10 Best Prison & Jail Locations for Rent in Chicago, IL

A prison scene is a costly and time-consuming set to create. So why not film in an authentic prison setting instead? There's no shortage of places to choose from a short drive away, after all.
Former prisons are your best bet for a prison scene. But even active prisons may be accommodating in the right circumstances. Filming in most active prisons is a straightforward process but requires you to jump through several legal hoops. State laws do allow filmmakers, documentarians, and production companies to hold film shoots in prisons but it's always on a case by case basis. Video recording is done strictly within the limits of safe operation of the facility, without disrupting daily operations.
You first have to submit your proposal to the right institution, which may be a press office, warden, or other point of contact. The proposal should include details about your company, the film you have in mind, the crew size, technology involved, and other details. In short, your proposal should be professional, thorough, and able to answer most of their questions from the onset. Even with approval from the facility you may be barred from certain areas or shooting styles if they compromise the security of the facility.