NCIS – Naval • Criminal • Investigative • Service

People often ask why Santa Clarita is so popular for filming and there are many answers to that question. The simplest reason is that we are a community that has many resources to offer to the different aspects of production. We are home to more than 20 sound stages and over 10 movie ranches, located within the 30-Mile Zone, have a vast diversity of neighborhoods, businesses, open space and other locations, and we focus on being film-friendly.
These are perhaps some of the very reasons that the highly rated crime drama NCIS has chosen to call Santa Clarita home for each of their 15 seasons. Fifteen seasons is truly a remarkable achievement! This has translated into 350 episodes and counting, which is rare in the world of episodic television.
The popular show has been an anchor of prime time programming and a staple of weeknight television going back to 2003. Prior to that, the hit series JAG, which spun into NCIS, added 10 seasons for a continuous run of 25 seasons. Incredible.
Whether you recognize it or not, Santa Clarita has played a recurring role on the hit show, season after season. NCIS has employed many of your neighbors as a big portion of crew, are among the 6,000 plus people who work in entertainment and call Santa Clarita home.
Over the years, NCIS has filmed in several locations in Santa Clarita, and many locations have been used multiple times.
Some of these locations include College of the Canyons, Mountasia Family Fun Center, Newhall Refinery, Larsen’s Steakhouse, Salt Creek Grille, Embassy Suites, Southern California Innovation Park, Southern Smoke and Brewhouse, Valencia Country Club, the Hyatt Regency Valencia and Valencia Lanes. Incidentally, each of these locations have all been used in the last season alone.
Still other locations include: Newhall Park, Saugus Cafe, Bank of Santa Clarita, Lee’s Wine Bistro, Way Station Coffee Shop, Valencia Summit Park, Ice Station Valencia, the SCV Senior Center, Santa Clarita Boys and Girls Club, Veterans Historical Plaza (where they “blew up” a bus), and dozens of neighborhoods and roads.
Many times these locations take a keen eye to spot on air. The mastery of art design that is employed by production companies can make one location, a building for example, double easily as being in New York, Alabama, Moscow, Washington DC, Iraq, Israel or the planet Vulcan.
One of the reasons that shows like NCIS are so important to the area is because they are a huge contributor to our local economy. Local businesses, schools, residents, public agencies and non-profits all benefit from location filming. Additionally, the productions, and their crewmembers who live here, shop local at restaurants and stores, providing not only the businesses with revenue, but tax dollars as well. NCIS, with their first 15 seasons, combined with the 10 seasons of Jag, has been in Santa Clarita since the 1990’s. If you haven’t watched NCIS in a while, or you are new to the show, check it out. Aside from being a top-rated show made right here in Santa Clarita, you will be entertained and help support filming and local jobs in Santa Clarita, and California as a whole.
Recently, CBS recently announced they picked up the show for two more years. Congratulations to the cast and crew for more successful filming seasons to come.
The City of Santa Clarita’s Film Office was started in 2002 and today processes over 500 permits per year, leading to approximately 1,300 film days! Filming is a great benefit to the community, adding over $30 million of positive economic impact per year to the local economy. For a list of what has filmed in Santa Clarita, go to www.FilmSantaClarita.com and follow the City’s film office at www.Instagram.com/FilmSantaClarita.

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