On-Campus Commercial Filming and News Photography/Videography

Last updated 08/09/2022

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, UC San Diego is updating its on-campus commercial filming and media photography/videography guidelines based on public health and safety guidelines set forth by local, state and University officials. UC San Diego and UC San Diego Health are working closely with federal and state officials to help slow the spread of the disease.

Gallery of Campus Locations for Commercial Filming

Commercial Filming Projects

UC San Diego occasionally facilitates commercial filming projects at various locations on campus. The starting daily rate to film at UC San Diego is $3,500. This fee does not include staffing or parking fees your film shoot might possibly incur. Filming is permitted at various campus locations, such as Geisel Library and Black’s Beach. Commercial filming is prohibited at the School of Medicine and inside all labs, classrooms, and dorms on campus.

University Communications is responsible for all arrangements pertaining to filming on the UC San Diego main campus, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Black’s Beach. We screen and process all commercial film requests.

If you have a non-commercial filming inquiry involving the use of the university’s name and logo, please fill out the general inquiries contact form.

News Photography/Videography

News photography and videography do not require a permit, however, requests to capture drone footage on campus require approval 72 hours prior to the proposed shoot through the Flight Request Form.

All news camera crews and still photographers who request access to a specific location—such as a lab, residence hall or lecture building—must obtain authorization in advance from the specific UC San Diego unit communications team to film, videotape or take pictures. These authorizations are determined on a case-by-case basis, per the responsibility of the appropriate UC San Diego communications personnel. To review UC San Diego communications personnel, visit the UC San Diego Media Contacts page.

Note: To protect all students, faculty and staff, UC San Diego has developed enhanced safety requirements for individuals arriving, working and living on all UC San Diego campuses, properties and locations. All individuals are expected to follow UC San Diego’s campus safety requirements, which can be found on the UC San Diego Return to Learn website.

For convenience, the word “filming” as used in this webpage shall include commercial and educational motion pictures, filming, videotaping, still photography and digital imaging.

Contacts

Commercial Filming

Dan Rothbauer in UC San Diego University Communications facilitates commercial filming projects—such as broadcast commercials, movie productions and advertising shoots—at various locations on campus (permits/insurance/fees).

Daniel Rothbauer
University Communications
University of California San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive #0938
La Jolla, CA 92093-0938
Tel: (858) 822-7824
Email: drothbauer@ucsd.edu

Non-Commercial Filming

UC San Diego’s academic unit communications personnel each manage media requests for their area, including coordinating media interviews and monitoring on-campus news photography/videography inquiries.