City Guide Filming in Bryan, TX
Production Permit Fees
- Permit Application Fee: $25
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability: $1 million
- Worker’s Compensation: As per state requirements
- Automobile Liability: $1 million for “owned,” “non-owned,” or “hired”
- Aviation Insurance Coverage: $5 million
- UAS/Drone Insurance: $2 million
- Product Liability Insurance: $1 million
- Liquor Liability Insurance: $1 million
Additional Permits
- Police & Firefighter Monitoring: Organized by the Office of the City Manager
Discounts
About Bryan
Texas is second to none in landscape diversity, natural allure, urban development, impressive cityscapes, and a film-friendly atmosphere. These things also reflect Bryan, even if you haven't given the city much thought as a filming venue in the state. Bryan also houses the county seat of Brazos County of which it is a part — the city sits amid the Brazos Valley area, making it an urban oasis of sorts enveloped by wilderness, save for the neighboring College Station, with which the city shares its southern border. Together, the duo is deemed the Bryan–College Station metropolitan area. Though the city may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of the best that the state has to offer, Bryan is home to several notable celebrities, such as historian R. J. Q. Adams, radio celebrity Roy Bill Garcia, NBC journalist Linda Ellerbee, sculptor Lynn Aldrich, basketball player R. T. Guinn, and many more.
The city has also enjoyed considerable screentime in Hollywood productions like Assassin, Revenge of the Nerds, Indescribable, Hard Candy, The Bear, Prayers of Desperation, The Revisionaries, Behind the Wall, The Big Menarski, Saturn Return, The Last Goodbye, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Kid-Thing, and Southern Fried Bigfoot. Other than this, the city also houses several recreation spots and sports arenas, such as the Merrill Green Stadium, Anderson Track and Field Complex, American Momentum Bank Ballpark, Bryan Regional Athletic Complex, and Bryan Aquatic Center. Simply put, the people in Bryan know how to have a good time, and the local laws and filming guidelines in Bryan are also set to give maximum benefits. Before you start with your project there, however, it would benefit you immensely to get a glimpse at what’s coming for you — and here, we’re going to do just that!
And when you come over, you can rent one (or more) of the best filming venues in Bryan via Giggster without leaving your comfort zone.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Bryan?
The filming guidelines in Bryan are very clear on the matter: if a film production requires the use of a right of way, public property, assistance from city department personnel, or the equipment of the said departments, they’ll have to get a permit for filming from the Office of the City Manager. The city manager can allow all of the aforementioned and even assist you with your troubles while filming, such as offering technical assistance, liaising with relevant departments, and so on. Plus, on top of a general filming permit, productions must also acquire the following wherever applicable:
Pyrotechnics Permit
you’ll need a pyrotechnics permit if you’re planning to use any special effects that involve the use of fire, such as gunfire, explosions, and more.
Animal Control Permit
you’ll need an animal control permit if you wish to get any animals involved in the filming process, especially those that can potentially cause someone injury or damage property.
Aircraft Usage Permit
you’ll need an aircraft usage permit to fly aircraft/helicopters for your film production; additional insurance requirements will also apply, and you may have to conduct a local survey to anticipate whether everyone will be on board with the idea.
Drone Filming Permit
you’ll need a drone filming permit if you wish to use a UAS or a camera drone to film segments (or all) of your project in public; additional liability coverage will also be needed.
Student/Non-Commercial Filming Permit
this permit is the same as a general filming permit but comes at a discounted cost only for students and non-commercial filmmakers.
Permit Management in Bryan
Office Of The City Manager
The Office of the City Manager issues filming permits in Bryan and facilitates film productions as and when needed, i.e., giving them access to certain rights of way, public property, liaison with local departments, and more. You can contact 979-209-5000 or visit their office at 300 S. Texas Ave., Bryan, TX 77803. All the information you need before you apply for a film permit is available on their website, and you can scroll through the sections to see the associated fees and requirements. The filming guidelines posted online are helpful if it’s your first time working on a project in the city.
There are no strict requirements for acquiring a permit, but there is a protocol that you must adhere to. We highly recommend that you visit the city manager's office in person to discuss your project needs and whether the city will entertain your crew as per your requirements. You will be given a film permit application form you must complete and submit in time. For commercial filmmakers or for filming an episode for a series, the timeframe is at least two business days before the scheduled filming (or any other advancements in this regard). However, if you wish to work on a feature film, you must submit the filled application five business days in advance.
You’ll also want to stay in touch with the Texas Film Commission if you’re planning to do your project in the state; their Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program is a perfect example of how state-level organizations strive to promote local film production.
What Insurance Do I Need in Bryan?
Purchasing insurance for your crew and employees is the only hard and fast requirement (besides the fees) for filming in the city. If you're filming in a public space or need the assistance of public officials, carry sufficient insurance coverage to compensate people for any losses they may sustain due to your filming activities. For instance, while filming a car chase scene, one of the vehicles involved may accidentally crash, causing bodily injury and property damage, or someone may slip or fall due to negligence on the part of your production crew – in any case, you will be responsible for reimbursing the victims and thus need to be aware of the production insurance requirements in Bryan.
If you can’t meet any of these requirements, you’ll need to explain in writing why you can’t meet the requirement to the Office. They will determine if the shoot can go ahead without the necessary insurance.
Note that these requirements are minimum requirements. Larger and more complex shoots may require additional insurance which will be determined by the Office.
What Kind of Filming Locations Are Available in Bryan?
Putting our discussion about the filming laws in Bryan on the side for a little while, take a look at some of the most in-demand filming venues in the city and their distinctive features. You can get venues to suit all needs and script themes in (and near) Bryan. For instance, the Relaxing Sports Bar in College Station is a perfect high-ceiling venue that can house as many as 340 attendants at once in an open floor interior. Another equally impressive and sporty venue is the Spacious Billiards and Sports Bar in College Station, which has an expansive interior big enough to house 800 people at a time, and you’ll find a projection screen here as well.
The Exhilarating & Fun Packed Event Venue in Bryan City is our next pick for the most premium filming venues in the city. On top of featuring a fun-filled and spacious interior, the venue also offers numerous attractions, including the Ninja Warrior course, which may fit perfectly into a recreational-style theme for the script (if that’s what you’re looking for). Next is the Outside Beach Themed Bar in College Station, which leaves no room for confusion — a beach-style craft cocktail bar with an impressive display of juices and assorted drinks. You can also get a DJ for your venue on Fridays and Saturdays. And lastly, on our top list, we have the French Cottage, with its warm and homely feel blended perfectly with Gallic cultural influences.
There are many more to this list than what we have shared with you — check out our listings on Giggster and take your picks after carefully analyzing all the relevant details!
Special Requirements in Bryan
Filming In The Bryan Independent School District
The Bryan Independent School District will conditionally allow you to film in the school district premises only after a thorough review of your process. Here’s what you’ll have to do:
Contact the school management and book a meeting with the school board
Discuss your filming proposal with the board members during the meeting
Agree upon a filming schedule that best suits the school management and your crew
Fulfill the school's insurance needs ($1 million in general liability plus worker's compensation insurance)
Decide on the rent/fee for using the premises
After approval, start filming as per the agreed-upon terms and conditions.
Filming In Neighborhood Parks
Bryan is home to many neighborhood parks, such as the Travis Bryan Midtown Park, Austin's Colony Park, Bonham Park, and Sue Haswell Park – you can film in such parks if you list them as the desired venues in your film permit application. However, access to the parks comes at a cost - $500 for exclusive access and $250 for non-exclusive access.
Filming In The Lake Somerville State Park
Since Lake Somerville State Park is a state-owned property, the Texas Film Commission can help you connect with the park’s management regarding your filming request. You’ll have to comply with all the rules and regulations that apply to all visitors to the park, may have to hire a park official to monitor your shoot, and avoid any activity that may cause any harm to the park’s natural flora and fauna.
Filming In Lake Bryan
Lake Bryan is an iconic recreational spot just northwest of the city of Bryan; if you're planning to film in the lake's waters, on a boat, or a watercraft, you'll need to arrange for $1,000,000 in watercraft liability insurance first. Also, you may not, under any circumstances, pollute the lake's waters or its surroundings during your stay there.
Filming With Camera Drones
Using camera drones in public will only be allowed if the office of the city manager first approves of it, and then you’ll have to get a separate drone permit. An additional $2 million in liability insurance coverage will also be needed in this regard. You must also ensure the complete preservation of people’s privacy, and complete compliance with the FAA regulations concerning the use of drones.
What Does it Cost to Film in Bryan?
The filming privileges in public areas of the city come at a cost, but the filming regulations in Bryan ensure that these fees are not too high to be a major burden for film productions. You’ll be paying most of the fees directly to the office of the city manager and may have to compensate other departments (if needed) directly as well.
Additional Fees
On top of this, you may also have to pay by the hour (as per quote from the concerned departments) for:
Geographical Jurisdiction of Bryan?
The city of Bryan sits in the core of the Brazos Valley in Texas, and the geographical limits of the city are relevant because the Bryan filming laws only apply to these city limits. The southern boundary of the city is shared with College Station, but the rest of the borders are not shared by any other urban centers. The metropolitan duo is an island of urbanization amid the valley. Nearby landmarks and areas include Lake Bryan, Astin, and Mumford to the northwest; Cooks Point to the west; Snook and Wilcox to the southwest; Steep Hollow and Wixon Valley to the east; and finally, Benchley to the north.
Outreach in Bryan
As per the filming laws in Bryan, you must notify the residents and business owners in the vicinity of the filming area (if you’re filming in public and have applied for a filming permit) about the impending disturbance. Your notification should include contact information for the recipients, brief details of the anticipated filming activities, information about any street closure, and so on. Before you send out the notification, make sure you share your draft with the city manager's office and get their approval before sending it out; you must send out the notification letters as early as possible, at least two business days before the filming schedule. Once you’ve notified the people, you must also note their contact details and comments and then send them to the city manager’s office — the office will make their final decision based on this data.
Community Management in Bryan
The people in Bryan are very outdoorsy, reflected excellently in the assortment of parks and outdoor recreation spots dotted across the cityscape. Overall, you’ll find the community to be warm and receptive, and this is perfect for an outsider filming crew. Plus, we’ve seen that filming regulations in Bryan don’t push filmmakers too hard, except for getting the responses of the notified residents — our advice is to project confidence, enthusiasm, understanding (be sure to hear out whatever concerns they may have), and of course, humility (and gratitude) for the best outcomes.
Conclusion
We have seen that Bryan is the perfect destination for filmmakers from Texas and outside as well, even if the city’s name is not the first that pops to mind when thinking of the top filming destinations in the state. Bryan has the infrastructure, the atmosphere (temperate — not too cold in the winters and warm to hot in the winters), the landscape, the cityscape, and most of all, the policy structure that best suits filmmakers. You can rent any number of premium filming venues in the area and begin filming as soon as you get your permit (we have discussed the permit acquisition process as per the filming guidelines in Bryan), and the best part is that you don’t even need a permit if you’re only filming in private premises.
With so many outdoor recreation spots and arenas, the city is one of a kind — names like Anderson Track and Field Complex, Bryan Aquatic Center, and Bryan Regional Athletic Complex resonate perfectly with the sense of adventure you see pretty much all over the place. Movies like Revenge of the Nerds, Hard Candy, and Prayers of Desperation have successfully captured this aspect of the city, but you can do so at an even grander level if it's what you want to do. The Texas Filming Commission also offers incentives to filmmakers in the state, so if you’re planning to spend some serious money, reach out to them for some serious returns. Overall, expect complete cooperation from the city manager’s office and the local authorities throughout your permitted period for filming.
And if you need to rent the most iconic and unique filming venues in town and nearby, you don't need to roam the streets for hours in search of the perfect spots. Instead, browse our impressive list at Giggster and take your pick!