Maine 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 Maine? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in Maine

For an introduction to shooting in Maine 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.

Maine Film Locations

Maine is a New England state best known for the cities of Portland, Bangor, and Augusta, as well as its beautiful fall colors, scenic roads, covered bridges, rivers, rugged coastline, thousands of forested islands, lighthouses, fishing villages, summer camps, and otherworldly national parks.

Agricultural film locations include farms that produce blueberries, apples, potatoes, maple syrup, and dairy products. Lumber yards are available for filming. Maine is known for its lobster fishing and Atlantic salmon fish farms. Commercial fishing boats are available for filming. Energy locations include hydroelectric dams, wind energy turbines, biomass power plants, and natural gas fired power plants.

Films of note shot in Maine include Shutter Island (2010), Minority Report (2002), The Cider House Rules (1999), Thinner (1996), Forrest Gump (1994), The Good Son (1993), and Pet Sematary (1989).

Portland is the state’s largest city. It has a beautiful New England Old Port Waterfront with wharfs, fishing trawlers, red brick buildings, and cobblestone streets. Film locations include Portland City Hall, Portland Museum of Art, International Cryptozoology Museum, Merrill Auditorium, Fort Gorges, Hadlock Field baseball stadium, and the University of Maine School of Law Building. Thinner (1996) filmed in Portland.

Augusta is the state capital. Film locations of note include the Kennebec River, Maine State House, Blaine House Governor’s residence, Governor Hill Mansion, Maine State Museum, Holocaust and Human Rights Center, and Old Fort Western. Thinner (1996) filmed in Augusta.

Bangor is a small city located on the Penobscot River. Film locations of note include Stephen King’s house, Bangor Opera House, Cole Land Transportation Museum, Mount Hope Garden Cemetery, Paul Bunyan Statue, and the Maine Forest & Logging Museum. Pet Sematary (1989) filmed in Bangor.

The University of Maine campus is located in nearby Orono. Alfond Stadium and Alfond Arena are University sport venues.

Bowdoin College campus is located in Brunswick.

Colby College is located in Waterville.

Kennebunkport, where to Bush family summer, is known for its waterfront mansions and rocky coastal looks. Wedding Cake House is a unique mansion.

Camden is a picturesque small town. Thinner (1996) and The Good Son (1993) filmed in Camden.

Stonington is a picturesque coastal town in Bar Harbor.

Old Orchard Beach Pier is a unique location.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is located in Boothbay.

Owls Head Transportation Museum is located in Owls Head.

Bath Iron Works is a major shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is located in Kittery.

Covered bridges of note include Lovejoy Bridge, Lowes Bridge, Hemlock Bridge, Babb’s Bridge, Robyville Bridge, Bennett Bridge, and Porter-Parsonsfield Bridge.

Maine has thousands of islands. Of note are the Isles of Shoals and Isle au Haut. Minority Report (2002) final scene filmed Butter Island, on Penobscot Bay.

Lighthouses of note include Cape Neddick Lighthouse, Portland Head Lighthouse, Mt Desert Rock Lighthouse, Whaleback Lighthouse, Boon Island Lighthouse, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Pumpkin Island Lighthouse, Indian Island Lighthouse, Seguin Light Lighthouse, Monhegan Island Lighthouse, Petit Manan Lighthouse, Heron Neck Lighthouse, Hendricks Head Lighthouse, Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, and Marshall Point Lighthouse which was filmed for Forrest Gump (1994).

Ski resorts of note include Sugarloaf, Saddleback, Sunday River, Camden Snow Bowl, and Shawnee Peak.

Acadia National Park is known for its mountains, Atlantic ocean coastline, forests, and lakes. The park protests black bears, foxes, otters, humpback whales, and diversity of birdlife. Acadia National Park was filmed for Shutter Island (2010), The Cider House Rules (1999), and Pet Sematary (1989).

Baxter State Park is known for the stunning Mount Katahdin, the terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The park has many beautiful lakes including Moosehead Lake. Wildlife of note includes moose, black bears, bobcats, foxes, and a diversity of birdlife.

Pet Sematary (1989) also filmed in Hancock, Bucksport, Sedgewick, and Ellsworth.

The Cider House Rules (1999) also filmed in Bernard, and Corea.

Thinner (1996) also filmed in Belfast, Kittery, Thomaston, Port Clyde, and Appleton.

Maine Film Location Permits

Many of Maine’s State Parks and Lands are available fee-free. A Special Use Permit is required. Filming in parks is tightly regulated. Portland city requires permits to film on public land. Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

Maine has warm, humid summers. The winters are cold and snowy throughout the state. Maine has three main climate zones. The coastal zone has milder summers and less severe winters. The southern interior zone has warmer summers and colder winters. The northern zone has mild summers and the most severe winters. Maine is blanketed in fall colors starting as early as mid-September. Spring time brings colorful flowers and rushing rivers. Parks locations are best filmed outside of busy holiday periods.

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.

Maine Tax Incentives For Filming

Maine offers two incentive programs. The first is a cash rebate equal to 10% or 12% of the first $50,000 of wages paid. The second is a nonrefundable, nontransferable income tax credit equal to 5% of all non-wage production costs incurred in Maine. In order to participate in either program, the production company must spend at least $75,000 in Maine. Maine also offers a long-term lodging tax reimbursement on stays over 28 consecutive days.

Maine Film Crew & Talent

Crew. Maine has a small pool of local film crew.

Contact us if you are looking for a Portland, Bangor or Augusta 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 Maine.

Talent. The state’s population is predominately Caucasian. Mainer stereotypes include lobster fisherman, lighthouse keepers, and flannel wearing outdoor types.

Maine Film Equipment

Equipment. Maine 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.

Maine Film-Friendly Accommodation

Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Portland and other areas of Maine.

Final Notes

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

Down Time. Indulge in a lobster sandwich for lunch, steamers for dinner and a whoppie pie for dessert.

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 Maine, please see below:

Hire Maine Production Support & Shooting Crew

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

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Maine, 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.