Why Choose Sydney as a location?
You could hardly find a better backdrop for making a video. With its harbour side views, national parks and cityscape, Sydney offers a wealth of filming locations.
Some of the most popular locations include:
Sydney Opera House: This iconic building is a popular location for films, television shows, and commercials.
Bondi Beach: This famous beach is a popular spot for films and television shows due to its beautiful setting and bustling atmosphere.
The Rocks: This historic neighbourhood is known for its narrow streets, cobblestone lanes, and 19th-century sandstone buildings, making it a popular location for period pieces.
Sydney Harbour Bridge: This iconic landmark is a popular location for films and television shows due to its iconic appearance and sweeping views of the harbour.
Royal Botanic Garden: This beautiful garden is a popular location for films and television shows due to its lush vegetation and stunning views of the harbour.
Darling Harbour: This vibrant waterfront destination is a popular location for films and television shows due to its diverse range of restaurants, shops, and attractions.
Taronga Zoo: This popular zoo is a great location for films and television shows that require exotic animals or a natural setting.
Sydney Olympic Park: This modern sports and entertainment complex is a popular location for films and television shows due to its state-of-the-art facilities and diverse range of event spaces.
If you’re planning on shooting a video production in Sydney there’s some things you should know before you arrive. Some local knowledge could be the difference between having a smooth, problem free shoot, or a complete disaster.
Getting to Your Filming Locations
Getting around Sydney can be quite tricky, especially during peak hour. Like most major cities, you’ll find peak hour traffic can slow you down considerably. Geographically, if you are crossing from East to West to get from one suburb to another then it can sometimes take a long time. Plan your journey the day before and use Google Maps to give you an idea of how long it will take at the time you plan to travel. For example, a drive from the CBD to Parramatta may take around 35 minutes during off-peak times, but if you leave at around 8am that can balloon to over an hour, which could be stressful if you need to start shooting.
Hiring Video Production Equipment in Sydney
Getting the equipment you’ll need for your shoot in Sydney is pretty easy. Our videographers have all their own equipment so that when clients come from interstate or overseas, they won’t need to rent anything. But for people in need of some rental gear, you’ll find what you need without much trouble.
For high end shoots and specialty equipment, Lemac has what you need. We recommend Focus Film Lighting for your gaffer and electrical needs, especially for studio shoots.
Catering Options
In terms of catering, most shooting locations in Sydney will be close to dozens of cafes or eateries. Feedwell provides good quality and health catering options to video production crews.
Hiring a Studio
The biggest and most well-known for large scale productions is Fox Studios, but for corporate or small scale studio use we recommend Corpcast. They have green screen facilities and equipment hire on-site for anything you don’t already have.
Beyond the studios, you’ll find that Sydney has a diverse range of outdoor locations pretty close by as listed above. And beyond Sydney, the Blue Mountains and desert locations are all within a couple of hours drive from the CBD.
Securing Permission for Filming
Keep in mind that public spaces like parks or tourist hotspots may require a permit from the local council and you may need to pay a fee. Check the area where you plan to film and visit local council media pages for more guidance.
Sydney is fairly relaxed about shooting in public, as long as you aren’t in the way of anything and you don’t infringe on anyone’s property. Overall you’ll find shooting a video in Sydney is an easy and enjoyable process.
If you need a video shot in Sydney, get in touch today.
