Broadway Stages takes pride in supporting the vibrant communities that host our productions. Our Filming Location Spotlight series highlights these local shops, restaurants, landmarks, and venues where productions that call Broadway Stages home have filmed “on location”.  We encourage our readers to explore and support these unique spots, and join the film and television industry in helping to sustain the economies and culture of our neighborhoods! Today, we visit a location where popular films like “Spider-Man” (2002) shot iconic scenes. Who can forget the movie's big rescue scene filmed on the famous Roosevelt Island Tramway.

Roosevelt Island is a 147-acre, two-mile long strip of land situated in the middle of the East River between Manhattan and Queens. It is also a prominent filming location for numerous television programs and films.

The island is not only an ideal spot for capturing panoramic views of the New York City skyline. It also includes the tree-lined greenspace Franklin Delano Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, the bustling Cornell Tech campus, the ruins of a 19th century smallpox hospital, the operational Coler Hospital, and the historic Lighthouse Park. These diverse and versatile locales allow Roosevelt Island to serve as a backdrop for all sorts of productions, from period pieces to dystopian horror films, modern hospital dramas, and blockbuster superhero flicks.

The island's most famous attraction is its tramway, which runs along a 3,140-foot aerial path connecting the island to Manhattan's Upper East Side. The 250-foot-high tram opened in 1976 and over the decades has served as the setting for classic scenes in movies like 1981's "Nighthawks" and 2002's "Spider-Man."

Broadway Stages, in conjunction with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), has hosted many popular productions on the island, including CBS hits "Blue Bloods," "The Equalizer," and "FBI." Broadway Stages also worked with RIOC to provide facilities for "The Blacklist," "Mr. Robot," "Jessica Jones," "Billions," and "Law & Order."

In a recent webinar, RIOC representatives spoke about the island's unique history, particularly during the 19th century when it was home to numerous public welfare institutions focused primarily on "undesirable" populations. Named Welfare Island from 1921 to 1973, it housed not just the aforementioned smallpox hospital but also a large penitentiary and a "lunatic" asylum where journalist Nellie Bly went undercover to expose the mistreatment of female patients. The public art installation "The Girl Puzzle" sits in Lighthouse Park to honor Bly and her work.

RIOC works under the New York State Governor's Office of Motion Picture and Television Development to oversee the island's infrastructure and public safety, and to facilitate projects to enhance the Roosevelt Island community. RIOC's website includes information on filming and photography guidelines and how to apply for a filming permit.

Even if you aren't a filmmaker, Roosevelt Island is a unique destination for anyone looking to spend time outdoors. Check it out for yourself to learn about local history while taking in stunning views of the City.

One of New York’s largest growing full-service film, television, live streaming, commercial, live performance, and music video studio production companies, Broadway Stages has been an integral part of New York for over four decades. With more than 60 soundstages located across Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, we currently have over 4 million sq. ft. of integrated soundstages, support space, locations, parking, and in-house lighting, power, and grip rental service available to handle all types of production.

Together with our clients, we have employed thousands of people, and have created hundreds of local jobs. We are dedicated to giving back to our community through education, the arts, and social and environmentally focused programs. We have a hyper-local focus and work primarily with local businesses for our production needs. We actively demonstrate our commitment to renewable energy and sustainability with our rooftop solar panels, agricultural and wildflower gardens, and related educational programs.

Learn about film and TV industry jobs, training, and more in the Broadway Stages’ Industry Resource Guide. Our guide provides information and links to put you in touch with industry-focused job posting sites; general recruiting sites; education and training programs; and state, city, and borough industry information. We also include a link to our blogs about many of the jobs that make a production come to life.