Film Shoots, Photo Shoots & Site Rentals:

The following Film Shoot, Photo Shoot and Site Rental options are available at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. If you have question or wish to reserve the site, please contact Brett Bertolino, Assistant Program Director with as much advanced notice as possible by calling 215-236-5111 x12 or emailing bb@EasternState.org.

Pricing:

ESP Documentary Filming / Media Coverage:

Documentaries about ESP by professional production companies with previously secured broadcast commitments are complementary. Documentaries must be about ESP or related subject matter. Contact Sean Kelley at (215) 236-5111 x13 or sk@EasternState.org to make arrangements.

Filming of Emeril Live! for Food Network, July 2003.

Sting with photographer Danny Clinch in the courtyard between Cellblock One and the South Corridor.

This photograph, which was used on the cover of the album All This Time, was taken in the court yard between Cellblocks One and Ten.

Brad Helm & Kristen Gardner, September 2004.

Sci-Fi Channel's ghost Hunters

Commercial / Student Film and Video:

Ad agencies, television production companies and other commercial entities wishing to shoot at Eastern State Penitentiary are required to make reservations in advance, provide a Certificate of Insurance (see below) and sign our Site Rental Agreement (sample below).

Crew Size*	&	Cost
1 – 15		$1,000 / day**
16 – 100		$2,000 / day**
101+		call for rates
* all-inclusive, including talent
** eight (8) hours

Commercial Still Photography

Photographers, Ad agencies and other commercial entities wishing to shoot at Eastern State Penitentiary are required to make reservations in advance, provide a Certificate of Insurance (see below) and sign our Site Rental Agreement (sample below).

Crew Size*	&	Cost
1 – 10		$500 / day**
11 – 100		$1,000 / day**
* all-inclusive, including talent
** eight (8) hours

Wedding/Engagement Portrait Photography:

Couples wishing to have their wedding or engagement photos taken at Eastern State Penitentiary are required to make reservations in advance and sign our Site Rental Agreement (sample below). No additional insurance is required. These shoots are limited to the bride and groom and must take place during non-public hours or in non-public spaces.

Crew Size*	&	Cost
1 – 5		$100 / hour
* all-inclusive, including bride, groom, photographer and assistants

Paranormal Investigations:

Groups wishing to rent the penitentiary for private paranormal investigations are required to make reservations in advance. During the investigation, the group will have access to all public areas as well as selected non-public areas of the Penitentiary Complex. The group must stay together and will be accompanied by a member of our guide staff (one guide per five visitors) at all times.

Our guide staff will help the group navigate the building and answer questions about E.S.P.’s history, but the Penitentiary does not offer training for paranormal investigations. It is the responsibility of the group to provide their own equipment and program.

Availability

Paranormal Investigations are available from November 16 to September 14 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am Please Note: The Penitentiary has no heat or air conditioning. Please take this into account when planning your visit.

Paranormal Investigations cannot be scheduled or take place between September 15 and November 15.

Group Size	&	Cost*
4 – 15		$100 / person**
* Full payment is required two weeks prior to your visit
** four (4) hours, each additional hour is $25/person

Corporate Event Rental

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is pleased to accept event rental requests from corporations, conventions & non-profit organizations.

Eastern State Penitentiary is a National Historic Landmark, and care for its preservation is a primary focus of all activity on the property.

The penitentiary has no running water (museum visitors use port-o-potties), limited electric and no climate control. Because of these limitations and the unique nature of the penitentiary complex, requests to hold corporate events are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Event rental fees begin at $4,000 and events may not exceed 500 participants.

We regret that private social functions are not currently permitted at the penitentiary. This includes wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions, birthday parties, etc.

Insurance:

A certificate of insurance in the amount of $1,000,000, naming "Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc" and "City of Philadelphia" additionally insured is required for all film and photo shoots.

Sample Site Rental Agreement:

Eastern State Penitentiary is a National Historic Landmark, and care for its preservation is a primary focus of all activity on the property. This protocol will help insure the safety of the workers and property during work at the site.

There are two ways to print this document:

1. DOWNLOAD THE PDF . If you already have downloaded the free Acrobat Reader, you can download the PDF version of this document here. If you don't have the Acrobat Reader, you can download a free copy here.
2. DOWNLOAD IN MSWORD FORMAT. If you prefer Microsoft Word, you can download the document in that format here.

Guidelines

1. A single member of the film crew will be responsible for making these this protocol understood by the crew, and enforcing it. That person will be the primary contact for Eastern State staff during the site rental. Copies of this agreement will be given by the supervisor to all staff on the work crew.
2. A location fee of $2,000 / day will be paid to Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc. (ESPHS) before any activity takes place on the property.
3. All work at Eastern State must be completely reversible. The film crew may not nail into / damage any existing materials or structure without approval from the historic site staff and City of Philadelphia Historical Commission. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to:
   1. Nailing or driving screws into any surface,
   2. Placing tape on any painted surface.
   3. Painting (intentionally or unintentionally) any surface.
4. Smoking is prohibited anywhere on the property, including exterior spaces within the complex. All members of the crew must leave the property to smoke.
5. Crew members must keep the door to the outside locked or staffed at all times. Do not leave the door to the street unlocked and unattended. No exceptions.
6. Anyone entering the property must sign a waiver. A designated member of the crew will collect these waivers from the rest of the crew.
7. The following additional guidelines apply to all shoots with a crew of sixteen or more people:
   1. The crew must provide a Production Assistant or Security Officer to staff the front gate at all times during the shoot.
   2. The crew will provide the Historic Site and the Production Assistant or Security Officer with an all-inclusive list with the names of every person who will enter the property during the shoot (all crew members, contractors, caterers, talent etc.).
   3. The Production Assistant or Security Officer is responsible for making sure each person entering the Penitentiary Complex is included by name on the list provided by the crew.
   4. The Production Assistant or Security Officer is responsible for making sure each person entering the Penitentiary Complex has completed a site waiver. The PA or Security Officer will collect the signed waivers and issue each person with an identification badge or bracelet provided by the crew.
8. Crew members may not wander outside work areas.
9. Crew members may not bring guests onto the property without prior permission from ESPHS.
10. Crew members must store all flammable material (gasoline, etc.) outside building.
11. Crew members may not remove any materials from the Historic Site that was not brought in by the contractor, including "trash", rubble, artifacts, or souvenirs.
12. There can be no nudity, semi-nudity, or sexually explicit images filmed at Eastern State Penitentiary.
13. A signed copy of this protocol, along with a copy of the certificate of insurance (details listed above) and a complete list of all locations where filming or event will take place must be returned to the Historic Site no less than 24 hours prior to the shoot.
14. Cancellations must be made 72 hours in advance for weekend reservations and 24 hours in advance for weekday reservations.