In a city like Pasadena, that is home to many remnants of Hollywood's golden age, it won't surprise you to learn that there's a wonderfully diverse range of filming locations to choose from. From apartments and homes to churches, bars, restaurants, retail spaces, warehouses, and much more, there really is no shortage of location styles on offer.
Throw in Pasadena's vibrant arts scene, strong links to the creative industries, and proximity to Hollywood, and it's easy to see why this is a great place to host a film shoot. So if you're looking for the best film shoot locations in Pasadena for a TV or movie production, download the Giggster app now and start comparing our unique and inspiring filming sites.
You may be producing a short film or working on a next-hit music video. We're your connection to inspiring spaces, so book a cafe, a manor, or even a modern fitness gym. No matter your project, we can deliver fabulous places to film.
Pasadena presents an abundance of exciting opportunities for film and production events. And when you compare Pasadena filming locations with Giggster, you'll find unique locales that can bring their own character and charming style to any project. If you're a fan of historic houses like Blacker House, we've got similar venues, and the ones listed below.
An old Southern church with stained-glass windows and plenty of old-world charm is the ideal backdrop for traditional wedding scenes.
Step through the front door of a private residence in Pasadena, and you'll find a bevy of intriguing styles. From retro vibes to modern luxury, humble homes to magnificent mansions, the creative possibilities are endless. And if you're looking for old-world charm, the Gamble House is far from the only historic home on offer here.
The spacious and well-manicured grounds of a gorgeous Italian villa provide the perfect setting and plenty of natural light for Mediterranean-themed scenes.
From grand dining rooms to wine rooms and private dining spaces, Pasadena's best restaurants and bars offer a wonderfully eclectic range of backdrops for your production.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: There are 312 unique and inspiring film shoot locations in Pasadena on the Giggster app, so your perfect site is only a few taps away. From authentic everyday settings to exceptional, one-of-a-kind spaces, you'll find filming locations to suit a huge variety of creative projects.
Hassle-Free Booking: With the ability to contact property owners directly, convenient search filters, and transparent prices, there's no need to stress or waste any time when searching for a great location with Giggster.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: If you reserve a space at least 48 hours before your shoot, you can rest easy knowing that you can take advantage of free cancellation in the first 24 hours after confirming your booking.
Platform Protections: Enjoy complete confidence when you rent a production venue with Giggster. Take advantage of top-level protection when you add optional damage, liability, and cancellation coverage to your booking.
Is a Pasadena filming location the ideal spot for your shoot? There are plenty of important pros and cons to take into account before you can answer this question.
Advantages
Pasadena is the place to be for things to do after a film shoot. The city is walkable for seeing the sights, and there is a good transit system, too.
In this part of California, it's easy to find talented creative professionals to help out with your shoot.
Due to the picturesque backdrops and architectural styles on offer in the streets of Pasadena, it can easily be used as a double for other cities and towns.
Disadvantages
Pasadena's traffic congestion could make it difficult for cast and crew to get to your filming location, especially when events are taking place at Rose Bowl Stadium or the Pasadena Convention Center.
You'll also need to take parking issues into account when choosing a filming site.
The best filming locations in Pasadena are highly sought-after, so you might miss out on the space you want if you don't book early. Movies like Oppenheimer and Father of the Bride shot scenes here, for example.
If your Pasadena project is going to wow in movie theaters or on TV screens, here are just some of the venue types you might like to check out for your production. A gorgeous location like French Garden Cafe provides a unique setting for your film project.
Private Homes – Pick Your Style. Whether you want a retro bachelor pad, a mansion that looks like it's from the future, a humble suburban home, or an exclusive apartment, there are myriad different styles of homes located in Pasadena.
Warehouses – Industrial Chic. With interesting interiors and plenty of authentic, edgy charm, industrial spaces like warehouses and workshops add grit and believability to a music video or commercial.
Film Studios – Professional Polish. A Pasadena film studio offers all the equipment you need to create amazing still photos or moving images for your production.
Cafes or Restaurants – Undeniably Authentic. From cozy cafes and coffee shops to restaurants dishing up cuisines and decor styles from all over the world, there's a terrific variety of backdrops on offer in Pasadena eateries.
Gyms – No Pain, no Gain. A fitness center, boxing gym, or workout space provides a real-world backdrop for any drama or sports-related creative project.
There are a lot of important jobs you need to take care of in the course of planning and hosting a film shoot to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Here's a rough guide to the key steps you need to take to help bring your production to life.
Hone Your Vision – Start by developing a clear picture of exactly what sort of project you want to create. What scenes will you be filming, what sort of mood do you want to create, and how will they help drive your overall movie or TV project forward?
Sort the Details – Next, think about the nitty-gritty details of your film shoot. What's your budget? When will cameras start rolling? Which key cast and crew members do you want to work with on your film shoot?
Book a Location – What features are you looking for in a filming location? A Green St or Colorado Blvd location, views of the San Gabriel Mountains, lots of natural light, an extremely helpful host, off-street parking, a famous history, luxury interiors, charming architecture, or anything else you can think of? Compare Pasadena locations to find a space with all your must-haves, and visit a room in person before booking to make sure it's right for you.
Hire Cast and Crew – Now it's time to lock in all the key team members you need for your Pasadena film shoot. Actors, camera operators, boom operators, set decorators, makeup artists—get organized early so you can lock in all the best talent.
Hire Equipment and Sort the Extras – If you need to hire extra equipment, such as lighting gear or perhaps extra furniture and props for your shoot, do so now. And if you need to book transport for key team members or maybe organize catering for the day of filming, you can take care of that now as well.
Experienced production crews are well aware just how important it is that you don't spend more than your shoot budget. Use the simple tips below to help arrange a more affordable shoot.
Check the listing closely.
Read the property listing carefully for details of all equipment and furniture that is included in the booking cost. This will help you save by avoiding extra rental costs.
Find a versatile location.
Rather than looking for a different filming location for each scene, why not search for a venue or studio where you can film multiple scenes and storylines in the one location? This will not only help you save on venue hire costs but will also ensure that your shoot runs as efficiently as possible.
Make the most of natural light.
Hiring professional lighting equipment is often a major expense that filmmakers have to contend with. That's why it's always a good idea to look for filming locations in Pasadena that offer an abundance of natural light. When you take advantage of what Mother Nature has to offer, you might be surprised by the size of the savings you can enjoy.
When you're ready to find the best Pasadena locations for filming and photography, download the Giggster app and start comparing top film sites near you. Dining rooms, meeting rooms, gated estates, and more are inspirational listings for creative projects.
