Covered production space in Naples, what a private base in Chiaia offers

In central Naples a production can usually find its locations. Finding covered space to work behind the scenes is much harder. In Chiaia, at Vico Santa Maria a Cappella Vecchia 8b, more than 1,000 sq m of open floor is assigned to productions, inside a 3,000 sq m covered garage and in the same building as five apartments sleeping 20.

What is a private production base?

A private production base is an enclosed, supervised space assigned to a single shoot, where departments work, store kit and prep without taking over the street.

What sets it apart from a rented warehouse is the location and everything around it. This space sits in the city centre, with covered vehicle access and crew accommodation in the same building.

How much floor is there and how is it allocated?

The open floor is over 1,000 sq m of the garage’s 3,000, all covered, and it is allocated by the square metre for the length of the shoot.

A small production might only need a camera and lighting store. A series with full departments can take a large section divided into separate zones. The final area is set during the site visit, around what the shoot actually needs.

Which departments can use the space?

The space works for equipment and set storage, wardrobe, costume fitting, make up, prep and interior sets.

• Camera, lenses and lighting, in a closed area with access at any hour
• Art department and props, loaded straight off the van
• Wardrobe and fittings, close to where the cast is staying
• Hair and make up, for prep before the unit leaves for set
• Interior sets, for scenes that do not need an outside location

Technical conditions for shooting inside, such as usable height and power supply, are checked on the site visit.

How do vehicles and kit get in?

Vehicles come in through a covered entrance and unload inside the building, with no need to occupy the street.

The rest of the garage holds 100 parking spaces with 3 metres of clearance, with drop off and holding areas for arriving vehicles. Vans, fitted vans, lighting units and wheeled generators all fit as long as they stay under 3 metres.

Why does it matter that the space and the beds share a building?

Having the space and the accommodation in the same building removes the run between store and hotel, twice a day for every department.

Wardrobe does not cross the city for a fitting, make up starts as soon as the cast comes down, and anything forgotten is a few minutes away rather than across town.

Who looks after kit and deliveries?

The building is supervised 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, CCTV covers the whole perimeter and on-site staff sign for deliveries.

Rental drops that arrive while the crew is out come inside, go to the assigned area and stay there until the crew returns. Set dressing does not spend the night in a parked van.

How do you request the space for a production?

Send the owner a brief with dates, estimated floor area, vehicles and how many people need beds.

The quote is based on the real scope of the shoot, not a standard rate card. Send the brief through the Production Base page or to Gian Piero Santopaolo on +39 331 322 5577 or gianpiero@santopaoloboutiqueapartments.com.