Rent a hospital by the hour in Washington, DC

Hospitals are an iconic part of the American cultural landscape, making them indispensable film shoot locations. Unfortunately, they are also one of the more difficult sets to design in a realistic way due to all of the props involved. From hospital beds to MRI machines, each element adds to the budget of your film, which is why pre designed sets are always in high demand. Fortunately, Washington, D.C. has been visited by filmmakers for decades. There are ample opportunities to work inside of a set that's designed to look like a working hospital, or you can partner with hospitals offering filmmaker-friendly policies.

If you need access to modern medical equipment and an authentic set, there's no better place to film than an actual hospital. Unfortunately, not every hospital is willing to open their doors to producers, however. Some do list rooms or wings of the hospital for films, especially hospitals known to be historic venues. You'll need to reach out to the public relations or HR department of most hospitals, detailing your organization and the purpose of your film. Once they respond, be ready to answer any inquiries in detail. Unlike a professional video shoot location, you may have to wait a few weeks or months before you begin filming. You'll likely be barred from certain areas of the hospital and have restrictions on who can appear in the film, but the authenticity of the set makes working with film-friendly hospitals in Washington, D.C. worth the effort.

The alternative to a working hospital is renting a film set designed to look like one. Many film production companies in DC recreate prop-heavy locations on site, including hospitals, restaurants, prisons, and banks. These venues can be complicated to book, yet a hospital film set can be reserved in far less time. Since the set is designed with the needs of filmmakers in mind, you'll have easy access to power ports, better lighting, and total control over the space. Moving equipment around requires no special permission, either. Not to mention the other amenities offered by the film production venue, including loading bays for equipment, lounges for staff, rental video equipment, and more. Unless you need the most authentic hospital filming environment a film set is a much more convenient place to work!