Capitol Complex.
District of Columbia Film Location Permits
District of Columbia Film Location Permits are required for filming on public property. Basic film permit requests are usually processed the same day. Cost of film permits depends on the number of crew and talent. Permits for stills shoots are $150 per project. Additional permits may be required by District agencies. Proof of insurance is required. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
District of Columbia has a typical four-season climate with warm springs, hot humid summers, fall colors, and cold winters with occasional snow.
Events of interest include the following:
• The Presidential Inauguration ceremony takes place every 4 years in January.
• The National Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrated around the city each spring in March and April.
• The Plebes No More ceremony involving US Naval Academy plebes working together to climb a greased Herndon Monument, takes place in May.
• National Independence Day Parade on the 4th of July.
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.
District of Columbia Tax Incentives For Filming
The District of Columbia offers qualifying productions including movies, television shows, and other video productions a rebate of:
• Up to 35% of the company’s qualified production expenditures that are subject to taxation in the District;
• Up to 21% of the company’s qualified production expenditures spent in the District of Columbia with District of Columbia registered vendors, cast, or crew; but not subject to taxation in the District;
• Up to 30% of the company’s qualified personnel expenditures that are subject to taxation in the District (resident cast and crew);
• Up to 10% of the company’s qualified personnel expenditures that are not subject to taxation in the District (non-resident cast and crew);
• Up to 50% of the company’s qualified job training expenditures; and
• Up to 25% of the company’s base infrastructure investment; provided the facility is primarily used for business functions related to media production or postproduction activity.
To qualify, an approved applicant must spend at least $250,000 directly in the District of Columbia.
District of Columbia Film Crew & Talent
Crew. The mid-Atlantic region has a good pool of crew to choose from.
Contact us if you are looking for a Washington DC 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 the District of Columbia.
Talent. District of Columbia has a majority African American population. As the nation’s capital, Washington DC is the place to come to film lawmakers and historical spaces.
District of Columbia Film Equipment
Equipment. Washington DC offers locally based standard camera, grip and lighting gear.
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.
District of Columbia Studios & Post Production
There are several good facilities in the mid-Atlantic region.
District of Columbia Film-Friendly Accommodation
Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Washington DC.
Final Notes
Safety. Washington DC is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Explore America’s history at Washington DC’s many museums and monuments.
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 Washington DC, please see below:
Hire District of Columbia Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in District of Columbia, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in District of Columbia, 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.
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