Liberty Lens: A Mid-September Philadelphia Video Production Round-Up
Philadelphia video production crews enter mid-September with clear streets, fresh gigs, and festival buzz converging across the city.
Crew Calls & Commercial Shoots
- The GPFO’s job board posted a paid sound-mixer role for a short film lensing 12 Sept.
- A production-assistant hire for a narrative feature shoots 15–25 Sept in nearby Marlton, NJ, ideal for Philly-based entry-level crew.
- Brands are booking local talent: a lifestyle eyewear campaign is casting this week for a September photo-shoot, signalling fall ad-spend confidence.
These postings translate into immediate paydays and résumé lines for area freelancers, while keeping rental houses busy with last-minute gear pulls.
Festival Frontline
Women’s Film Festival (18–28 Sept)
Part of FringeArts for the first time, the decade-old showcase adds workshops on micro-budget strategy and DP-director speed-dating sessions.
Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival (2–5 Oct)
Although just outside our two-week window, PUFF locks its horror-heavy lineup on 2 Oct, giving filmmakers two weeks to prep marketing assets.
CinéSPEAK Round-Up
The local journal lists dozens of screenings, from Scribe Video Center’s Virtually Free on 12 Sept to the Sundance Short Tour at PhilaMOCA 25 Sept.
Screen & Stream Premieres
HBO’s Philly-shot limited series Task dropped 7 Sept, keeping local locations on national screens and boosting demand for familiar backdrops. Amazon’s Reacher crew was spotted shooting additional sequences in Rittenhouse Square in early August, and insiders suggest small pick-ups could continue downtown this month—crews should watch for rolling lock-ups.
Studio & Infrastructure News
Sun Center Studios in Aston made July headlines with talk of a hotel-and-theme-park expansion, underscoring investor faith in suburban stages just 25 minutes from City Hall. While the plan isn’t shovel-ready, its momentum signals long-term space for large-format productions once current stages max out capacity.
Permit & Road-Closure Outlook
The Office of Special Events lists multiple cultural street fairs this month yet no film-unit street closures through 24 Sept. Productions sticking to sidewalks or private property need only insurance approvals—an opportunity for vérité B-roll in Old City or Fishtown without detours.
The takeaway
With open streets, active crew calls, and festival marquees lighting up, mid-September offers a sweet spot for Philadelphia video production teams to lock locations, build networks, and roll cameras before Q4 ramps into full swing.
