Home to such iconic spots as Coney Island and Prospect Park, Brooklyn is one of the most picturesque boroughs in all of NYC. And while it isn't the home of Hollywood like Los Angeles is, it doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of filming locations available in the city. After all, classic movies like Brighton Beach Memoirs (with Jonathan Silverman), Goodfellas (starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci), and Saturday Night Fever (with John Travolta) featured Brooklyn. Let's take a look at some locations on offer.
Giggster can provide you with some of the most gorgeous filming locations in the world, whether it's a quiet Brooklyn studio with lots of natural light and stunning views over the city or a townhouse with two floors and an enchanting garden at the back. Plan the dream project of your life in a raw historic underground gymnasium or film a dance video in a versatile and unique bohemian loft with a grand piano.
If movies and films are your passion and your dream, Brooklyn could turn out to be the ultimate destination for you. Choose from one of the wondrous venues on the Giggster site and tell a story that could capture hearts around the world!
Great filming locations aren't easy to come by, which is where a website like Giggster comes in. Search through all the venues we have on offer and pick out the space that most calls out to your creative instincts. It could just as easily be daylight studios with big picture windows as large lofts with elaborate and grand decor.
Looking for a stellar view? A private rooftop with views of Manhattan and the city center comes equipped with changing rooms and a cyclorama wall.
A vintage speakeasy-style artist's parlor in Williamsburg is a great creative space that's just a short stroll away from the nearest station.
A Brooklyn Heights parlor with high ceilings and beautiful wood paneling is just the kind of gorgeous location that a New York movie or television show needs.
A cozy French bistro with a long bar counter and high bar stools paints a charming picture of the lively and cosmopolitan city for your audience.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: With as many as 1740 venues on offer on Giggster, you can choose from historic lofts that have been renovated and refurbished or soaring Brooklyn brownstones with their own unique charm and decor.
Hassle-Free Booking: You can't book a venue without knowing all the details, like the rental rate, the size of the space, or even the equipment available. Scroll through the easy-to-use Giggster app to find venues starting at just $17/hour.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Our cancellation policies are flexible and understanding. Thus, you can cancel at no additional cost within 24 hours of confirmation. Our only condition is that you must have booked the venue at least 48 hours ahead of the event.
Platform Protections: And in case you're worried about damages and liabilities, Giggster's optional coverage against such issues is a big help. So go ahead and book Brooklyn Studio With Tons of Natural Light without a second thought!
New York City, just like any other place, obviously has its benefits and its drawbacks. When it comes to finding the perfect filming spot, don't jump in without taking those into account.
Advantages
The best part about NYC is obviously that there's no lack of studios or rentals or professionals that can help you with your filming project.
Brooklyn has very fascinating and picturesque streets and neighborhoods if you want to capture a little bit of the vibe of the city.
In your free time, you can indulge in walking tours of popular filming spaces on Windsor Terrace and Park Slope as you follow in the footsteps and lives of such iconic stars as John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daniel Day-Lewis.
Disadvantages
While places like Prospect Park Zoo and the Brooklyn Bridge might make for iconic backgrounds for your shoots, they're crowded public spaces, and shooting there isn't easy.
New York certainly isn't pocket-friendly, and even the smallest studios in Brooklyn would be more costly than most other cities.
You'll have to book much in advance of the date if you want to get any of the good studios and rentals.
You can now search through as many as 1740 filming locations on Giggster and find the best Brooklyn studio or townhouse to set up your scene.
House – Cozy and Intimate Locales. Sometimes a family home located in a neighborhood like Prospect Heights is exactly what you need to sell a scene. Historic buildings with small backyards and sophisticated, wallpapered rooms lend an air of authenticity and luxury to an already rich scene. There's no lack of Brooklyn brownstones for you to choose from.
Studio – The Ideal Backdrop. Rent out a photo or video studio with cycloramas and a dressing area for maximum convenience. After all, there's a good reason that studios are often the preferred spot for a shoot, and it's because they're fully equipped to meet all your needs. If you want your scenes shot in natural light, there are numerous daylight studios with huge windows in Brooklyn.
Loft – Quintessential New York Apartments. An aged building or warehouse converted into a series of lofts is something that is so typical of New York and deserves to feature in a film set in Brooklyn. Smooth wooden floors and exposed brick walls give the whole space a rustic, industrial look that's great for modern TV shows or films.
Rooftop – A Scene with a View. A Brooklyn rooftop with gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline can look just as great by night as by day. This kind of barebones backdrop is especially suited to a music or dance video where the audience can focus just as much on the scenery as on the artistry itself.
Bar or Restaurant – Vibrant Environments. Whether it's a Prohibition-era speakeasy with its dim and dark corners and comfortable couches or a modern restaurant that's all warm natural light and wooden bar counters, you can fully book out a bar or restaurant to shoot a party scene or a tense family reunion with lots of arguments.
Want to film your own cult classic like The French Connection or Dog Day Afternoon in New York City? It's got to start somewhere. Let's take a look at a step-by-step guide on how to plan the filming process.
Think of the Concept – First, you've got to know exactly where you're going with the film and map out themes, characters, and a storyboard. This comes even before you have a proper script in place.
Prepare the Script – Once you've decided on the concept, you can start working on the script. This will give you an idea of how many actors and filming locations you'll need. Think about how you want to shoot the scenes, whether they must be in order or not.
Pick the Venue – Brooklyn and New York in general are pretty busy, so start looking at venues way ahead of your filming dates. Keep in mind the size of your cast and crew and whether they'll all fit in the space.
Select Cast and Crew – There's no lack of talent in New York, and you'll be able to find actors, cameramen, and lighting operators easily enough. You've got to make sure that their schedules all line up and they're not busy with other projects.
Do Post-Production – And finally, one of the most important things is to put all the clips and scenes that you have shot together at the end. Whether the person who directed is editing the film themself or has someone to stand in for them, this is a pretty painstaking affair.
Filming is usually an expensive proposition, and even indie films need money. Hence, any way that you can cut down costs is a benefit.
Scope out the venue in advance.
Some owners are willing to allow a tour of the property before the actual day of the shoot. Scoping out the venue and figuring out your shots ahead of time is a huge time and money saver!
Limit the filming locations.
The less you have to move around with all your equipment, the cheaper the production will be. There's much to be said about shooting a movie in just one or two filming locales.
Make use of free props and backgrounds.
Whether it's the Brooklyn Bridge in the background or a glimpse of the sea from beaches like Brighton Beach or Coney Island, there are ways in which you can add atmosphere without spending on expensive props or CGI.
Have ambitious dreams of filming a television show or movie that changes lives? It first starts with a location. Whether it's a rustic old pizzeria with vintage decor or a cozy brownstone in a quiet neighborhood, we can promise that Giggster's New York City filming venues will impress your audiences straight away!
