Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to film in the Live Music Capital of the World®? The Austin Film Commission is here to help! We've compiled a list of the most common questions from producers, directors, and crew to get your project off the ground smoothly. Dive in to learn about permits, crew, state and local incentives, and all the unique resources Austin offers.
About the Austin Film Commission
What is the Austin Film Commission?
Founded in 1986 and a part of Visit Austin, the Austin Film Commission markets Austin as a competitive, global filming destination and provides support to productions filming in the Austin area. Over the past 40 years, the Austin Film Commission has worked with 300+ features, two dozen TV series and 2,500+ commercials filmed in the Austin area.
The Austin Film Commission is Association of Film Commissions International (AFCI) accredited with both staff as Certified Film Commissioners (CFC). Additionally, the office is a member of the Texas Association of Film Commissions (TXAFC).
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What services does the Austin Film Commission provide?
The Austin Film Commission works to support the local film industry by marketing Austin directly to industry decision-makers, driving business to Austin, which creates local economic impact, job creation and promotes the city as a tourist destination via productions seen by millions on screens around the world.
The Austin Film Commission offers resources and services to film, TV, and commercial productions filming in the Austin area. These resources and services include film permitting guidance, production incentive guidance, referrals for local crew and vendors, as well as studio facilities, locations guidance, liaising with governing bodies and pushing for competitive production incentives.
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Can the Austin Film Commission make my production for me?
The Austin Film Commission does not produce, develop, finance or distribute productions, and does not offer creative notes on scripts or market scripts to agents and producers. If you have an idea for a new creative project, we encourage you to submit to Austin area film festivals with pitch competitions and/or use our Austin Production Directory to find Austin area producers, production companies, or entertainment attorneys with an interest in developing new productions.
What types of productions does the Austin Film Commission support?
The Austin Film Commission assists feature films, television series, commercials, music videos, documentaries, short films, commercial still photography shoots and other types of media productions.
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What incentives are available to productions filming in the Austin area?
Two competitive, fully funded incentive programs are available to productions that film in the Austin area. One is the State of Texas’ Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP), which is administrated by the Texas Film Commission and offers productions filming in Texas up to 22.5% cash grant rebate on local spending and local hires. The other is the Austin Creative Content Incentive Program administrated by the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department, which offers incentives of up to 0.75% to qualifying Austin-made productions. In addition to incentives, there are added cost savings for productions filming in Austin including: sales tax exemptions, hotel occupancy tax exemptions and a business-friendly climate with lower cost goods and services.
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How can I find financing for my production?
While the Austin Film Commission does not directly fund projects or maintain information about private investors for project funding purposes, we understand that financing is often the ultimate challenge for filmmakers and understanding film finance is key for all industry professionals. The Austin Film Society has helpful information about artist development resources like AFS Grants and other information on film finance here. The Texas Film Commission also keeps an up-to-date list of Other Financial Resources highlighting a variety of grants, scholarships, and crowdfunding resources available to filmmakers.
Do I need a permit to film in Austin?
Film permits, when needed, are generally easy to obtain. No matter the crew size or impact, the City of Austin requires a permit to film on publicly owned property like city roads, city sidewalks and city parks. Permits are generally not required when filming entirely on privately owned property, except when pyrotechnic effects, weapons or stunts are in-play. The Austin Film Commission does not issue film permits. Additional information about film permitting processes in Austin, requirements, application links and contact details for each film permitting entity can be found here.
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What is the typical City of Austin film permit processing time?
City of Austin Right of Way film permits for city roads and sidewalks are typically processed within 3-5 business days.
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How do I find locations in the Austin area?
The Austin Film Commission maintains a comprehensive digital photo database highlighting the Austin area’s diverse locations. Our online locations gallery can help filmmakers envision their project in Austin and helps to source leads on film-friendly locations. As you move beyond your project’s preliminary location needs, we encourage you to employ the expertise of Austin-based location professionals. Search for local Location Scouts and Managers using our Austin Production Directory.
Does Austin have enough local crew and vendors to support my production?
Productions have been filming in Austin for more than 50 years. Austin boasts a highly skilled crew base and a developed network of industry vendors with professional experience working on major studio and network productions, independent projects, and commercial productions alike. Austin’s talented crew base is large enough to crew three projects simultaneously and is supported by renowned local film education programs and the city’s thriving independent film community.
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I have a project filming in the Austin area. How can I connect with and hire local crew and vendors?
From Department Heads to Production Assistants and all positions in between, Austin offers famously great crews and multi-generational industry vendors. Search our Austin Production Directory for local crew, production companies, vendors, studio facilities, and much more.
Austin Production Directory
Does Austin have established studio spaces?
Austin has a number of small to large-scale studio facilities, conveniently located close to downtown and ready-to-house productions. These facilities offer a variety of stages, office space, amenities and support services to meet the needs of all productions.
Studio Facilities
Where can I find information on labor laws for child actors working in Texas and best practices for safety on set?
The Texas Film Commission maintains a dedicated webpage sharing information about labor laws for child actors working in Texas and best practices for safety on set.
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What makes the Austin area a unique filming destination?
Austin offers diverse locations from modern, urban downtown looks to idyllic small towns dotting the Hill Country landscape. Austin’s rich production history has created a leading filming destination with a robust local film infrastructure, a vibrant creative community, and a supportive production environment with film-friendly policies, and deep pools of world-class talent.
What Makes Austin Special
How does Austin's climate impact film production?
With nearly 300 sunny days each year and long shooting seasons, Austin offers the ability for year-round production and has the unique advantage of remaining green most of the year. The winters are temperate. The summers are, well, a little toasty. It’s Texas after all but the good news is our local crew is accustomed to handling the heat. Spring and fall offer up the perfect balance of bright blue skies and mild temperatures.
Austin WeatherGetting Started
How do I get listed in the Austin Production Directory?
If you’re a crew member, filmmaker, production company or vendor with a minimum of one (1) paid, verifiable, production industry (film, television or commercial) credit and reside in Travis County or any of the counties surrounding Travis County (including Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Hays, Lee, Llano, Milam and Williamson Counties), you can create a FREE listing in the Austin Production Directory.
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Where can I find Austin area cast and crew calls, and other employment resources?
Whether you’re looking for cast and crew calls from productions filming locally or searching for work at one of the many brick and mortar media production companies in the region, we’ve got you covered with helpful information and a round-up of employment resources.
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What kind of networking opportunities are available in Austin?
Austin is proudly home to 25+ world class film festivals, and a variety of established support organizations offering online and in-person year-round industry events, and networking opportunities for Austin area creative professionals.
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How can I get my house or business listed as a potential filming location?
The Austin Film Commission utilizes an online Locations Gallery to market Austin as a filming destination and to showcase area film-friendly locations. If you own or represent an Austin area film-friendly business or home that’s ready for its close-up, you can submit your property for inclusion in our online Locations Gallery for free.
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How can I tell if a production is legitimate?
Whether you’re a crew member being offered a job, a property owner being approached by a location scout, or an actor unsure of a casting call's legitimacy, the Austin Film Commission is here to help. Please email us with serious inquiries at: film@visitaustin.org and visit the Texas Film Commission’s Safety Online page for an overview of best practices to avoid potential scams.
How can I learn more about filmmaking?
Austin is THE place to get an education in film - from weekend workshops to summer camps to internship programs to college courses and degrees.
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I'm an Austin area musician. How can I get my music featured in productions?
Where can I see Austin productions being filmed?
Most filming takes place on private property or in a studio environment and is not open to the public. For security reasons, production companies do not typically release filming schedules or locations. However, productions are often filming in and around Austin, and you may be lucky enough to happen upon a film set! To take self-guided tours of filming locations from your favorite movies and television series made in and around Austin, visit our Austin Film Tourism Guide.
Film Tourism Guide
Still have questions?
We're here to help! Email us at film@visitaustin.org