West Virginia 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 West Virginia? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in West Virginia
For an introduction to shooting in West Virginia 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.
West Virginia Film Locations
West Virginia is an Appalachian Mountain state known for its forest covered mountains, rivers, waterfalls, gorges, caves, covered bridges, coal mining towns, and abandoned locations.
Agricultural film locations include dairy, and apple farms. Lumber yards are available for filming. The state mines coal, natural gas, and petroleum. Energy locations include coal fired power plants.
West Virginia has hosted productions including Castle Rock (2018-2019), Mindhunter (2017-2019), Out of the Furnace (2013), Unstoppable (2010), Super Size Me (2004), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Matewan (1987), and The Deer Hunter (1978).
Charleston is the state capital and largest city. Film locations include the State Capitol building, Governor’s Mansion, Kanawha County Courthouse, Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, and West Virginia State Museum.
Wheeling is a beautiful rust-belt city in the Northern Panhandle.
Harpers Ferry is a picturesque town.
Small coal town film locations of note include Bluefield, Hinton, Lewisburg, Buckhannon, Elkins, Shepherdstown, Thomas, Davis, Thurmond, and Logan.
Prince has an old-style Amtrak station.
B&O Railroad Station and Willard Hotel is located in Grafton.
Covered bridges of note include Philippi Covered Bridge, Barrackville Covered Bridge, and Locust Creek Covered Bridge.
Weirton and Follansbee featured in The Deer Hunter (1978).
Clay County was filmed for The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
Follansbee, Benwood, and Wheeling featured in Unstoppable (2010).
Beckley was filmed for Super Size Me (2004).
The Greenbrier is a palatial luxury resort located in the Allegheny Mountains which has a Cold War survival bunker underneath.
New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville is an impressive location.
Monongahela National Forest is an extensive mountainous forest area known for its beautiful fall colours. The forest is home to black bears, wild turkeys, snowshoe hares, and a variety of birdlife.
Glade Creek Grist Mill is a picturesque location in Babcock State Park.
The Gauley River offers river control allowing a choice of filming raging whitewater or calm water.
Seneca Rocks area popular rock climbing location.
Other nature parks of note include Blackwater Falls State Park, Hawks Nest State Park, Coopers Rock State Forest, Watoga State Park, Tygart Lake State Park, Audra State Park, Holly River State Park, Beartown State Park, Chief Logan State Park, Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, Bluestone State Park, Valley Falls State Park, Camp Creek State Park, Lost River State Park, Tomlinson Run State Park, Little Beaver State Park, and Sandstone Falls.
Caves of note include Lost World Caverns, Smoke Hole Caverns, and Seneca Caverns.
Ski resorts of note include Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Canaan Valley Ski Resort, Timberline Mountain, and Winterplace Ski Resort.
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park has a steam train available for filming.
Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, located in the Green Bank observatory, is the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope. Note the area has no cell, internet, radio, or TV service.
Nuttallburg Headhouse has a defunct rusting coal conveyor.
Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is a defunct amusement park in Princeton.
West Virginia State Penitentiary, located in Moundsville, is a defunct gothic-style prison that was filmed for Castle Rock (2018-2019), Mindhunter (2017-2019), and Out of the Furnace (2013).
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is located in Weston.
Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, located in Moundsville, is a Hare Krishna temple.
Flinderation Tunnel is an abandoned train tunnel located near Salem.
John Amos Powerplant is located in Winfield on the Kanawha River.
West Virginia Film Location Permits
Most public locations are fee-free. Permits and proof of liability insurance are required. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
West Virginia has hot and humid summers with cold winters and snow at higher elevations.
Events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• International Water Tasting Festival takes place in Berkeley Springs in February.
• FestivALL Charleston in June.
• State Fair of West Virginia takes place in Lewisburg in August.
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.
West Virginia Tax Incentives For Filming
West Virginia does not currently offer a film incentive program.
West Virginia Film Crew & Talent
Crew. West Virginia has a small pool of locally based crew and equipment.
Contact us if you are looking for a Charleston or Harpers Ferry 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 West Virginia.
Talent. The local population is predominately Caucasian. Film characters one might associate with West Virginia include coal miners, and banjo playing hillbillies.
West Virginia Film Equipment
Equipment. West Virginia offers a small pool of standard camera, grip, and lighting equipment 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.
West Virginia Film-Friendly Accommodation
Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Charleston, Harpers Ferry and other areas of West Virginia.
Final Notes
Safety. West Virginia is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Hike someway down the Appalachian Trail.
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 West Virginia, please see below:
Hire West Virginia Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in West Virginia, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in West Virginia, 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.
