In contrast to Warhol's earlier films, which had been shot with a Bolex camera limited to 3 minutes of shooting time "Empire" was filmed on an Auricon camera that allowed for takes of around 33 minutes. In the Rockefeller Foundation office, Mekas framed the shot for Warhol's approval, and filming commenced at 8:06 pm, about ten minutes before sunset. Mekas's article about the shooting printed in the "Village Voice" the next week describes a lighthearted night of film making, with Warhol discoursing on the Empire State Building as the most prominent site in New York, visited by celebrities and tourists alike, and various people in the room imploring Warhol to pan the camera. Shooting wrapped at 2:42 a.m. the next day, with 654 feet of film exposed.