Filming in Boston: Video Shoot Planning & Locations

Choose a Location That Helps Tell the Story

Think about what viewers need to understand about your organization. An interview in your own workplace gives them a sense of the people and surroundings. For a property tour, the building itself may carry much of the video. A recognizable Boston exterior can establish where you are, provided it has a clear reason to appear.

Walk through potential interview rooms with sound in mind. Listen for ventilation and conversations next door, and notice how much street noise comes through the windows. Check that the crew will have room for lighting and a camera without blocking the people who still need to use the space.

Boston Locations and Neighborhoods to Consider

Boston offers very different settings within a relatively short distance. A waterfront property feature will call for different surroundings than an interview at a downtown office. These are some areas to consider when discussing exterior footage and nearby locations:

• Downtown and the Financial District: Office buildings and the streets around South Station can place a business within the city’s working day.
• The Seaport and Fan Pier: Commercial properties and waterfront views offer possibilities for real estate features and footage around a business or event venue.
• Back Bay and Copley Square: Building facades and street scenes can help introduce a property or organization based in this part of Boston.
• Beacon Hill and the Boston Common area: Historic architecture and outdoor settings offer a different backdrop from the Seaport’s commercial buildings.
• The North End and downtown waterfront: Neighborhood streets and harbor surroundings may suit a local business, hospitality, or visitor-focused video.
• Charlestown and East Boston: Harbor views can give a film a different angle on the city and its waterfront.

These are options to explore during planning. Access and permission still need to be confirmed for the particular spot. Foot traffic, nearby noise, and the time available can make one location more practical than another.

Maverick’s Boston project portfolio includes South Station, 100 Northern Avenue, and the Fan Pier campus. Those projects offer examples of downtown and waterfront properties on film. For a broader look at the city’s areas, see the City of Boston neighborhood guide. If your shoot also includes Cambridge, Somerville, or another Greater Boston community, include those stops in the initial location discussion.

Coordinate Building Access and Daily Operations

Find out who can authorize access and who will be on site when the crew arrives. Ask about loading arrangements and elevator use, including whether equipment needs to come through a separate entrance. A visitor address alone may not tell the crew where to unload.

Give employees a clear idea of where filming will happen and when. Identify areas that need to stay open, and check for confidential material on desks or screens before the camera rolls. Confirm permission to film with the building owner or the appropriate authority, and leave time to resolve any approvals the location requires.

Plan Interviews, Supporting Footage, and Exterior Shots

Build the shot list around the points the video needs to communicate. If someone talks about a product, plan time to film it in use. If the location is important, allow time for the building and its surroundings. Those shots need their own place in the schedule, even when interviews take up most of the day.

For exteriors, agree on an alternative if the weather changes. Light and activity around the building also affect when to film. If aerial footage is under consideration, discuss its feasibility for that location early enough to adjust the shot list if needed.

Boston Project Spotlight: South Station

South Station shows how much a location can contribute to a film. In Maverick’s video for the Boston Business Journal, the building’s rail connections sit alongside a look at its retail and office uses. The station gives the piece a subject with several sides to explore.

The South Station project pairs aerial footage with views inside the building. For your own shoot, that combination is worth considering: what will an outside view explain, and what can viewers only understand once the camera moves indoors?

Shape the Shoot Around Your Industry and Audience

The people involved in a shoot will vary with the work being filmed. A healthcare location may need input from people responsible for privacy and access. A manufacturing shoot may need time with someone who knows the equipment and daily operations. Bring those contacts into planning so the crew knows what can be filmed and when.

Our corporate video production, medical and healthcare videos, and manufacturing video services pages cover those types of projects in more detail. Maverick’s client list includes New Balance, Liberty Mutual, Tufts Medical Center, and Dunkin’ Donuts.

What to Share Before Your Boston Video Shoot

• Who will watch the video and where you plan to use it.
• The proposed filming addresses and a contact for each location.
• Who will appear on camera and when they are available.
• The spaces, activities, or products that need to appear.
• Any limits on access or information that must stay off camera.
• The budget, delivery date, and people who will review the edit.

You do not need every detail settled to begin a conversation. Sharing what you know gives the team a useful starting point and makes it easier to work through the remaining decisions. Maverick’s Boston and Needham offices are available by appointment. Contact the team to discuss your Boston shoot.