Media and Filming Requests
Thank you for your interest in The Marine Mammal Center. Our experts are available to do media interviews on topics including ocean conservation, marine mammal health, marine mammal research, climate change, science education, volunteer programs and more.
All media requests must go through our PR Department at media@tmmc.org or by calling 415-849-1270.
As a working hospital, advance notice is required before visiting any of our locations so that we can make your time as efficient as possible. Unannounced media visits may not be granted. The Marine Mammal Center reserves the right to deny requests and cancel at any time if it is not in the best interest of the patients, staff or volunteers.
On-site Media Etiquette
The Center’s number one priority is the safety of its staff, volunteers and patients. All media will have a Center escort through the duration of the visit. Reporters, photographers and videographers must obey all onsite safety guidelines:
- The patient’s needs come first.
- The Center reserves the right to limit or exclude the use of its patients.
- Animals cannot be manipulated or moved for media purposes.
- Staff is there to care for the animals and cannot set up specific shots on the fly.
- Customized images must be pre-arranged and may not always be possible.
- Behind-the-scenes footage requires advanced authorization and is directed by Center staff.
Additional Requests
Images and B-roll
Images and B-roll
If you are looking for images of the Center or b-roll for non-commercial use, please email media@tmmc.org or call (415) 289-7361, and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
Commercial Filming
Commercial Filming
Want to film here? The Marine Mammal Center’s mission extends to all members of the media. The Center is generally not available for commercial filming unrelated to our nonprofit mission. Requests to film and photograph at the Center will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Taking photos or video onsite for commercial purposes, including for stock images, advertising and merchandise, is prohibited without prior authorization from the Public Relations department.
If you want to film at the Center, please email us at media@tmmc.org for more information. NOTE: We require at least two weeks advance notice to accommodate most filming requests.
We are rarely able to accommodate requests to shoot pilot TV programs, student films or unsold documentaries or films. We do not provide use of Center-owned images for stock photography purposes.
Location Fees
Location Fees
Special photo and filming requests require extra staff time and interrupt routine operations. Fees are charged to offset these costs to our small staff.
The following location fees apply to commercial crews who wish to use any of The Marine Mammal Center’s locations as a venue, or use of facility, animals and/or staff (onsite or offsite) to film all or part of feature films, documentaries, television advertisements, television series, music videos, photo shoots, print advertisements, etc.
Commercial
Full day (0-8 hours): $5,000
Additional hours: $500 per hour
Nonprofit
Full day (0-8 hours): $2,500
Additional hours: $250 per hour
The Center will provide up to two staff representatives during filming at no additional fee; any additional staff needed will be subject to an hourly fee per staff member.
Location fees are determined by several factors, such as the intent of the project, its potential impact on the Center, the potential promotional value to the Center, the amount of support required by the Center and the extent to which rights to the final product are shared with the Center.
This fee schedule is a benchmark against which all projects will be evaluated. Depending on the details of the project and potential impact to the Center, the site fees may be quoted higher or lower than the standard schedule. Any changes will be discussed and agreed upon before any agreement is signed.
Advertising Inquiries
Advertising Inquiries
Contact us at media@tmmc.org. Due to the number of inquiries we receive, we cannot guarantee a response.
Sponsorship Inquiries
Sponsorship Inquiries
Learn more about opportunities to build a dynamic and impactful partnership with The Marine Mammal Center.
Meet Our Experts
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cropped-images\/jeff-boehm-by-elena-graham-c-the-marine-mammal-center-0-12-635-496-1601754833.jpg","alt":"Jeff Boehm","title":"Jeff Boehm","text":"Chief External Relations Officer","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/jeff-boehm","link_text":"Read Bio","type":"person"}
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cara-field.jpg","alt":"Cara Field","title":"Cara Field","text":"Medical Director","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/cara-field","link_text":"Read Bio","type":"person"}
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cropped-images\/Padraig Duignan-0-56-635-496-1601760621.jpg","alt":"Padraig Duignan","title":"P\u00e1draig Duignan","text":"Director of Pathology","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/padraig-duignan","link_text":"Read Bio","type":"person"}
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/kathi-george.jpg","alt":"Kathi George","title":"Kathi George","text":"Director of Cetacean Conservation Biology","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/kathi-george","link_text":"Read Bio","type":"person"}
Recent Press Releases
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2023\/cropped-images\/hms-rh38-ct-scan-by-sophie-whoriskey-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-24359-530-435-2813-2197-1700599392.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal RH38 gets a CT scan","title":"Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Heads Home to Kaua\u02bbi After Receiving Life-Saving Care","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/endangered-hawaiian-monk-seal-heads-home-to-kauai-after-receiving-life-saving-care","label":"Press Release","date":"2023-11-21 01:00:00","type":"news"}
Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Heads Home to Kauaʻi After Receiving Life-Saving Care
November 21, 2023
Read More{"image":"\/Places\/PIER 39\/cropped-images\/pier-39-k-dock-sea-lions-sunrise-shutterstock-0-9-2628-2053-1687994835.jpg","alt":"PIER 39 K-Dock at sunrise filled with sea lions","title":"The Marine Mammal Center Partners with PIER 39 to Open Sea Lion Pop-up Exhibit Space, Provide Public Programming at K-Dock","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/sea-lion-pop-up-exhibit-space-at-k-dock","label":"Press Release","date":"2023-06-29 02:00:00","type":"news"}
The Marine Mammal Center Partners with PIER 39 to Open Sea Lion Pop-up Exhibit Space, Provide Public Programming at K-Dock
June 29, 2023
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2016\/cropped-images\/hs-heyerdahl-pre-rescue-photo-c-rob-cala-608-6-4908-3833-1604444850.jpg","alt":"harbor seal pup on a sandy beach","title":"San Francisco Bay Area a Hot Spot for Marine Mammal Harassment, Experts Say","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/san-francisco-bay-area-a-hot-spot-for-marine-mammal-harassment-experts-say","label":"Press Release","date":"2023-06-05 02:00:00","type":"news"}
San Francisco Bay Area a Hot Spot for Marine Mammal Harassment, Experts Say
June 5, 2023
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-golden-gate-bridge-by-darrin-allen-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-26532-470-3-2853-2229-1683822339.jpg","alt":"gray whale tail seen above the water with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background","title":"Experts Suspect Record-Setting Gray Whale Struck Multiple Times in San Francisco Bay","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/experts-suspect-record-setting-gray-whale-struck-multiple-times-in-san-francisco-bay","label":"Press Release","date":"2023-05-11 02:00:00","type":"news"}
Experts Suspect Record-Setting Gray Whale Struck Multiple Times in San Francisco Bay
May 11, 2023
Read MorePress Coverage
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor porpoise\/cropped-images\/harbor-porpoise-photo-c-the-marine-mammal-center-12-0-1228-959-1604684911.jpg","alt":"harbor porpoise surfacing with Golden Gate Bridge in the background","title":"SFGATE: The Secret Sex Lives of Harbor Porpoises Under San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/sfgate-the-secret-sex-lives-of-harbor-porpoises-under-san-franciscos-golden-gate-bridge","label":"In the News","date":"2023-12-07 01:00:00","type":"news"}
SFGATE: The Secret Sex Lives of Harbor Porpoises Under San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge
December 7, 2023
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Releases\/cropped-images\/csl-quly-left-and-togozees-release-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-90-0-3996-3122-1693421090.jpg","alt":"two California sea lions are released in front of a crowd of people","title":"NPR Morning Edition: Hundreds of Seals and Sea Lions Are Treated Each Year at The Marine Mammal Center","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/npr-morning-edition-hundreds-of-seals-and-sea-lions-are-treated-each-year-at-the-marine-mammal-center","label":"In the News","date":"2023-08-18 02:00:00","type":"news"}
NPR Morning Edition: Hundreds of Seals and Sea Lions Are Treated Each Year at The Marine Mammal Center
August 18, 2023
Read More{"image":"\/Places\/PIER 39\/cropped-images\/pier-39-k-dock-visitors-photo-c-the-marine-mammal-center-14-2-3868-3022-1691445366.jpg","alt":"visitors to PIER 39 watch California sea lions on the docks","title":"San Francisco Chronicle: At San Francisco's PIER 39, Tourists Can Now Learn About Sea Lions as well as See Them","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/san-francisco-chronicle-at-san-franciscos-pier-39-tourists-can-now-learn-about-sea-lions-as-well-as-see-them","label":"In the News","date":"2023-06-29 02:00:00","type":"news"}
San Francisco Chronicle: At San Francisco's PIER 39, Tourists Can Now Learn About Sea Lions as well as See Them
June 29, 2023
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Northern fur seals\/2022\/cropped-images\/nfs-juicebox-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-578-0-2865-2238-1667347585.jpg","alt":"northern fur seal Juicebox","title":"Los Angeles Times: These Are the 'Hot Spots' in California for Seal Harassment","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/los-angeles-times-these-are-the-hot-spots-in-california-for-seal-harassment","label":"In the News","date":"2023-06-09 02:00:00","type":"news"}
Los Angeles Times: These Are the 'Hot Spots' in California for Seal Harassment
June 9, 2023
Read More