About San Francisco
San Francisco is a city that is home to much history. The Gold Rush brought those seeking their fortune to the area, and the professional football team that calls San Francisco home is named in reference to those gallant men – the Forty-Niners.
San Francisco has been wracked by earthquakes – one major quake in the early 1900s caused a fire that almost destroyed the city. In 1989, during the World Series, San Francisco was hit by a quake that caused freeways to collapse among other grave damage. However, the resilient people of the city always vow to build back better than before.
San Francisco is a highly diverse city, with people from all over the world populating the area. It is home to the largest Chinatown in the United States. It is also home to lush green spaces as the city and its inhabitants push for a green future. It’s these parks, outdoor areas and more that make San Francisco music video spaces easy to find.
Music Video Options in San Francisco
A San Francisco music video space can be just about anywhere in this terrific city. It all depends on the ambiance of the shoot. Bring in the pros to make your production perfect.
- Catering
You’ll want to offer snacks for your crew and the stars of your music video, so be sure to contact one of the many reputable catering companies in the Bay Area for your cuisine needs. Most caterers offer niche catering, including lunch box catering – great for eating on the busy set of the video.
- Audio/Visual Equipment Rental
To film your video, you’ll want to ensure you have top-of-the-line audio and video equipment. Sometimes the most cost effective route is to rent this equipment. San Francisco is home to a wealth of reputable audio and video equipment rental businesses that are happy to provide everything you need for a rockin’ video set – at a fraction of the cost it would be to purchase comparable equipment.
- Production Companies
Once you’ve finished filming your video, production is one of the next steps in releasing the final product. While you might be talented behind the camera, you may need to call on the expertise of a production company to put the finishing touches on your final edition. The Bay Area is the tech capital of the world, so you can only benefit from choosing a production company in the area.
Music Video Companies in San Francisco
Filming and producing a music video in San Francisco will be a pleasurable task. The number of companies available to assist is a big part of the successful gig.
- LV Productions
LV Productions works alongside you to make your video vision a reality. They will take your unedited video and put the finishing touches on the product to garner you the most attention. They are located in the heart of the city, and they are ready to assist you in all your video production needs. Clients include FORGEROCK and Fast.
- Meeting Tomorrow
Meeting Tomorrow is an audio/visual equipment company offering rental equipment. They will deliver your equipment and assist you in set-up. They offer not only rental of video equipment but also sound system rentals, projectors, and more! Plus, Meeting Tomorrow provides support that other equipment rental companies do not.
- San Francisco Lunchbox Catering
On the set of your music video, you’ll need to get things done quickly, including lunch break. Let the pros at San Francisco Lunchbox Catering provide a tasty lunch, complete with disposable utensils. The staff of San Francisco Lunchbox Catering offers healthy meals in a hurry, and they use locally-sourced ingredients as often as possible for their clients.
Pros and Cons of Music Videos in San Francisco
When booking a San Francisco music video space, have a list of what’s important to you as you work.
Advantages
- Access to tech-friendly businesses
San Francisco is the home of Google as well as numerous tech-oriented businesses. When filming your video, you’ll have access to all of these businesses within a short drive. This is imperative should you need to replace equipment or get production assistance for the final editing of your video.
- Beautiful, historic locations
San Francisco is a city that has been featured on multiple television and film offerings. “Full House” was set in San Francisco, as was Mrs. Doubtfire. The 48 HRS series of movies were filmed in the city, and, the iconic Clint Eastwood film, Escape from Alcatraz was filmed on location at the abandoned penitentiary.
- Plenty to do
Making a film of any length can be stressful. However, videographers can always commandeer actors and extras to take a break and go shopping or head to Fisherman’s Wharf for a look at the marine life located there. Members of your cast might enjoy shopping in the city, or they may wish to check out some of the historical sites in the area.
Disadvantages
- Traffic
Getting to the video filming venue on time is important for yourself, your crew, and your VIP guests appearing on the video. San Francisco is plagued by traffic congestion that is worse during rush hour. Public transportation is efficient here, but planning for delays due to traffic will ensure your video films on time.
- The weather
Although San Francisco is situated in Southern California, the weather is more akin to that of Portland or Seattle. The fog – which is so thick that locals refer to it as Karl – may roll in on the nicest of days, cooling the balmy temps and making the air feel rather damp. If your video requires outdoor filming, consider the fog and its effect on the weather.
- Homelessness is a problem
Homelessness is growing in San Francisco. Some areas of the city have a higher homeless population than others, and the city has recognized that something needs to be done to assist this population.
Famous Locations in San Francisco
- San Francisco Botanical Garden
This beautiful green space is situated near the Japanese Tea Room, and it is a peaceful place to go during a busy film shoot. You’ll enjoy trees, flowering plants and other flora in this garden. There are areas devoted to plants native to California as well as those more likely to appear in a rainforest.
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Near Union Square is the SFMOMA, which is a top tourist destination in the city. The building itself features unique architecture as well as exhilarating exhibits that are quite impressive.
- Land’s End
If you want to see San Francisco from a peak or cliff, then head over to Land’s End. Here, you can look out over the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. You can also view shipwrecks and the ruins of the Sutro Baths.
