Members of the press should contact the National Aquarium in Baltimore’s Media Relations department at 410-576-3860 to discuss interview requests, timelines and general Aquarium information.
I am part of a movie, television or commercial production agency, including publications, and would like to use the Aquarium as a location for my project.
The National Aquarium in Baltimore carefully considers shoot requests from non-news media. The information provided below details our policies, site fees, and scheduling requirements for commercial shoots.
- Topics. The National Aquarium in Baltimore is a non-profit organization and has been recognized by our visitors as one of the top aquariums in the nation, and the best attraction in Maryland. Our mission is to stimulate interest in, develop knowledge about, and inspire stewardship of aquatic environments. Commercial shoots must help support our mission.
- Visitor Rights. The Aquarium hosts approximately 1.6 million visitors per year. Each guest deserves to enjoy an uninterrupted experience, therefore we schedule shoots only before the Aquarium opens, or after we close to the public.
- Approval Process. Please contact the Aquarium’s media relations department at least ten (10) working days prior to the anticipated shoot date. Earlier notification is appreciated and complex shoots will require more time. The media relations department is the only department that approves/disapproves shoots.
- Site Visits. All production crews must schedule a site visit to the Aquarium to learn our lay out, the challenges associated with shooting in an aquarium, discover how dark the Aquarium galleries are, and determine which exhibits will be involved with the shoot.
- Scheduling your shoot. The media relations staff will work with you to determine the best time and date for your shoot. All shoots take place before the Aquarium opens, or after it closes.
- The Aquarium frequently hosts evening events. To provide both parties with the best possible experience, we do not schedule shoots the same nights we host evening events.
- Some of our exhibits have strict lighting schedules. We will work with your crew and our animal care staff to help meet each party’s needs.
- The visitor space within Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes, the Rain Forest and Dolphin Amphitheater is also the animal care space. These areas must be ready to open when the Aquarium opens, so general husbandry work (watering of plants, morning feeds and cleaning) may occur in the shoot area. We will work with your crew and our animal care staff to ensure that everyone’s needs are met.
- Usage. Any footage filmed at the Aquarium must be used only for the previously agreed-upon purpose.
- Animal Needs. You are probably interested in shooting at the Aquarium because of our world-class reputation and beautiful exhibits. To maintain these factors, animal care needs must always come first. In case of animal emergencies, we will work with you to provide another shoot location or reschedule the shoot. We reserve the right to stop filming if the animals are being adversely affected.
- Storage. Space is a precious commodity throughout the Aquarium. We regret that we are unable to provide storage to film crews. Please plan to carry your equipment with you through the Aquarium during your shoot, and remove it between sessions. We suggest you bring a cart to carry and contain your equipment.
- Parking. The Aquarium is located on a pier, and therefore has very limited outdoor space. Several garages are located within a block or two of the Aquarium. If you are staying for a multi-day shoot, several nearby hotels are only a short walk away.
- Noise. Custodial and animal husbandry staffs begin work early in the morning to prepare the building for visitors and construction work generally occurs before or after the Aquarium's operating hours. We will work with our staff to provide you with the quietest shoot environment possible but cannot guarantee silence.
- Underwater Shoots. Occasionally we allow videographers to enter our aquatic exhibits. The videographer must work with the media relations department and the dive safety officer to determine eligibility. Anyone who dives in an exhibit (including our staff and volunteers) must be SCUBA certified and provide documentation of a thorough physical. The videographer will be accompanied by at least one staff member, and he/she will not be allowed to pursue animals.
- Damages and Insurance. The film crew is responsible for any damages incurred during their time on the property. All crews are required to have general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
- Pilots. Due to the enormous amount of time involved with planning and executing shoots, the Aquarium regrets that it will not approve shoots for pilot programs. All shoot requests must provide samples of previous programs.
- Fees. The Aquarium’s standard fees are listed below. Location fees are based upon planning time, impact on the building and staff, and length of shoot and complexity, among other factors.
- Four hour shoot - $4,000
- Eight hour shoot (divided into at least two shoot sessions) - $7,000
- If staff outside of the media relations department are required then additional hourly fees are:
- Animal care staff - $50 per hour, per person
- Trade positions (electricians, facilities staff, security, etc) - $75 per hour, per person
- Electricity – A complete list of electrical equipment must be submitted to the media relations department for review by the Aquarium electricians at least five (5) business days prior to the shoot. The Aquarium will notify the film crew if they need to supply their own generator for great electrical demands.
- Catering – All Aquarium catering needs are handled by Classic Catering. A menu is available upon request.
- Miscellaneous.
- Electrical outlets may not be close to the shoot location. Please bring several heavy-duty, long, three-pronged extension cords with you. Daisy-chaining (stringing multiple extension cords together) is not allowed. Extension cords must be taped to the floor to prevent a tripping hazard.
- The Aquarium must receive a copy of the completed project.
- The Aquarium has the right to approve any scripts focusing on the Aquarium. Scripts should be submitted to the media relations department at least five (5) business days prior to the shoot.
