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10 Tips For Shooting Great Corporate Video In Frankfurt
The city of Frankfurt combines high-rise office towers with a traditional German town square. With the river Main flowing through, Frankfurt has been a longtime destination for travelers, and was recently named one of the Economist’s 10 Most Livable Cities. When it’s time to find a European city to film your next round of corporate videos, Frankfurt is a top contender. It’s easy to be drawn in by the combination of old-fashioned and modern architecture, easily accessible location and simple navigation within the city limits. We talked to our German DP’s to see what every traveling producer needs to know before shooting corporate video in Frankfurt.
1.Permits: The permitting process for filming on public property in Frankfurt differs depending on your intentions. There is a short-notice option that works for small crews, while larger productions will need to apply for a more complicated permit, especially when they have to take actions such as blocking off roads. For more information on the permit process, click here.
2. Language: While it would be helpful to know and understand basic German phrases while navigating the city, most locals know conversational English. Our team thinks it wise to brush up on some common phrases such as “Hastn Problem damit wenn wa dir filmen?”: Do you mind if we film you? or “Tschuldigung, wir drehen hier, kannste ma vafatzen?”: Excuse me we are filming, could you please move out of our shot?
3. Airport: Germany’s largest international airport is located within Frankfurt’s city limits. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has direct train stations right there below the terminals, making transportation out of the city and back to the airport very convenient. If you need to travel to the outskirts of the city, there is also Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) as an option. This airport has several budget airlines, but no direct train stations on site.
4. Transportation: Frankfurt is a reasonably sized city with affordable taxis. For those who prefer public transit, the trains are a great option: the airport is just 12 minutes from the city center by train. Frankfurt is small so taking taxis is not expensive, otherwise crew vans can be rented and used.
5. Parking: This city has a lot of underground parking available, as well as parking spaces with meters in the city center. Free street parking is relatively non-existent so be prepared to pay when you do find that lucky parking spot.
6. Weather: Frankfurt tends to lean more towards the chillier side during the year. As with many places, the city really comes to life in the spring and throughout the summer. Temperatures are relatively mild and very enjoyable for tourists and locals alike. The fall is the most picturesque time of the year and the city offers many great shooting locations to capture it. While winters are not considered extreme, light snow does fall regularly.
7. Restaurants: For the unique local cuisine, you have to check out the traditional apple wine restaurants at the other side of the river in Sachsenhausen. When it comes to international cuisine, there’s nothing Frankfurt does not have in this multicultural city. El Pacifico in Sandweg is a great Mexican restaurant, Indian Flavours in Robert-Mayer-Straße is an amazing Indian spot and Babam is an awesome place for Persian cuisine – try their fresh sesame bread!
8. Modern Skyline : In addition to its old-fashioned features, Frankfurt is also home to the most modern collection of skyscrapers in Germany — the Main river is sometimes nicknamed “Mainhattan” because of them. Whether filmed on their own or as a direct contrast to the medieval buildings, the Frankfurt high-rises are great window dressing for corporate videos.
9. Medieval Architecture: Römerberg Square, home to a medieval town hall building, is a slice of ancient architecture in the center of modern-day Frankfurt. For crews hoping to situate their videos in an olden-day vision of Europe, this square and the houses around it are unmissable B-roll features.
10. A Very Enjoyable Destination: Frankfurt made 2024’s top 10 list of “most livable cities of the world” and indeed offers an abundance of impressive architecture, picturesque parks, a large number of museums and international cuisines catering to all tastes, making it a great place to live and work! When its time to put the camera down, be sure to take in the sights and culture within this bustling city.
Frankfurt Key Takeaways:
- You definitely need a permit to film in public spaces. There is a general permit for small crews on very short notice, but crews also need to obtain permits for larger shoots, especially for when when roads are blocked.
- Transportation to and around the city should be a breeze, but be prepared to pay for parking!
- Frankfurt is a gem of city that combines stunning modern skylines with breathtaking medieval architecture. A very modern view is the Frankfurt skyline showing the river and the high rises, along with an interesting contrast to the medieval town hall and “Römer” square with its half timbered houses and unique architecture.
Whether you’re navigating to a perfect B-roll location or just trying to sample the local cuisine, a Crews Control director of photography can help. With experts on your side, Frankfurt can become your company’s video production home, whether you have an office there or you’re visiting for the first time.
If you’re planning an upcoming shoot in Frankfurt, you can trust Crews Control to get you the best local crew with the equipment you need. Just click here for a free quote!
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