City Guide Filming in Lawton, OK
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: To be determined by the Arts and Humanities Division
- Film Permit Application Fee: $57.50
Minimum Insurance
- General liability insurance of $1,000,000
- Automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000
- List the city as an additional insured
Additional Permits
- Police and Fire Requirements: The Arts and Humanities Division will liaise with city agencies on behalf of the filmmakers; however, the filmmaker is responsible for complying with their requirements before getting necessary approvals.
Discounts
About Lawton
As one of the major cities in Oklahoma, Lawton is an attractive destination for outdoor enthusiasts, recreation lovers, history buffs, and players in the filmmaking industry. It is located about 30 miles west of Duncan, in Comanche County, and has welcomed production companies of all sizes. Thanks to its diverse landscapes, historical structures, picturesque spaces, and friendly people, it remains an enticing place for tourists and filmmakers.
During the early days when silent film production was prevalent, Lawton was one of the cities in the region that both supported the venture and hosted the production cast and crew. Some of the silent films produced in the area include The Bank Robbery, The Wolf Hunt, Daughter of Dawn, and The Sign of the Smoke.
Today, Lawton is designated a Film Friendly Community by the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, in large part due to the giant strides and contributions the city has made to film production in the region. Various commercials, documentaries, television works, and feature films have been shot in whole or part in Lawton’s diverse locations, be it pre-production, production, post-production, or a combination of both.
If you would like to see what Lawton offers to filmmakers, check out works such as What Josiah Saw (2021), Cowboy (1958), Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider (1979), Charge of the Model T's (1977), Beaches, Buns and Bikinis (2011), The Lawton Story (1949), Indian Territory: An American Success Story (2016), Prey (I) (2018), and Padawan Joe Finally Plays (2015).
The city offers incentives and the state for filming in Lawton, too, so that is another reason for you to strongly consider bringing your cast and crew here for your project. And luckily, you can easily find the perfect location for your filming needs in Lawton now using Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Lawton?
The filming regulations in Lawton determine whether a filmmaker will or will not require a permit for their filming activities in the city. Generally, Lawton welcomes productions such as student films, music videos, commercials, television shows, documentaries, professional films, personal recordings, and sound-only recordings.
In addition to the film permit, you may need to secure additional approvals or permits before you commence filming in Lawton. Whether you need additional authorizations would be determined by the nature of your film production. Such authorizations may come from the Fire Department or Police Department.
If you wish to film on private property in Lawton, you must get permission from the property owner before filming. You may be required to present such approval on request while filming.
If you are a student or a non-profit organization that plans to film in Lawton, you may be qualified for discounts or waivers during production. However, these may come with special requirements like providing evidence that you’re a student or have non-profit status. For more information about what you need to do to get a student film permit or non-profit film permit, contact the Arts and Humanities Division.
You may not need a permit if you are in Lawton to film for personal reasons and do not have commercial ends. Ensure you will not interfere with the activities of the public. If you doubt whether you need to obtain a permit for your film production, reach out to the Arts and Humanities Division in the city.
Commercial Film Production
If you are here to engage in commercial film production, you should obtain a film permit before conducting your business.
Filming on Public Property
You require authorization to film on public property. The City manages some properties while the federal government manages others.
Production Involves Vehicle Chases
The production will involve vehicle chases and/or explosions.
Filming Explosions
You will film explosions, fire, or other special effects.
Filming with Animals
You will film with animals.
Filming with Weapons
The production will involve the use of firearms/weapons.
Night Shoots
You will carry out night shoots.
Using Heavy Equipment
You will use heavy equipment and/or sound amplification equipment during production.
Using Drones or Aircrafts
You will use a drone, airplane, or helicopter during filming.
Public Rights of Way
You will require full or partial closure of public rights-of-way such as streets, parking lots/spaces, and alleys.
Traffic Control
You will require intermittent traffic control during production.
Permit Management in Lawton
The Arts and Humanities Division
The Arts and Humanities Division of the Parks and Recreation Department in Lawton is the point of contact for filmmakers who intend to work on productions in the city. If you plan to engage in any production that requires a permit, the Arts and Humanities Division’s office is where you should go.
Besides managing the permitting process in Lawton, the Arts and Humanities Division’s office offers additional services to filmmakers. The office can help you location scout and find spaces and parking areas for your production. The office also assists filmmakers with casting calls and press releases where required. Even though the Arts and Humanities Division works with city agencies, it is the filmmaker's responsibility to adhere to the requirements of these agencies for the planned production.
To obtain your film permit and request support from the Arts and Humanities Division, complete the request form and send it via email to their office at least two weeks before the date you plan to start. When your request is received, it will be routed through various city representatives such as the Parks and Recreation Director, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, City Attorney, Traffic Engineer/Street Field Supervisor, Airport Director, and City Manager for review. Make sure you complete the form as accurately as possible; that way, you shouldn’t experience any delays during the review process.
As part of your application, you should provide insurance, pay any required fees or costs of city services, provide a copy of the production script, and furnish any other details the Arts and Humanities Division deems necessary.
What Insurance Do I Need in Lawton?
Before you can film in Lawton, you should comply with the production insurance requirements of the city.
List the City of Lawton as the certificate holder and ensure the insurance is valid for the entire duration of the planned production. You can either fax or email a copy of the insurance certificate to the Arts and Humanities Division. They will let you know if you need to provide additional insurance or increase the insurance minimums because of the nature of your production.
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 Lawton?
Lawton is a beautiful city with flat terrain and gently rolling hills for filming outdoor settings. The open and natural areas offer good spots for filmmakers to set up production gear and take shots. Just northwest of the city is the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, another attractive production destination.
You will find three public museums here that can fit into your production plans. The Museum of the Great Plains features exhibits that tell the story of the early settlement of the Great Plains. Another museum is the Fort Sill Museum, which features artillery pieces and provides access to an old post guardhouse and some period buildings. Explore the Comanche culture and history at the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center.
Lawton is home to office buildings, historic homes and homesteads, restaurants, streets, and roads perfectly adaptable for different kinds of production. Other filming locations in the city that filmmakers fancy whenever they are in town include Carnegie Library, Lawton City Hall, McMahon Memorial Auditorium, and Camp Y’Shua.
The Fort Sill military base in the city, a National Historic Landmark, has been a top production location since 1908. Filming at Fort Sill comes with special conditions and requirements; however, the base is one of the most popular and oldest filming locations.
Lawton has a robust park system with more than 50 parks where various recreational and production activities are encouraged. The largest of such parks in the city is Elmer Thomas Park. You can also check out the two industrial parks in the city. In addition, Lawton lies close to three major lakes - Elmer Thomas Lake, Lake Ellsworth, and Lake Lawtonka. Each of these bodies of water offers filmmakers scenic backdrops during production.
You will come across several historic options in Lawton, as the city has more than 12 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Mahoney-Clark House, Mattie Beal House, Meers Mining Camp, and the First Christian Church. It’s up to you to film inside or outside these properties, as each brings something unique to the set.
Special Requirements in Lawton
Fort Sill
If you wish to film at Fort Sill, contact the Fort Sill Public Affairs Office to submit your filming request. You will get responses to your questions about what the special requirements for filming here are and how you can comply to make your production seamless.
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge welcomes filmmakers to make use of the large expanse of mixed grass prairie, freshwater lakes and streams, mountain areas, and other parts of the Refuge open to the public for production. However, the producer must first apply for and obtain a Special Use Permit before commencing any filming activity. Because public safety and Refuge preservation are top priorities here, there may be certain restrictions in place during the production. Contact the Wildlife Refuge for more information on how to get a permit and the requirements for commercial filming.
What Does it Cost to Film in Lawton?
If you wish to film in Lawton, you must be prepared to cover the costs associated with production in the city.
Additional Fees
Suppose you need to use the services of city personnel during production. In that case, you will be wholly responsible for paying for those services at the rates deemed fit by the applicable city agency according to city laws. You must contact the individual agencies to find out the fees for their personnel and how they accept payment for the services they offer.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Lawton?
Lawton lies in an area that is characteristic of the Great Plains. Peaks such as the Wichita Mountains, Mount Pinchot, and Mount Scott are found within the region. Nearby municipalities include Medicine Park and Elgin to the northwest and northeast, respectively, Cache and Pumpkin Center to the west and east, respectively, and Geronimo to the south. Duncan Filmmakers are welcome to the city of Duncan for any commercial filming project. Before using any public property for filming, a filmmaker must first obtain a permit to film in the city. When submitting the permit application, the applicant agrees to pay all the fees for processing the permit, filming, and any other services that will be provided by the city agencies or personnel. These costs also include revenues the city foregoes because of the production activities. When the applicant submits the permit application, it goes through a review and approval process that involves the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Public Works Director, Finance Director, Community Development Director, and City Manager. The city of Duncan has production insurance requirements that a filmmaker must also comply with before kickstarting any production within city limits. The liabilities are set on a case-by-case basis, and each filmmaker will be informed about what insurance requirements apply to their project. In addition to the application form and insurance documents, the city requires a filmmaker to complete and sign a hold harmless agreement before they can be issued a film permit. Additional documents required include: Location maps that include the filming sites, base camp, parking areas, location of equipment, etc. A Business License. A Street Closure Permit. Notification to residents and businesses that will be affected by the planned production. As the filmmaker prepares the documents for the application, it is important to include information about whether any of the following will be used during production: Vehicle chases Explosions Fire and special effects Animals Firearms or weapons Heavy equipment Sound amplifiers Aircraft Night filming Loud conversations or arguments Staged fighting Depending on the nature of the production and the content of the application, a filmmaker may require any of these additional services/permits before filming in Duncan: Police Fire Public Works Water Service or Permits Sanitary Sewer Road Closing Explosives Permit Electrical Service.
Outreach in Lawton
The filming laws in Lawton do not make it mandatory for anyone who intends to shoot production to conduct outreach in the city. However, every producer is encouraged to contact the folks who live or do business near the filming location. This is particularly important if the production will affect them. One way of conducting such outreach is to send out notification letters to the residents and businesses and include details of the production, information about the production team, and the contact information of a production company representative. In doing so, the locals know what to expect and how to reach the filmmaker when necessary.
Community Management in Lawton
The folks within the area where you intend to film play a crucial role in your production's success, and you should ensure that you develop a positive relationship with them. Rest assured that the folks in Lawton are welcoming and supportive of filmmakers, having hosted cast and crew for many decades. However, you can further strengthen the bond by engaging them through various communication channels, offering compensation where required and acceptable, and treating parts of town with care.
If you adhere to minimal noise levels during filming and keep every filming location you use clean, you can be sure you will receive support from the community members.
Conclusion
Lawton is a well-known destination for filming in Oklahoma, attracting the fancy of production gurus because of its historic buildings, diverse landscapes, natural areas, museums, and most all, Fort Sill, the military base that has been a film production location since 1908. Whatever your film production needs are, you will find the appropriate location in Lawton that suits them.
If you are ready to pitch your production tent here, you first need to find out if you need a permit for your project. The Arts and Humanities Division, a branch of the Parks and Recreations Department in the city, is the agency that coordinates filming activities. The Division also assists filmmakers with other services that will make the film project successful. They liaise with other city agencies to determine what may be required for production.
Get your insurance documents, filming fees, signed indemnification form, and any other supporting documentation that may be required ready as you apply for the film permit. Also, ensure you submit the permit application at least two weeks before the date of filming for it to be processed so that you will receive your permit in time to start your project on schedule.