Film Santa Monica

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Film Santa Monica

Film Santa Monica is the official entity supporting film and media production in the city of Santa Monica.

As a central resource for filmmakers, it provides permitting guidance, location assistance, and on-the-ground support to ensure productions run smoothly while respecting the character of the community. By fostering responsible filmmaking, Film Santa Monica helps drive local economic impact, showcase the city’s diverse locations, and cement Santa Monica's role as a premier destination for creative production, bringing our beachside city to the big screen worldwide.

08/29/2026

August 29th: The day Skynet took over (in Terminator 2 lore, anyway) 🤖⚡🎥

Did you know the mall scenes where the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) meets John Connor were filmed at Santa Monica Place? Just another day in Santa Monica’s movie-making history. 🌴🕶️

Ready to film your next blockbuster on our iconic streets? We’ve got your permits covered.

🔗 Visit FilmSantaMonica.com to book with us!

08/25/2026

Looking to bring mid-century elegance or sleek civic authority to your next scene? 🏛️🎬✨

Designed in 1938 with classic Art Deco and Streamline Moderne details, Santa Monica City Hall is one of the Westside’s most striking, camera-ready civic landmarks.

🏛️ Iconic Grand Facade: A soaring, brilliant white exterior framed by iconic palm trees and grand tiled stairways—ideal for political dramas, press conference setups, or high-stakes thriller entrances.

🌴 The Front Plaza & Courtyard: Beautifully landscaped grounds and tilework that double seamlessly for European plazas, historic government buildings, or upscale corporate headquarters.

🎥 Versatility: Can seamlessly stand in for a court house, a state capitol, an Ivy League hall, or an international embassy.

Bring your civic, historic, and high-production-value narratives to a location that commands attention. Visit FilmSantaMonica.com to submit your permit application now!

📍 1685 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

08/23/2026

Film Santa Monica is proud to be the presenting sponsor at tonight’s Location Manager Guild International Awards show!

08/22/2026

POV: You need a blank slate location in Santa Monica where you have total control over the light, the set, and the mood. 🎥💡🖤

Welcome to City Garage Theatre—where industrial art center grit meets flexible black-box intimacy. Whether you’re shooting a moody music video, a dramatic theatrical monologue, a fashion campaign, or a dark comedy special, this space gives your production design team maximum freedom.

🎬 Total Lighting Control: A true black-box setup where you can build, light, and shape your scene from scratch without battling exterior light spill.

🪜 Flexible Staging: Reconfigurable seating and performance areas that can double as an underground theater, an industrial rehearsal hall, a dark studio, or a moody performance space.

🎨 Bergamot Station Synergy: Situated inside Santa Monica’s famous art complex, offering unique industrial-chic exterior brickwork, ample parking, and enough space for base camp/crafty staging nearby.

Get the full location breakdown at FilmSantaMonica.com/location/City-Garage-Theatre

📍 2525 Michigan Ave T1, Santa Monica, CA 90404

08/19/2026

Fewer headaches. Clearer answers. Seamless shoot days. 🎥✨

Whether you’re directing a multi-million dollar commercial or a tight indie short, logistical hiccups can drain your daylight fast. That’s why our team delivers high-touch, white-glove support to keep your set running smoothly.

Think of us as an extension of your production office: transparent fees, direct communication, and a dedicated team making sure every permit, street closure, and base camp location is locked in without a hitch.

Focus on making movie magic—we’ll take care of the rest.

Drop a 🎬 in the comments if you’re prepping a project on the Westside!

08/16/2026

Happy !
When your scene calls for iconic, high-energy California fun, put your story on a world-famous backdrop. 🎡🎬✨

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier isn’t just an amusement park—it’s a cinematic legend. From intense thrillers to beloved TV shows, this seaside icon has been setting the scene for Hollywood’s biggest moments for decades.

You’re in illustrious company:

🎢 Blockbusters & Thrillers: Featured in major films like Iron Man, Her, and Hannah Montana: The Movie.

📺 Binge-Worthy TV: Seen on hit shows like Modern Family, 9-1-1, and The Flight Attendant.

💡 The World’s Only Solar-Powered Ferris Wheel: The Pacific Wheel delivers unmatched visual production value, glowing with over 174,000 custom LED lights every night.

Whether you need high-speed roller coaster action, nostalgic carnival games, or sweeping ocean views from 130 feet up, Pacific Park is ready for its next close-up.

🔗 Visit FilmSantaMonica.com/location/Pacific-Park to start your permit request with Film Santa Monica!

08/15/2026

Repost from The Beverly Hills Agency™
•
No longer the lifeguard the world remembers.

More than three decades after first introducing audiences to Shauni McClain, Erika Eleniak Erika Eleniak returns to Baywatch Baywatch in a role that reflects both the character’s evolution and the passage of time.

Shauni is no longer standing on the sand. She’s now serving as a Santa Monica City Councilwoman, bringing a new perspective to one of television’s most iconic characters.

This isn’t about reliving the past. It’s about showing where life can lead, and how beloved characters can grow alongside the audiences who grew up with them. Baywatch returns in 2027. Will this be the beginning of a bigger chapter for Shauni McClain? Watch this space!!

08/13/2026

Looking for an open, sunlit park space filled with vibrant local character? 🌳☀️🎬

Spanning nearly 10 acres in Santa Monica’s Pico Neighborhood, Virginia Avenue Park is a multi-use filming gem packed with camera-ready outdoor amenities and community energy.

Why location managers love this park:

💦 Modern Splash Pad & Playgrounds: Ideal for lively family commercials, kids' footwear campaigns, and vibrant summer sequences.

🏀 Active Recreation: Features full basketball courts, expansive green lawns, and shady tree-lined plazas for active sports and lifestyle shots.

🏛️ Park Buildings & Patio Spaces: Modern architectural structures offer sleek indoor-outdoor versatility for multi-scene setups in one location.

Bring your community-focused, family, or active lifestyle scripts to life in a park that has it all.

🔗 Visit FilmSantaMonica.com/location/Virginia-Avenue-Park to start your permit request with Film Santa Monica!

📍 2200 Virginia Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Amenities: Barbecues, Bike Rack, Picnic Tables, Playground, Restrooms, Walking Path, Wi-Fi
Parking lot with EV chargers
Eco-friendly library and community center

08/10/2026

Over three miles of golden sand, world-famous ocean views, and that unmistakable Southern California light. 🌊☀️🎬

Santa Monica Beach isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a cinematic legend. From vintage Hollywood classics to high-energy modern blockbusters, these shores have set the stage for some of the most memorable moments in film history.

Why Directors and DPs keep coming back:

📸 Unmatched Scale: Expansive, open beachscapes along 3.5 miles of coastline with 245 acres of sand perfect for massive crew setups, wide drone shots, and sweeping horizon lines.

🌅 Golden Hour Perfection: West-facing ocean views that deliver dramatic, camera-ready sunsets every afternoon.

🎡 Built-in Landmarks: Direct visual access to the iconic Santa Monica Pier, classic lifeguard towers, and the Santa Monica Mountains in the distance.

🚗 Seamless Logistics: Dedicated beach parking lots with ample space for grip trucks, staging, and crew base camps.

Bring your biggest coastal visions to life on LA’s most iconic shore by visiting FilmSantaMonica.com/location/santa-monica-state-beach

08/08/2026

Happy ! 🐱🐾

Did you know that the 90s rom-com classic The Truth About Cats & Dogs (starring Uma Thurman, Janeane Garofalo, and Ben Chaplin with director Michael Lehmann) called Santa Monica home?

From iconic local streetscapes and roller skating in Palisades Park to scenes entering Abby’s radio station and petting a tabby on the Pier, Santa Monica provided the perfect coastal backdrop for this story about radio show advice, mix-ups, and four-legged friends.

Whether your script calls for feline antics, canine chaos, or classic romantic comedy energy, our city streets have been setting the scene for cinema history for decades.

What’s your favorite movie featuring a feline star? Drop it in the comments! 👇

🔗 Ready to scout your next iconic backdrop? Visit FilmSantaMonica.com to start your permit request.

Address

2427 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA
90405

Website

http://filmsantamonica.com/

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