Graced with grand windows, intricate ironwork, and lofty ceilings, the landmark Franklin School, home of Planet Word, is a uniquely stunning venue for your most important personal and corporate events.
Washington, DC – The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) recognizes PLANET WORD, as the March 2023 Location of the Month.
“Locations like Planet Word reflect DC’s diverse architectural history making any location throughout all 8 wards film-friendly with the resources to support any size production,” says Director LaToya Foster.
Planet Word is located in Ward 2’s historic Franklin School Building adjacent to Franklin Park just a few blocks from the White House. In the heart of downtown Washington, DC it is the only museum in the country dedicated to renewing and inspiring a love of words and language. Planet Word opened after a remodel and redesign in 2020, establishing itself as an innovative 21st-century interactive and self-guided museum. Using the museum’s state-of-the-art technology, visitors determine their experience through their own words and choices. Planet Word is a bold and imaginative response to the life-long importance of literacy and to the challenge of growing a love of language.
The mission of Planet Word is to inspire and renew a love of words, language, and reading in people of all ages. Through unique, immersive learning experiences, Planet Word provides a space to explore words and language that is grounded in a solid understanding of language arts and science. Positioned as a museum for the “entire community”, Planet Word works thoughtfully and collaboratively with partners who share the core belief that literacy is the foundation of a strong democracy. Planet Word and its partners serve children and adults with low literacy, people without access to educational resources, and those experiencing homelessness.
"Planet Word is honored to be featured by the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment as a location of the month”, said Alysia LaBonte, External Relations Manager at Planet Word.
Planet Word is a visually appealing 50,000-square-foot, five-story building in the heart of downtown Washington, DC that can be used by media production companies, filmmakers and photographers as a backdrop for a variety of media productions and photo shoots to capture the look and feel of a dynamic, modern interactive museum setting. The location also features other spaces that can be used for a media production or special event, including:
The Mansard Room has an original nineteenth-century design, look and feel, with exposed beams, wood floors, and frescoed walls making this an unforgettable venue for meetings and celebrations of all sorts. Under a soaring mansard roof at the top of the Franklin School, this space can be configured to film scenes featuring elegant dinners, performances, meetings, or receptions.
The Rooftop Terrace features views north and west across the picturesque Franklin Square, the iconic D.C. skyline, and the rooftops of D.C.’s K Street corridor. The Rooftop Terrace is a gorgeous outdoor venue perfect for staging scenes featuring cocktails parties, outdoor dining, or a sunset reception.
The AT&T Plaza is a ground-level courtyard oasis just off K Street that anchors the interactive sculpture from renowned artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer Speaking Willow.
The Friedman Family Auditorium is a 150-seat, beautifully appointed auditorium that has its own entrance right off the AT&T Plaza. The space includes a green room and dedicated AV booth with AV: HD projector, architectural and theatrical lighting, a large projection screen, built-in speakers, and Wi-Fi.
The Planet Word Welcome Lobby offers a flexible space for media production or a still photography shoot, with welcome desks that can double as bars and the glass-enclosed entry vestibule can serve as a check-in area. The space features graceful details like the iconic arches that define the Franklin School, and terrazzo floors embedded with a swirling design of written symbols from the past to the present.
Classrooms A & B are spaces that contain craft sinks and is a space easily configured to accommodate various layouts. Classroom A contains an interactive Portal, which links to dozens of Portals around the world for immersive, international connections; and Classroom B is a versatile room with beautiful natural light, a craft sink, and the historic feel of a nineteenth-century schoolroom. Flat-screen smart TV with HDMI connection and Wi-Fi is available in both spaces.
If you are interested in learning more about opportunities to film at Planet Work, the special events department is open to discussing your production location needs. For more information, contact the external relations and special events team at (202) 918-6139, email [email protected], or visit their events website at: https://planetwordmuseum.org/host-your-event.
Film Credit(s):
Several Film Crews from Networks have been onsite for segments and interviews, including:
Social Media Handles:
About Location of the Month
The "Location of the Month" initiative is part of the agency's mission to market and support District locales as media production locations and bring attention to the wide range of cinematically compelling locations available to film and television productions.
If you have a suggestion for a future OCTFME "Location of the Month," we would love to hear from you. If you own or manage a business, venue, or location you would like to be featured as a "Location of the Month," or if you are a filmmaker or a fan of local filmmaking with a suggestion for a unique DC location, OCTFME could feature in the future "Location of the Month" please use this nomination form and tell us all about it.
About OCTFME
The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME), an award-winning District of Columbia Government agency, leads the city’s extensive efforts to build and support a sustainable film, music, and entertainment creative economy and labor market. Additionally, OCTFME serves as the city’s cable television service provider regulator and as the customer service hub for cable subscribers.
OCTFME’s extensive portfolio includes:
- The District’s government cable access channels District Council Channel (DCC), the District of Columbia Network (DCN), and the District Knowledge Network (DKN)
- DC Radio (96.3 HD4), OCTFME’s owned and operated digital radio station, in partnership with Howard University’s WHUR.
- District of Columbia Entertainment Network (DCE), OCTFME’s 24-hour streaming platform available worldwide on ROKU, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV as well as iPhone and Android mobile devices (download the DCE Network App or at DCENetwork.com).
- OCTFME handles all of the District’s filmmaker production needs including permits, city services, and logistical support, job placement assistance, workforce development and the DC Film, Television, and Entertainment Rebate Fund (DC Rebate Fund).
For more on OCTFME: (202) 671-0066 or www.entertainment.dc.gov. Follow OCTFME on Facebook.com/entertaindc, Instagram.com/entertain_dc, Twitter.com/entertain_dc and TikTok/entertain_dc.
