Last-Minute Shoots in Alaska: What's Possible in 24 Hours

Planning guides
Written by Brendan Wells

Quite a lot: with local crew, gear, vehicles and aircraft already in Alaska, 24 hours is realistic for many shoots. What sets the limit is permits, aircraft and peak-season lodging, not crew.

By Brendan Wells · Last checked November 2026 · Part of our Filming in Alaska guide

Can you really set up an Alaska shoot in 24 hours?

Yes, if the location and crew size fit. We do last-minute shoots regularly, and we work with a large network of Alaska crew and contractors, so we're not waiting on anyone to fly in. Cameras, lighting, grip, audio, drones, the Black Arm camera truck, snowmobiles and our own Super Cub are all here.

Three things decide how fast you can roll: who manages the land, how many people will be on site, and whether you need aircraft or lodging in peak season.

What can happen within 24 hours?

  • Local crew and gear

    Camera, sound, grip, production and drone crew from our network, with RED cinema cameras, lenses, lighting, grip and audio from our rental inventory.

  • Small crews on national park land

    The National Park Service says permits and fees generally aren't needed for 8 or fewer people with hand-carried gear in areas open to the public, with no exclusive use of a site and no impact on resources or visitors.

  • Small crews on national forest land

    On the Chugach and Tongass, 5 or fewer people need no permit under the same kinds of conditions. Six to eight people need a no-fee authorization from the local Forest Service office.

  • Private land with the owner's OK

    A signed location agreement with the landowner can be done the same day. Alaska Native corporation land is also private, but each corporation has its own permit process.

  • Drones where they're allowed

    Our pilots hold FAA Part 107 certificates, the federal license for commercial drone work. Outside national parks and with the land manager's OK, we can fly the same day. Controlled airspace needs FAA authorization first.

  • Aerials from the Cub Cam

    A stabilized 8K cinema camera on our own Super Cub: the aerial option where drones aren't allowed, such as national parks, within FAA and park rules. It flies when the weather does.

Wilderness areas, closed areas and very busy sites are exceptions to the federal no-permit rules, so we check each location before we commit.

What can't be rushed?

  • Alaska State Parks

    Commercial filming needs a permit in advance, and State Parks asks you to allow up to 30 days. That includes Chugach State Park, right next to Anchorage.

  • Alaska Railroad

    Any work in the railroad right-of-way, typically 200 feet wide, needs a permit. Standard processing is 4 weeks, rush is 2 weeks for an extra $10,000, and flaggers need 10 business days to schedule.

  • Mat-Su Borough land

    Use of borough land for more than 7 days at one location, or 21 days in a year, needs a land use permit, and the borough says the process takes longer than 30 days.

  • McNeil River bears

    Commercial filming at McNeil River State Game Sanctuary needs one of up to four commercial permits a year, and applications are due December 1 of the year before.

  • Large crews and drones in national parks

    More than 8 people, sets or exclusive use can mean a park permit, and Denali asks you to apply as far ahead as possible. Drones are banned in national parks.

  • Peak-summer lodging and aircraft

    About 88% of Alaska's visitors come in summer. Remote lodges, floatplanes and helicopters can be fully booked from June to September, so plan one to two months ahead for those.

When a location can't be permitted in time, we look for one that can: a similar look on national forest land with a small crew, on private land, or on a road we can work from. Often there's a version of the shot that can happen tomorrow.

What should we send to start today?

Send this, even in rough form, and we can start booking crew and checking locations the same day:

  • Shoot dates, how firm they are, and a backup day for weather

  • The location or the look you need, with reference images if you have them

  • How many people will be on site, cast and crew together (this decides most federal permit questions)

  • Who's flying in and when, and which roles and gear you need here

  • Aerial needs: drone, Cub Cam or helicopter

  • Deliverables and any client requirements, such as insurance certificates or NDAA-compliant drones

  • A phone number for the person who can approve changes on the day

Does moving fast mean cutting corners on safety?

No. Everyone on our crews holds current first aid certification, which Alaska State Parks also requires for everyone working under a filming permit. Most of our crew have Wilderness First Responder training, and every remote shoot carries satellite phones and Garmin inReach devices. Every shoot has an emergency evacuation plan, and our lead safety manager, Brian Burger, is an IFMGA mountain guide. If the weather is wrong for flying or the terrain is wrong for the day, we move the shot.

For what we handle on a typical visiting-crew shoot, see production services for visiting crews, camera and gear rentals and aerial filming.

Questions

Can you get a film permit in Alaska in 24 hours?

Sometimes you don't need one. Small crews on national park and national forest land often need no permit, and private land only needs the owner's OK. Alaska State Parks asks for up to 30 days, and the Alaska Railroad takes 4 weeks, or 2 with a $10,000 rush fee.

Can we fly a drone tomorrow?

Usually, outside national parks and with the land manager's OK. Our pilots are FAA Part 107 certified, and controlled airspace needs FAA authorization first. Drones are banned in national parks, where our Cub Cam is the aerial option, within FAA and park rules.

Do we need to bring our own crew to Alaska?

No. We work with a large network of Alaska crew and contractors and can staff large casts and crews locally, so you only need to bring your key people.

What's hardest to book last-minute in summer?

Remote lodges, floatplanes and helicopters from June to September. For shoots that depend on them, plan one to two months ahead when you can.

Planning a shoot in Alaska?

Send us what you have, even if the dates are tomorrow. Start a project or call (907) 521-8133. We reply within one business day.

Sources

Brendan Wells https://mountainmind.media
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