City Guide Filming in College Station, TX
Production Permit Fees
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability - $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Bodily Injury - $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Property Damage - $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Automobile Liability - $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Workers’ Compensation - $1,000,000 per occurrence
Additional Permits
- Special Effect Permit Fees
- Pyrotechnic Special Effect Operator's License - $45
- Flame Effect Operator's License - $45
Discounts
About College Station
Consider using College Station as a filming location, and you'll be considering a Texas city that's been certified film-friendly. College Station is part of the Film Friendly Texas program, FFTX in abbreviated form, so any production company heading here to scout and film is guaranteed to be welcomed with open arms.
College Station is just one of the numerous cities all over the state that has thrown themselves wholeheartedly into the FFTX program in the last few years, but its history with the film industry started way before then.
College Station first appeared on the big screen in the early 1980s in the musical-comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, starring country music legend Dolly Parton and cinema icon Burt Reynolds. Two years later, the city made another, albeit briefer, appearance in the comedy Revenge of the Nerds.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, films made in College Station haven't made much of a major impression on the industry or its audiences. 2012 saw Kid-Thing, directed by David Zellner, do well at film festivals like Sundance but not so great at the box office. Much the same can be said about the 2015 release of the movie A Country Called Home.
Television and documentary producers have taken a liking to College Station, and there have been numerous episodes and hour-long programs filmed in and around the city, including:
Southern Fried Bigfoot
Lone Star Law
Texas Flip N Move
BBQ With Franklin
The Greatest Bond
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
One of the best things about choosing College Station as a filming location for your project is that you know before you get there that the city authorities and the local community will support your activities. If you're already chomping at the bit to get here and start scouting, take a look at the filming locations available on Giggster. Do that, and you'll have a head start on finding exactly what you're looking for.
Before you rush off across the terrains of Texas kicking up a dust storm, make sure you're up to date on the filming regulations in College Station and the state. There's a lot to discover, but definitely, nothing that will put you off filming here. The FFTX program has made sure of that.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in College Station?
Yes, you will need a College Station film permit if you're going to be filming in the city.
Because of the nature of the permitting procedures in College Station and in the state of Texas in general, you will be dealing with various authorities to obtain the permits and permissions you require to film legally.
Each authority has its procedures, and each permit can take a different length of time to process. You will need to be organized and methodical to get the permits you need, but don't let the thought stress you too much, as there is plenty of help available.
You may need more than one depending on the type of production it is, the locations you want to film at, and what's involved in the filming, such as:
Road, highway, or sidewalk closures
You'll be filming with a drone
The production involves child actors
The production involves the use of animals
Filming on state property
The production involves pyrotechnics
Permit Management in College Station
Permit Management In College Station – Texas Film Commission & Various
Unlike Fort Worth, College Station does not have its own film office. What College Station does have, though, is a representative of the Texas Film Commission and an Economic Development Coordinator. The coordinator has been trained and certified by the FFTX program to assist production companies on behalf of the city.
The College Station Economic Development Coordinator is the first person you need to contact if you want to film in the city. The coordinator's contact details are published on the Texas Film Commission website on the page dedicated to the FFTX program in the East Central Area.
If you're hoping to film on state property, you may also be required to register your production with the Texas Film Commission. You can find out more about that in the special requirements section of this article.
Do I Need Insurance To Film In College Station?
While having insurance is not obligatory when you're filming in the majority of places in Texas, the Texas Film Commission recommends all production companies have adequate coverage. There are also occasions, such as when you're filming on state property, where you will need to have liability insurance and property damage coverage.
What Insurance Do I Need in College Station?
The figures are in line with the insurance coverage a production company is required to have when filming on state property.
The Texas Film Commission also strongly recommends having workers' compensation coverage. If you don't and something happens, like an accident on set, then you won't have as many legal rights as if you had contracted insurance.
If you're unsure about exactly what insurance coverage to contract, you should consult with the College Station Economic Development Coordinator before purchasing. If you have an existing insurance policy from another state, you may be able to use it while in Texas. Don't take it for granted, though, and consult the city's EDC to make sure it's valid.
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 College Station?
There’s one thing that can be said about the filming locations in College Station, and that's that they're not over-used ones. So if you're looking for somewhere that will add a touch of individuality to the scenes in your movie, you could well be scouting in the right place.
There's a variety of outdoor filming locations in College Station that range from park areas with woodlands to the stark columns of the circular Bonfire Memorial on the Texas A&M University campus.
For a city of its size, College Station is relatively low-rise, so don't expect to use its streets as a substitute filming location for Los Angeles or New York. It has a different look. The city is divided into three main districts, and each one has an individual character.
Northgate is where you'll find the university campus and the surplus of entertainment venues that are usually associated with student life. If you need a sports bar, pool hall, or a themed restaurant, they're not hard to find in Northgate. There are also plenty of sports facilities too, including fitness centers and football fields.
The Wolf Pen District of College Station has its attributes, including a greenway with trails, a sidewalk jogging track, a lake, an amphitheater, and the biggest mall in the city. The district of Wellborn is mainly residential, so it’s ideal for finding homes for family-oriented type movies.
On a more unusual level, you'll find places in College Station like Disaster City, which is a training ground for emergency responders that would make a great post-apocalypse film set. There's also a winery with a petting zoo and acres and acres of vineyards. You don't need to debunk to California to produce a movie about wine. You can do it right here in College Station.
The diversity doesn't end there, either. In College Station, you'll find filming locations like the Westinghouse Business Park, a nature center, and entertainment areas like Century Square. While this Texan city hasn't yet made it big in the movie industry, get in quick because it won't be long before it does.
Special Requirements in College Station
Special Effect Permit Fees
Pyrotechnic Special Effect Operator's License - $45
Flame Effect Operator's License - $45
Fees are not payable until after the license you are applying for has been approved.
Filming With A Drone
If you're planning on filming with a drone while you're in College Station, the Texas Film Commission, and local authorities will expect you to abide by the rules for flying unmanned aircraft stipulated by the Federal Aviation Authority.
When you're going to be flying a drone in Texas, whether it's under or over the 55 lb weight limit, the TFC requires you to register your drone with the FAA. You will also need to follow the regulations set out in Part 107 of the FAA UAS flying rules as well as adhere to the State of Texas regulations as detailed in the Texas Government Code, Chapter 423.
NB: You should also consult with the College Station Economic Development Coordinator to double check there are no specific rules applicable to filming with a drone in College Station or if there are any areas where drone filming is prohibited. Because of the increased popularity of filming with drones, drone regulations are prone to change, so make sure to ask first before flying.
Filming With Animals
The state of Texas has strict legislation regarding filming with animals and bringing animals into the state. The TFC will expect you to abide by the guidelines set out about animals employed in the entertainment industry by the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund.
The TFC also expects you to adhere to the guidelines for filming with animals outlined by the American Humane Society. But that said, if you want to take any fur-bearing animal into Texas from out of state, you will need to be in possession of a permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and a permit from the US Customs Service.
If the animal you want to film with is from out of state and is a fox, raccoon, or skunk, you will also need a letter of authorization from the Department of State Health Services. This is due to Texas being under a statewide rabies quarantine but doesn't apply to animated figures like The Fantastic Mr. Fox or CGI-created ones like Rocket Racoon as he's been certified rabies-free by Mr. Marvel himself, Stan Lee.
NB: If you're unsure about the rules and regulations concerning transporting animals into Texas for filming, you should contact the Department of State Health Services or Texas Parks and Wildlife at the following addresses:
Department Of State Health Services
Zoonosis Control Division
1100 West 49th Street
Austin TX 78756
or
Texas Parks and Wildlife
4200 Smith School Road
Austin TX 78744
Filming With Child Actors
The laws pertaining to employing child actors in Texas are complex, so it's a good idea to get legal advice from a qualified party before doing so. The child labor laws apply to all children under the age of 18, whether they are from Texas or from out of state.
The authoritative body that controls child labor in Texas is the Texas Workforce Commission, TWC, which has set out specific conditions for specific age groups and their type of employment in the film industry. There are different laws for:
Employing child actors under 14 years of age
Employing child actors under 14 years of age as extras
Employing child actors aged 14 to 15
Employing child actors aged 16 to 17
Any production company planning on filming in College Station using child actors should be fully aware of the laws before doing so. There are also restrictions in place about the number of hours a child can legally work and the methods by which they should be paid. You can find more in-depth details on the TWC website.
NB: If you're a production company that hales from California, you'll need to be aware of the child labor laws of California too. The California child labor laws still apply, alongside those of Texas, even though you're out of state. You will also need to take into consideration the federal laws about employing children, as they are stricter than those in place in Texas.
Filming On Public Rights Of Way
You can forget just rolling up and starting to film on any public right of way, city street, county road, or highway in College Station. The same as throughout the rest of Texas, you will be obliged to obtain prior permission from the relevant authority. In some cases, you may need to obtain more than one permission for the same stretch of road if it passes through the jurisdiction of different authorities.
If you're planning on using a certain stretch of road, then you need to first consult with the Economic Development Coordinator, who will assist you in liaising with the correct authorities. Most permits for filming on streets, roads, and highways can take up to two weeks to process, so make sure you apply in good time.
Filming on State Property
If you've chosen state property as your filming location, before you can shoot there, you will need to submit a Request For Use application to the Texas Film Commission. If you want to film at more than one state property location, you will need to submit an individual application for each location.
To be considered for a permit to film on state property, you must:
Be filming a feature, TV episode, documentary, or commercial
Be filming something that has no pornographic content
Be in possession of the correct insurance naming the State of Texas as additionally insured
You will find the Request For Use application form on the TFC's official website on the page pertinent to Filming On State Property. Once you've submitted the form, the TFC will acknowledge receipt and begin the liaison with the relevant state agency that manages the property.
What Does it Cost to Film in College Station?
The Texas Film Commission, nor its sub-branch in College Station, does not publishes any figures concerning film permit fees. That doesn't mean you won't incur any. Each authority you will need to deal with to obtain the permissions and permits required to film in College Station legally will have its fee schedule. They will charge you according to the complexity of your production and the public services employed during the shoot.
Additional Fees
NB: If you're working on a minimal budget and worried about overspending your budget, consult with the Economic Development Coordinator, and they will be able to give you a general idea of what fees you might need to pay.
Geographical Jurisdiction of College Station?
College Station is a city that covers around 51 square miles of Brazo County in the southeastern region of the state of Texas. Its urban reach spreads through Brazo Valley and is home to approximately 120,000 people. Open prairie and ranchlands border College Station to the east, south, and west. To the north are the cities of Bryan and Steep Hollow. Should your chosen location fall outside of the jurisdiction of College Station, you will still need to register your project with the Texas Film Commission and liaise with the relevant representative for the East Central Area. You will find that there is one for the City of Bryan as well as for outlying cities like Caldwell and Cameron, plus many more. NB: You can find a full list of the Texas Film Commission's sub-branches on their website.
Outreach in College Station
College Station may well have been certified as film-friendly under the FFTX program, but that doesn't mean you can skip doing outreach when filming there. While the Texas Film Commission doesn't publish any guidelines on the subject, it should be something you consider standard practice when filming in urban areas.
It may be that in the future, there will be set requirements issued for community notifications, but for the present, if you include the following in any document you distribute, you should be covered:
Name of the production company
Contact details for questions and objections
Title and type of production being filmed
Dates of filming
The exact locations of the filming
Details of any street or road closures
Details of any parking restrictions that may occur
Community Management in College Station
It's always good to have a community manager on your team, even when the city you're filming in is as film-friendly as College Station is. A community manager can take over the responsibility of conducting outreach and dealing with any questions or objections that the community may raise after notifications have been distributed. College Station is film-friendly, so the more effort you put into keeping it that way, the better.
Conclusion
This relatively undiscovered gem in Texas is just waiting for you to roll up with your film equipment. The amazing set locations are varied, so you’ll find something that suits you here. Plus, with the help of the Texas Film Commission and the Economic Development Coordinator, you can stay on the right side of the law and focus on your film, not fines.