Video Production · Long Island City, NY
Long Island City video,with the skyline in frame
LIC puts the Manhattan skyline across the river from warehouses, towers and studios. We film launches, buildings and brands that use that view.
The Town Market
Towers, studios and startups on the East River
Long Island City sits on the Queens side of the East River, one subway stop from Midtown on the 7, E, M or G. In two decades it has gone from warehouses to one of the city's fastest-growing neighborhoods, with residential towers around Court Square and Hunters Point and offices filling converted factories. It is also a working film town: Silvercup Studios and other stages are here, along with MoMA PS1, galleries, breweries in old industrial spaces and a steady stream of startups. Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunters Point South Park face the skyline directly.
The dynamic in LIC is that everyone is selling something new. New buildings need to lease up, new companies need to explain what they make, and new restaurants and breweries need to stand out in a neighborhood that changes every year. The skyline view is the area's strongest visual asset, and it is also the most overused, so the craft is in using it with intent. NYC rules apply too: commercial shoots with equipment or parking needs go through the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, which affects scheduling.
Where We Shoot
Backdrops around Long Island City.
- Gantry Plaza State Park and the restored gantries
- Hunters Point South Park on the waterfront
- Rooftops and amenity decks facing Midtown
- Converted factory lofts and offices
- Brewery taprooms in former industrial buildings
- Soundstages and production studios
Where We Would Start
For an LIC business, we usually start with the piece that explains you fastest. A startup might get a 60 to 90 second launch film plus founder cutdowns for investors and social. A residential or office building usually starts with an amenity and neighborhood film shot at dusk, when the skyline lights up behind the rooftop. A brewery or restaurant might get a short brand piece and a set of photos. We scout the right vantage points first, then book permits and lock the schedule.
What We Make in Long Island City
Concept to color, on location.
Our commercial video production covers launch films and building campaigns, like our launch work for the Morphood recipe app. Event videography handles openings and corporate gatherings, and brand photography covers spaces and products. LIC is part of our Queens coverage, and we shoot just as often across the river in Manhattan and next door in Brooklyn. We plan permits, locations and crew together so your timeline holds, and we deliver cuts for the site, the pitch deck and social. When you have a launch date, book a call.
Questions
Filming in Long Island City.
Do we need a permit to film in Long Island City?
Often, yes. In New York City, shoots that use tripods, lighting, carts or reserved parking on public property generally need a permit from the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. Gantry Plaza is a state park with its own permit process. Shoots inside private buildings only need the owner's approval. We handle the applications and build the lead time into the schedule.
What is the best time to capture the skyline?
Blue hour, the 20 to 30 minutes after sunset, when the Midtown towers light up and the sky still has color. It is the most requested shot in LIC and it is short, so we plan everything else around it. Sunrise is a good alternative for quieter parks. Clear autumn and winter evenings often give the sharpest views across the river.
Can you shoot a launch film in a working office?
Yes. Most startup offices in LIC are open plan, so we plan around the team's day: interviews in a meeting room, product shots at a quiet desk, and a few scenes of people working that we stage with volunteers. A typical shoot takes most of one day, and we can split it over two shorter sessions if the team is busy.
Can you rent a studio in LIC for our shoot?
Yes, when the project calls for it. The neighborhood has stages and smaller rental studios that suit product work, interviews on seamless backdrops and controlled lighting setups. We help decide whether a studio is worth it or whether your own space, a rooftop or a park will tell the story better, and we handle the booking as part of planning.
Let’s Make Something
Filming in Long Island City?
Let’s talk.
Book a 30-minute strategy call. We will talk goals, audience and budget, and you will leave with a clear plan for the shoot. No pressure, no pitch deck.