Filming on Location & Permits
DePaul Property
Filming on DePaul Property + Space Managers Information
Any film requesting to shoot at DePaul properties must have a Project Number, obtained through the Production Office Greenlighting process.
Student Responsibilities
Location Approval: Students must secure all filming locations and follow proper protocols, including contacting the Space Manager and Public Safety. All guidelines outlined here must be followed.
If needed, reserve an extra classroom for storing equipment and personal items while shooting in campus buildings.
Project Number: A Production Office-issued Project Number via "Greenlighting" is required for any filming outside of a student’s home or dorm. DePaul Space Managers and 25Live use this number for reference.
Student IDs: All students on cast or crew must carry their iDePaul app ID at all times while filming on DePaul property. Public Safety officers may ask to verify IDs.
Public Safety Notification: Notify Public Safety at least three business days prior to filming, after obtaining Space Manager permission. Requests without proper notice may be denied.
Building Access: Filming is prohibited during building closures unless special permission is granted by a faculty advisor and Public Safety (fees may apply).
Campus Safety: Filming must not obstruct traffic, block exits, or create tripping hazards. Equipment and staging should never interfere with campus safety.
Support
The Production Office is available to answer questions about these procedures. See below for room options and contact information for permissions and reservations.
Exterior Campus Properties
Permission Not Usually Needed: Students can film exterior common areas without approval, unless University names or logos are visible.
Inside DePaul SCA - Rooms, Suites, & Labs
Using their Project Number (see “Greenlighting”),Students may reserve rooms for meetings, casting, rehearsals, or shoots, following availability and space guidelines. All filming still requires a Production Office Project Number.
Room Reservation Policies
Weekend Reservations: Request by Thursday at 12 PM.
Weekday Reservations: Request at least 1 business day in advance.
Maximum Time: 4 hours unless approved by Production Office & Space Manager.
A/V Equipment: Do not unplug or alter. Malfunctions reported the next day may result in penalties.
Furniture: Return to original setup after use.
Scheduling: Use 25Live unless noted. Check the CDM Knowledge Base or contact Space Manager for exceptions.
Permission Withdrawal: Space Manager, faculty, or event sponsor may revoke access if filming disrupts campus activities.
Privacy: No filming in bathrooms, locker rooms, exercise facilities, or elevators. See Penalties/Fines for violations. Exception: Filming is now allowed in the designated bathroom in Daley hallway behind LL102, subject to approval by the College of Communications Space Manager
Note: all reservations are subject to change by Space Managers.
Key Spaces
CDM Lighting Stage, Daley LL 107 – 1,200 sq. ft., partial lighting grid, pre-built alleyway set, lighting/grip equipment.
Digital Cinema Studio, CDM 924 – 75-capacity multipurpose room with movable tables, chairs, and black walls.
Stop Motion Labs
CDM 818 – Three workstations with capture equipment; food & drinks prohibited; sign-in sheet on door.
Daley 310 (IRL Makerspace) – Three studios for stop-motion and other projects; reserve in 25Live (“310-Maker Space”) or contact IRL at (312) 362-6340.
Screening Theaters
Digital Cinema Theater, CDM 708 – 41 seats.
CDM Theater, Daley LL 105 – Not available for student reservations.
CDM Theater 2, Daley 214 – 55 seats.
Lincoln Park Campus Student Center Theater, SC 330 – Contact [email protected].
Post-Production Studios
CDM Computer Labs & Editing Suites – Daley 201–204.
Recording & Mixing Studios – Reserved for students in/finished POST 124: Sound Design I. See 25Live & CDM Post-Production website for details.
Recording Sound Studio, CDM 724
Mixing Sound Studio, CDM 600A
Unusual spaces
Hallways, stairwells, atria, or any space not listed above and not found online, contact Public Safety for space requests at least 72 hours prior to shoot.
Resources: See CDM Student Resource Post-Production and Animation page for equipment and software available in studios and labs.
Filming University Property names & logos
Permission Required: Any filming that captures the DePaul University name or logos (including exterior properties) must be approved by:
Non-DePaul Property
Location Filming Policy
Project Number Required
Obtain prior approval and a Project Number from the Production Office via the "Greenlighting" Process.
Leave It Better Than You Found It
Respect the property, your behavior affects future student filmmakers.
Preparation & Communication
Scout thoroughly and note owner preferences.
Photograph original setup of rooms and furniture before filming.
Mark off-limits areas clearly.
Supplies & Property Protection
Bring your own cleaning supplies, paper goods, and tools.
Protect floors with mats, cardboard, or carpet remnants.
Photograph and restore fridge contents if used.
Have owner’s permission to use appliances such as the refrigerator, stove, etc.
Respectful Conduct
Lift, don’t drag, furniture; return everything to its original spot.
Hold a brief crew safety meeting before entering.
Notify cast & crew of areas off-limits, tripping hazards, or any other red flags for using the space as discussed with the owner beforehand
Report and repair any damage immediately.
Electronics & A/V
Do not unplug electronics unless absolutely necessary & with owner permission; photograph cord/cable setup first so you can replace it exactly as found.
Only unplug refrigerators/freezers with permission; replace spoiled contents if needed.
Additional Considerations
Don’t adjust thermostats without permission.
Treat outdoor areas, lawns, sidewalks, driveways, porches with the same care as indoors.
Communicate clearly with property owners and notify the Production Office about locations suitable for future student use.
Make sure you are dealing with the property owner, not a leasing tenant. Only the owner can give you permission for filming.
Permits & Contacts
General Permit Information
General Guidelines
Filming in public spaces usually requires a permit from the town or city.
Policies and fees vary and often require advanced notice (sometimes up to a month or more), a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and in some cases for student films, a Letter of Intent (LOI) to show permission for COI to be provided by the university for student use.
Students must obtain prior approval and a Project Number from the Production Office before applying for permits. This multi-step process is included in the "Greenlighting" process.
When Permits Are Required:
Blocking sidewalks for pedestrian access (city)
Placing parking restrictions on streets for a shoot (city)
Filming with more than one hand-held camera (parks/forest)
Blocking pedestrian access to a specific area (parks/forest)
How to Apply:
List your city, county or park location in your project’s Dynamic View in the Greenlighting system with the Production Office. Use the name of the person who will be applying for the permit as the “Student Location Manager”.
Once you have received the COI from the Production Office, use your SCA Project Number as the project name and attach the required COI and LOI (required) for any permit applications.
Important Rules:
Filming after 11 PM on city streets is not allowed for college student projects.
Permit Contacts & Websites:
City Of Chicago (streets/buildings) permits
Not required but recommended, contact Jose “Alex” Vasquez, the Student Liaison for the Chicago Film Office, to discuss your project plans.
Chicago Park District (parks and park district buildings) permits
This applies for using the park and/or an interior location in a Park District Building. The permit contact for this is Robert Marshall.
Certificate of Insurance
Certificate of Insurance: If required, complete the Locations List and Rental Request Form in your Smartsheet Project Dynamic View.
Questions? Contact the Production Office: [email protected].
Chicago Independently Managed Locations
See the “Independently Managed Sites” on the Park District website for the list of parks to call directly for approval, for all other parks, submit a permit request via the website.
The following locations are independently managed, please call them directly:
Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, (773) 883-7275
Lincoln Park Zoo, (312) 742-2000
Maggie Daley Park & Cancer Survivors Garden, (312) 552-3000
Millennium Park, (312) 744-6050
Olive Park, (312) 744-6635
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