Camera for Music Video
Music Video · Camera · Brooklyn, NY
Hey filmmakers, I'm looking for a passionate Camera Operator for an indie music video project shooting in Brooklyn. This is a volunteer, passion project for an emerging indie artis...
Film Production Jobs in New York
New York City is the second-largest production market in the United States and the largest market for episodic television outside California. Stage capacity in Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island City keeps year-round scripted work moving alongside a heavy commercial and documentary slate.
Open Roles in New York
Gaffer (Senior) - Music Video (NY)
Music Video · Cinematography · New York, NY
Hey everyone, I'm Carla, a Makeup Department Head. We're looking for a skilled Gaffer for an upcoming independent music video project here in NYC. This is a really cool, high-energ...
Senior Art Director, Corporate Brand Video
Corporate Video · Art Department · Brooklyn, NY
Hey film fam, I'm helping a colleague staff up an independent production for an upcoming corporate brand video. We need a Senior Art Director based in Brooklyn, NY. This project is...
Lighting for Documentary
Documentary · Lighting · New York, NY
Hey filmmakers, Nelson here, Rigging Gaffer on an exciting new documentary. We're on the hunt for an enthusiastic Lighting Assistant to join our small, independent production team ...
Art Department for Short Film
Short Film · Art Department · New York, NY
We're an independent production seeking a talented Art Assistant for our upcoming short film, a sci-fi drama exploring themes of memory and identity. This project has a tight-knit ...
Assistant Editor, Web Series
Web Series · Post-Production · Brooklyn, NY
Hey filmmakers, I'm a documentary editor working on an exciting upcoming web series and looking for an experienced Assistant Editor to join our team. This series is an indie dramed...
1st AC, Music Video
Music Video · Production · New York, NY
Seeking a skilled 1st Assistant Camera for an independent music video project in New York City. This is for a vibrant, high-energy pop track with a strong visual narrative, focusin...
Gaffer for Sci-Fi Drama Short, Brooklyn
Short Film · Production · Brooklyn, NY
Hey filmmakers, Aiden here. I'm helping staff a really cool upcoming independent production, a sci-fi drama short film shooting soon in Brooklyn. It's an intimate, character-driven...
Locations for Documentary
Documentary · Locations · New York, NY
Calling all aspiring location scouts and assistants for an upcoming independent documentary project here in NYC! We're exploring the fascinating and often unseen world of undergrou...
Lighting for Corporate Video
Corporate Video · Lighting · Brooklyn, NY
Looking for a skilled Grip/Gaffer for an upcoming corporate video project in Brooklyn. This is a straightforward, professional piece for a local non-profit, focusing on their commu...
Art Director, Commercial Spot (Brooklyn)
Commercial · Art Department · Brooklyn, NY
Looking for a talented Art Director for a ~30-second commercial spot. This is for an independent production, featuring a comedic, slightly absurd take on a home goods product. We'r...
Production Designer, Music Video (NYC)
Music Video · Production Design · New York, NY
Hey everyone, Sam here, boom op on an upcoming independent music video shoot in NYC and we're looking for a talented Production Designer to join our team. It's a really cool projec...
Senior Production Designer, Brooklyn Commercial
Commercial · Production Design · Brooklyn, NY
Hey, filmmakers! I'm Nina, a screenwriter, and I'm looking for a talented Senior Production Designer for an upcoming commercial project based in Brooklyn. This isn't your average c...
Entry VFX Artist, Sci-Fi Pilot
Pilot · VFX · Brooklyn, NY
Looking for a talented entry-level VFX artist for a compelling pilot episode of a sci-fi mystery series. This project, an independent production, explores themes of parallel dimens...
Directing for Pilot
Pilot · Directing · Brooklyn, NY
Hey filmmakers! I'm Nina, a screenwriter, and I'm looking for an entry-level director for an exciting sci-fi pilot. This project is a mind-bending thriller, think Black Mirror meet...
Production Assistant, Doc Series
Documentary · Production · New York, NY
Hey filmmakers, I'm a Location Manager currently working on an upcoming documentary series based here in New York City and we're looking for a sharp Production Assistant to join ou...
Senior DP, Independent Doc (Volunteer)
Documentary · Camera · New York, NY
Hey, fellow filmmakers. I'm putting out a call for a skilled Director of Photography for an independent documentary project, a passion film exploring the underground art scene of N...
Sound Designer - Feature Doc (Remote OK)
Documentary · Sound Design · Remote
Looking for a talented sound designer to join our independent documentary feature, currently in post-production. This film explores the vibrant, underground world of Brooklyn's str...
Locations Scout/Manager, Indie NYC Short Film
Short Film · Locations · New York, NY
Hey everyone, I'm a Rigging Gaffer on an exciting independent short film shooting in NYC this summer, and we're looking for a dedicated Locations Scout/Manager to join our crew. Th...
Production Design for Pilot
Pilot · Production Design · New York, NY
Hey production pros. I'm reaching out on behalf of a director I know, as they're looking for a senior Production Designer for an upcoming pilot. This is an independent production, ...
Locations for Short Film
Short Film · Locations · Brooklyn, NY
Hey filmmakers, we're on the hunt for a dedicated Location Scout for an intriguing sci-fi thriller short film. This project delves into themes of artificial intelligence and urban ...
VFX for Commercial
Commercial · VFX · New York, NY
Hey everyone, Claire Mahoney here, an Intimacy Coordinator working on an upcoming independent commercial project. It's a fun, quirky spot for a new local beverage brand, think brig...
Production for Music Video
Music Video · Production · New York, NY
Hey film fam, we're shooting a high-energy music video for an independent artist, a real indie pop banger with some cool stylized visuals. We're looking for a skilled 1st AC to joi...
Gaffer (Senior) for Narrative Short Film
Short Film · Production · New York, NY
Hey fellow filmmakers, I'm Ray, a scenic painter looking to beef up the crew for an upcoming narrative short film. This is a gritty, character-driven drama with some neo-noir vibes...
Why crew work in New York
New York pairs major studio facilities with location-rich neighborhoods, a deep documentary and commercial economy, and a state tax credit program that anchors episodic series here. Most crew live within the five boroughs or northern New Jersey, and unit moves between stage and location are part of the daily workflow.
Major production hubs in New York
- Long Island City (Queens): Silvercup Studios and Kaufman Astoria Studios anchor episodic production.
- Brooklyn (Greenpoint / Sunset Park): Steiner Studios at the Navy Yard, plus a growing cluster of independent stages.
- Manhattan: Commercial production, documentary, news, and streamer offices.
- The Bronx: York Studios and increasing episodic stage capacity.
Unions and guilds serving New York
- IATSE Local 52: Studio Mechanics (grip, electric, props, sets, sound) for the East Coast
- IATSE Local 600: International Cinematographers Guild (camera department)
- IATSE Local 700: Motion Picture Editors Guild
- IATSE Local 161: Script Supervisors, Production Office Coordinators, Continuity
- IATSE Local 829: United Scenic Artists (production designers, art directors, scenics)
- DGA, WGA East, SAG-AFTRA: Directors, writers, and performers
Crew roles in demand
- Grips and Electrics with stage and location experience
- 1st AC and 2nd AC for episodic and commercial
- Sound Mixers and Boom Operators (location-heavy work)
- Production Coordinators, APOCs, Travel Coordinators
- Script Supervisors (Local 161)
- Documentary DPs, Producers, and Field Producers
- Editors and Assistant Editors (Avid, Premiere)
Rates and pay structure
Rates in New York follow IATSE Local 52 and Local 600 scale on union work, with significant variation between Tier 1 features, episodic, and commercial. Non-union rates concentrate in indie, branded content, and documentary. Always confirm union status, kit fee, and overtime structure (1.5x after 8, 2x after 12) before accepting.
How to get hired in New York
- Maintain a current resume formatted for East Coast department heads, with NY-based credits highlighted.
- Track call sheets and crew lists through department head referrals; cold outreach rarely lands day-plays here.
- If you are pursuing Local 52 or Local 600, log non-union days carefully, organizers verify against payroll records.
- Keep a NY Driver's License or state ID, current I-9 documents, and W-9 ready for payroll setup.
Frequently asked questions
How does the New York film tax credit affect production jobs?
The New York State Film Tax Credit Program incentivizes productions to shoot and post in-state, which directly supports the volume of episodic series, features, and post-production work that hires local crew. Most large-scale episodic series filming in NYC qualify through this program.
Where are the main film stages in New York City?
Silvercup Studios and Kaufman Astoria Studios in Long Island City, Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and York Studios in the Bronx represent the largest stage capacity. Smaller stages and location-based shoots fill the rest of the slate.
Is there a difference between New York film jobs and Los Angeles film jobs?
Yes. NYC leans heavily on episodic, commercial, and documentary work with strong location shooting. LA carries more feature and studio-system production with a deeper stage and post infrastructure. Unions, rate cards, and call structures differ between the two coasts.