Film and Television Production in Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Carbondale, a small city in Lackawanna County in northeastern Pennsylvania, has served as a backdrop for film and television productions over the years, drawing on its distinctive character as a former coal mining town with preserved architecture, authentic working-class neighborhoods, and proximity to the natural landscapes of the Pocono Mountains and the Endless Mountains region.
Pennsylvania has worked to attract film and television productions through its film tax credit program, which offers producers financial incentives to shoot in the state. The Pennsylvania Film Office administers the program, which has brought a range of productions to locations throughout the commonwealth — including smaller cities and rural areas in the northeastern part of the state that offer production crews a look that’s difficult to replicate on a studio lot.
Carbondale’s built environment — with its downtown storefronts, historic architecture, and the feel of a mid-20th century American industrial city — has made it an appealing stand-in for period pieces and contemporary dramas alike. Productions shooting in the region have the added benefit of access to locations across Lackawanna, Wayne, Monroe, and Susquehanna counties, offering a wide variety of visual settings within a short drive.
The presence of a film or television production in a small city like Carbondale creates real economic activity. Crew members need housing, meals, and supplies. Production companies hire local extras and support staff. The economic ripple effect of even a modest production can be meaningful for local businesses and residents.
Lackawanna County, which includes Carbondale as well as Scranton, has seen increased interest from the entertainment industry in recent years. Scranton is well known to television audiences as the setting for NBC’s The Office, and the broader region’s profile in popular culture has grown as a result.
The Pocono Review covers news from across northeastern Pennsylvania, including Lackawanna County stories involving arts, culture, economic development, and community life.