Gardens – Nebraska Film & Photography Locations

Hello Friends, Colleagues, and future Visitors –

After many years and miles of location-scouting Nebraska, I am sharing my Locations Library.

NebraskaOnLocation.com is for Inspiration, Education, and Collaboration. Visit. Do get inspired, explore, engage, opine — and ask questions. Expand on your original vision, consider multiple options, view with a wider lens. Ask more questions.

Of course, the larger hope here is for NebraskaOnLocation to serve as a long-overdue marketing space for the State being a viable filming Location. Pictures, as they say, are worth a thousand… well, you know.

NebraskaOnLocation.com IS a photo folders and galleries based platform. It ISN’T a traditional website. A simple hint; when in doubt, tap or click on any photo and / or scroll. To get back or escape, go back or escape or open a new page.

I recommend starting at Welcome to Nebraska and the Welcome Messages. There are suggestions about search, navigation, and collaboration. Or jump in anywhere. Tap and scroll. Visit random folders. Get lost. I find locations like that all the time.

If you’re new to this type of platform, here are a few quick navigation hints.

Click or tap any Folder.
Click or tap again on any Gallery.
In a Gallery, click or tap on a photo to enlarge.
Arrow or swipe to scroll gallery.
Esc to see full Gallery again.
Consider a new window for NebraskaOnLocation or Home or Back or tap the Tiny House in the upper left corner.

Select Folders are Regions which are from my Nebraska State Map (Map button at top of site).

The star here is NEBRASKA Big Picture a.k.a Categories. A great place to “get lost.”

Second to the fun ride of Categories and worth exploring, is the folder named Small Towns in Nebraska. No, all of them aren’t here but you’ll get the general idea. Sorry to any missed. It might be as simple as I haven’t got to your photos – yet.

Anywho, there it is. It’s a start. Please know it is a constant work-in-progress. Just entering keywords and meta data to help with search is arduous and ongoing. Let me know what you think. Be kind. Have fun. Stay safe.

– Jamie

All photos are copyrighted and protected. IF you choose to share, do so via Folder or Gallery link. IF you choose to grab screen shots, please do so thoughtfully.

If your project is green-lit and fast-tracked—reach out ASAP for fast answers via my contact info. or this form.

Client and work project folders are always sent privately. Your project is embraced with discretion—until after airing.

Location Scouting is a professional process which happens long before any filming begins. It is mostly an unnoticed craft and hardly ever credited. If you are unaware of this key position in motion pictures; please read my blog post about LOCATION SCOUTING Definitions, Process, Collaboration, Respect. Warning: it is my POV. It isn’t personal, it’s just business.

This site and NebraskaOnLocation.com created, designed, and maintained by Jamie Vesay, a thirty-years experienced professional Filmworker. He is a Location Scout / Manager, Producer, Fixer for commercial motion pictures. He has worked on almost every genre / format / category of motion pictures and in virtually every position in filmmaking, including Special FX Coordinator, Art Dept., and on-camera Talent. Here is his Resume.

Visit NebraskaLocation.com for more intel and education. Follow on IG @NebraskaLocation or FB.

Thank you.

Lincoln is the State capital and the second-most populous city after Omaha. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County. Downtown could double most medium-sized cities with a nice mix of old and newer building architecture.

Lincoln O Street downtown 2010 Jamie Vesay WM LBLD 100_1963

Walkways over the streets that are connected to buildings are interesting visuals. They also make a walk warmer in winter.

Lincoln walkway connecter 2010 Jamie Vesay WM LBLD 100_1966

Lincoln has been captured on the big screen a few times, from back in the eighties and Terms of Endearment to most recently (briefly) in the movie NEBRASKA. There have been a few low-budget independent films that chose Lincoln too and the movie Yes Man shot B-Roll at the University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium. National commercials have shot here, including Prilosec OTC, History Channel, and Visa, plus many regional spots.

Take a look at this video. A great cross-section of Lincoln action and landmarks: including Memorial Stadium, Pinnacle Bank Arena, downtown, and the Capitol. Created for University of Nebraska Conference Services. Produced by University Communications in cooperation with CueMotion.

The Pinnacle Bank Arena is new and the area near here that connects to the Haymarket have been big visual changes to this area. The Haymarket is also a wonderful stop for clients and crew for amenities and trinkets.

There are a few visual gems in Lincoln that (IMO) have yet to be highlighted to their beauty and should be by some project. One is the Sunken Gardens near 27th & Capitol Parkway. They are a breath of fresh air near a busy intersection.

cropped-sunken-gardens-lincoln-2009-labeled-jamie-vesay-100_0652.jpg As the name implies, the property is sunken low from the street, however wide shots from higher points will see the traffic. Sound could also be an issue. The City will work with you to shoot here, but arrange well ahead because it is popular in the warm weather with weddings and visitors.

Filming at the Capitol building has been challenging in the past (for me). Easier and okay (for others). A document that includes a list of requirements and rules does exist but contact the Capitol directly for what current protocol is.

cropped-lincoln-capitol-west-entrance-pano-shot-labeled-by-jamie-vesay-100_2028-copy.jpg

There are a few gorgeous hallways with great architecture and wonderful natural light.

Lincoln Capitol walkway 2011 Jamie Vesay WM LBLD treated IMG_1888

Overall, the City of Lincoln is film-friendly. For direct inquiries, start at the Mayor’s Office. Another helpful contact is the Nebraska Film Office, based in Lincoln. They can direct you to other local contacts as well. Naturally, any other location you are interested in should be contacted directly for proper permissions, etc.

Finally (for now) as I say with all location scouting: Hire a local scout that knows the area. If you can’t afford one, build in extra time to look harder and think creatively. Look away from the next obvious list or off the main drag or at places not in the travel brochure. There are surprises hiding but you have to find them. The one below is an example. A beautiful relic of an enclosed staircase hiding downtown in an alley. With the right frame, it could double New York.

Lincoln encased staircase 2012 Jamie Vesay WM LBLD treated IMG_4846