About Montclair
A city in New Jersey that is only 13 short miles from NYC, Montclair is a beautiful urban center with much to offer. Its name is taken from a French term that translates to clear mountain. Life in Montclair offers its residents the best of both worlds: a big city feel in the heart of the suburbs.
Montclair has been named among the coolest suburbs in the United States and is well renowned for its cultural amenities which include the best restaurants, impressive museums, a wide range of natural spaces and public parks, and a thriving music scene.
Many famous and influential people have made Montclair their residence of choice including Yogi Berra, Buzz Aldrin, Olympia Dukakis, Bobbi Brown, and Stephen Colbert. The city is of great historical significance with six historic regions to its credit and many historical properties still standing today.
If you’re looking for the ideal Montclair video shoot location, you’ll have plenty of inspiring spots from which to choose. Whether you are hoping for a beautiful natural space, a sound stage, or even to set up shop in a historic building or hotel, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for in Montclair.
Video Shoot Options in Montclair
In a city as beautiful as Montclair, you’re sure to have a ball searching for the perfect spot to do some filming. Once you’ve secured the ideal Montclair video shoot location, it’s time to bring in the professionals to get it ready for filming to begin.
- Audio-Visual Equipment Rentals
If you find yourself in need of some specialized equipment for your Montclair video shoot location, you don’t have to exceed your budget to get what you require. Thankfully, Montclair is home to many excellent audio-visual equipment rental businesses that can supply you with the tools you are looking for. Offering equipment for rent, lease, and even affordable rent-to-own monthly plans, you’re sure to find everything you need for your video shoot with the right locally-based audio-visual equipment rental company.
- Catering
Ensuring your staff is well-fed is half the battle of keeping motivation and performance levels high at your Montclair video shoot location. With a wide selection of caterers to choose from in the region, you’re sure to find the perfect company to provide you with tasty vittles to keep your cast and crew coming back for more.
- Hair and Makeup
Video shoot schedules can easily go awry if the on-screen talent isn’t camera ready when you need them to be. Bring that problem to an end by hiring a professional makeup artist and hairstylist with experience in the film and photo industry to keep your cast looking their very best.
Video Shoot Companies in Montclair
You’ve found the perfect video shoot locale. Now all that remains to be done is getting the space organized so filming can begin. Feeling like you can’t get it all done on your own? Not to worry. Montclair is home to many supply vendors, rental companies, and beauty professionals that can help take the burden off your shoulders.
- Simply Delicious Catering
Simply Delicious Catering has been providing premium quality cuisine for events, businesses, and celebrations for more than 25 years. Considered to be among the top catering companies in Montclair, Simply Delicious Catering has the expertise to provide any type of cuisine you desire. From breakfast, lunch, and supper to hors d’oeuvres, dessert buffets, or something entirely different, Simply Delicious Catering is the team that can deliver.
- Fox and Mane Co.
Located in the heart of Montclair is Fox and Mane Co, a top-tier hair salon specializing in cuts, colors, and hair extensions for film, photo shoots, and everyday life. Fox and Mane Co provides on-site hair styling for events such as weddings, celebrations, and film sets to ensure their clients look and feel their very best.
- Bergen Audio Visual
In business since 2004, Bergen Audio Visual is the premier audio-visual equipment rental business serving Central and Northern New Jersey. Stocking a wide selection of equipment suitable for use in hotels, conference centers, banquet halls, and restaurants, Bergen Audio Visual can help you find all of the tools you need for filming, live streaming, and even video conferencing.
Pros and Cons of Video Shoots in Montclair
A charming city with a suburban feel, Montclair is a true delight to those who reside here as well as those who visit. Still, shooting a video in Montclair comes with its advantages and its disadvantages.
Advantages
- Affordable living expenses
Given its close proximity to NYC, Montclair offers a high standard of living for an affordable price.
- Ease of commuting
The New Jersey Transit Midtown Direct Train Station offers service from Montclair to Manhattan several times daily with the commute taking only 29 minutes to arrive at Penn Station. There are other train routes that take slightly longer, but they are also highly affordable. Bus service is also available to NYC from Montclair.
- Charming, nostalgic landscape
A former railroad town, Montclair is one city that has an old-world Hollywood feel to it. Several movies were filmed here including Analyze This and The Devil’s Own.
Disadvantages
- High tax rates
Unfortunately, the taxes in Montclair are among the highest not only in the state but also in the country.
- Crime rate
Though Montclair’s crime rate is low when compared to NYC, it is relatively high when considered against other large and affluent US cities.
- Chilly, wet winters
Like NYC and the entire state of New Jersey, winters in Montclair are chilly and quite wet.
Famous Locations in Montclair
- Van Vleck House and Gardens
The Van Vleck House and Gardens were built as private residences more than 140 years ago. The property was the result of the vision of the well-known entrepreneur Mr. Joseph Van Vleck, Sr. in 1868. Today, the home remains largely true to its original structure including its U-shaped villa in the Italian style and the incredibly picturesque gardens that grace the grounds.
- Montclair Art Museum
The Montclair Art Museum houses an impressive and rare collection of American and Native American artifacts and art pieces. There are more than 12,000 items on display on the premises representing artwork from the 18th century to the modern-day.
- Wellmont Theater
Constructed in 1922, the Wellmont Theater was transformed into a movie house in 1929. Thomas Edison was one of the famous attendees at this cinema in its heyday. In time, the theater grew from one cinema to three. Today, what was once the lobby has been converted into a popular restaurant. The Wellmont Theater is now largely in use as an entertainment venue for concert performances and plays.
