Campus Filming Program: How to Film at UC Berkeley

All commercial filming on UC Berkeley property is coordinated and permitted by Capital Strategies under its Campus Filming Program.

Production companies, photographers, and other media representatives should contact Capital Strategies for filming requests (movies, television, commercials, digital/internet, and still photography). Any requests submitted to other campus departments will be redirected to Capital Strategies. Capital Strategies issues the required University of California film license agreement, arranges necessary campus services, and collects applicable fees.

Email all filming requests and questions to Kyle Gibson (kyle.gibson@berkeley.edu), Director of Communications for Capital Strategies.
Note: Requests for news reporting and documentary are handled separately. These requests should be directed to Roxanne Makasdjian (roxannem@berkeley.edu) with UC Berkeley's Office of Communications & Public Affairs.

1. How to film at UC Berkeley

Email your filming request to Kyle Gibson, Director of Communications for Capital Strategies, at kyle.gibson@berkeley.edu.

Include in your request:

Name of production company.
Lead contact person, their phone number and email address.
Title of show, film, or commercial you are producing.
Location(s) you are interested in filming. Please be as specific as possible.
Proposed shoot dates/times. Please be as specific as possible.
Description of scene(s) you want to shoot. Please include story boards, if available.
Size of the crew (includes cast).

2. Fees

In most cases, an in-person scout will be necessary to create a cost estimate. Capital Strategies will work with you to create an estimate based on the specifics of your request. The estimate will outline the permit fee(s), location fee(s), staffing fees, campus service fees, and license fees (if applicable). Your cost estimate can be modified prior to executing the film license agreement.

Permit fee: Based on a half-day/full-day rate system. Time coverage begins when the first production vehicle arrives and ends when the last vehicle leaves. Half-day is six (6) hours or less, and full-day is six (6) to twelve (12) hours. Overtime fees will be assessed after twelve (12) hours. Please contact Kyle Gibson for our current permit rates.
Location fee(s): Individual charges for use of interior and exterior spaces. Location fees support campus academic and administrative departments for temporary use of their space for filming. Fees for outdoor areas support campus landscape upkeep and maintenance.
Staffing fees: Capital Strategies will assign a campus filming manager to monitor your film shoot from start to finish. For certain locations, a venue-specific manager may also be required (example: athletic and performance venues). The campus filming manager will ensure the shoot conforms to the executed film license agreement and adheres to all campus policies, and responds to any budgetary or contractual changes, as well as any other issues or concerns that may arise.
Campus services fees: For services determined necessary by Capital Strategies, such as UC Police, fire department, parking, and custodial services.
License fees (if applicable): Any use of the names, marks, logos, or trademarks of the University of California, UC Berkeley, or any abbreviations thereof is governed by the UC Regents policy, California, and Federal law. Requests for use of names, marks, logos, or trademarks must be submitted in advance to UC Berkeley Business Contracts and Brand Protection. Conditions of approved uses and applicable fees will be assessed by Capital Strategies as part of the film license agreement.

3. Film License Agreement and Insurance

Your film shoot will be governed by the terms of the University of California Film License Agreement. A draft boilerplate can be provided by Capital Strategies to your legal counsel in advance for review.

The agreement includes the University of California’s insurance requirements. Please contact Kyle Gibson for our current insurance requirements.

4. Locations

Before contacting Capital Strategies with a new filming request, select locations where you would like to film and proposed dates. If you are new to the Berkeley campus, please view the Virtual Campus Tour and the Atkinson Photographic Archive to familiarize yourself with prominent campus locations. If you do not see the location you are interested in, please ask our office about the type of location you are looking for and we will let you know if we have anything that fits your request.

5. Parking and Transportation

Capital Strategies will coordinate with UC Berkeley parking services for posting of parking spaces and obtaining parking permits for UC Berkeley lots. For scenes that involve street control, parking enforcement officers will be required.

Vehicle parking on the UC Berkeley campus is extremely limited. Shoots with large casts and crew should consider renting a parking location off-campus and providing shuttle service to the UC Berkeley campus. For assistance with finding off-campus parking, please contact the City of Berkeley’s Filming Office.

Off-campus services will not be coordinated by UC Berkeley Capital Strategies, and will be billed separately.

6. Final Billing

When the film shoot has concluded, Capital Strategies and a representative of the production company will walk the locations and make note of the condition. If damages have occurred, the costs for repair will be the responsibility of the production and will be added to the final invoice.

Capital Strategies will take between seven (7) to ten (10) business days to complete the final invoice and email it to the representative of the production company. If there is an outstanding balance, the total is due upon receipt of the invoice.

Questions:

Please direct commercial (non-university) filming requests and questions to Kyle Gibson, Director of Communications for Capital Strategies.

Requests for news reporting and documentary should be directed to Roxanne Makasdjian with UC Berkeley's Office of Communications & Public Affairs.