About Oakland
The biggest city in California’s Alameda County, Oakland is a picturesque seaside center that serves as an important port for commerce and trade. Found in the East Bay region of San Francisco Bay, Oakland has a population base that ranks it as #8 in the state and #45 in the country when it comes to its concentration of residents. The Port of Oakland is the most heavily trafficked port both in San Francisco Bay and Northern California.
Oakland is particularly well known for its exceptional cuisine. With many locally produced meats, fruits, and vegetables to choose from, Oakland’s culinary professionals are able to produce some of the tastiest dishes in the country. Among the cuisines available here are French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Caribbean, and even some of the most beloved treats found in Louisiana and the Southern states.
With its gorgeous scenery, attractions, and culture to offer, it’s not hard to see why Oakland production spaces are in such high demand. Whether you are looking for a picturesque spot in the great outdoors, a sound stage, or something entirely different, you’ll have no difficulty finding it in Oakland.
Production Space Options in Oakland
Searching for the ideal Oakland production space can feel like a fun adventure. Once you have a place that feels just right, it’s a good idea to hire some Oakland supply vendors to help you put all of the details in place for a successful film or photo shoot.
- Audio-Visual Equipment Rentals
If you arrive at your Oakland production space and discover you’ve left some of your equipment behind, you will not have to worry. Oakland has several exceptional audio-visual equipment rental companies that can supply you with anything you need.
- Coffee Service
The cast and crew of your Oakland production look forward to their daily cup of joe. A great way to keep morale and motivation high for your film or photo shoot is to ensure a continuous supply of steaming hot java for your staff to enjoy. One of Oakland’s top coffee catering services can provide disposable coffee and tea carafes, professional drip machines, or even an espresso bar to keep your production humming along without a hitch.
- Hair and Makeup
Productions proceed the most smoothly when there are hair and makeup professionals on-site to keep the on-screen talent looking their best. With such a thriving entertainment scene in Oakland, you’ll have no trouble finding a top-notch makeup artist and hairstylist to join you on your film set to ensure your cast is picture-perfect all day long.
Production Space Companies in Oakland
You’ve found the perfect production space; now it’s time to put the final details in place to start filming. When it comes to Oakland supply vendors and equipment rental companies, you’ll have no shortage of great professionals to choose from to assist you with your production.
- Christina Flach Makeup and Hair
The creator of the popular brand Pretty Girl Makeup, Christina Flach provides her award-winning makeup and hair services to celebrities, brides, models, and clients that simply want to look their very best. Skilled in preparing her clients for everything from film shoots to print ads, Christina Flach brings her beauty services to locations in Marin, San Francisco, Oakland, Napa, and the surrounding areas.
- Associated Coffee
In business since 1972, Associated Coffee is one of Oakland’s most popular mobile coffee catering services. Offering hot coffee, sweet treats, and even meals to keep your staff well-fed and happy, Associated Coffee will bring everything right to the door of your production site.
- Oakland Audio-Visual Services Inc.
Oakland Audio-Visual Services Inc. is a well-known rental company serving the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 25 years. Providing high-quality audio-visual equipment rentals, consultations, installations, and technical support to meet your every need, you can’t go wrong with the Oakland Audio-Visual Services Inc. team providing the tools you need at your production site.
Pros and Cons of Production Spaces in Oakland
A city that is extremely popular as a production locale, it’s not hard to see what makes Oakland the ideal spot for a film or photo shoot. However, all urban centers offer their positives and negatives when it comes to mounting an important production there.
Advantages
- Excellent location
Oakland is the perfect home base with close proximity to many of California’s most popular cities including San Francisco, Pleasanton, and Berkeley.
- Efficient public transportation system
Unlike Los Angeles or San Francisco, there is little traffic in Oakland if you make use of the city’s excellent public transportation system.
- Popular art scene
Oakland is home to many art galleries, offering exhibitions year-round for you to enjoy.
Disadvantages
- High cost of living
Though less expensive than its neighbor, San Francisco, Oakland is still a very expensive city. You can expect to pay 74.4% more than in other U.S. urban centers.
- High crime rate
Unfortunately, crime is high and on the rise in Oakland. The crime rate has been assessed at 209% higher than what is seen in the rest of the country.
- Excessive tax rate
You can expect to pay 9.5% in taxes in Oakland, an increase of 2% over other cities in California.
Famous Locations in Oakland
- Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt is a beautiful park with grounds that include an immense amount of green space, beautifully cultivated trees, and a wide selection of picnic areas. A relaxing spot in the heart of a busy metropolitan center, Lake Merritt is the perfect place to unwind and catch up with friends or do some people-watching.
- Jack London Square
Jack London Square offers stunning views of the waterfront and a relaxing seaside ambiance that is sure to wash your worries away. The square was named for American author Jack London who made this region his home and was once employed on the docks of this busy port. In fact, the middle of the square includes a log cabin that has been built to replicate the quarters Mr. London lived in during a trip through Alaska’s hostile but beautiful wilderness.
- Oakland Museum of California
The Oakland Museum of California is a unique facility devoted to artworks that relate to natural sciences, California arts, and local history. Among the exhibits found here are pieces relating to social justice events hosted by the city and some associated with local political activism.
