Norman

About Norman

It has to be said that while Norman may be a bit of a latecomer as a filming location, it's developing rapidly and has all the right attributes to be ranked as one of the best in the state of Oklahoma. Whether Norman's newfound popularity as a filming location is down to the recently introduced state filming incentives, its low-rise aesthetic surrounded by prairie landscapes, or its mansion-infested neighborhoods is difficult to discern. But growing in popularity, it is.

You’ll find this up-and-comer in the film industry about half an hour south of Oklahoma City and two hours southwest of Tulsa. And while those may not sound as exciting as New York City or LA, these are larger cities with access to major services, cast, crew, and other film-related businesses.

The latest A-list director to be enraptured by the charms of Norman is Martin Scorsese. The top-notch director spent a considerable amount of time in Norman with Leonardo DiCaprio, Brendan Fraser, and Robert de Niro filming Flowers of the Moon, which is due for release in mid-2023. If that doesn't qualify Norman as an interesting filming location, then nothing will.

Norman's prairie landscapes and similarity weather-wise to its neighboring state of Kansas are what brought the cast and crew of the 1996 movie Twister to the city. The filming location that was used in the movie was Owen Field, also known as the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, at the University of Oklahoma.

In the past decade, film has become an integral part of the cultural activities in Norman, and since 2017, excluding the COVID-19 years, the city has held an annual film festival. The festival has become an important event where local and not-so-local filmmakers can showcase their productions, even though many haven't used Norman as a filming location.

If you want to make the most of the incentives granted to filmmakers who film in this Oklahoma city, then take a look at the filming locations available on Giggster. There's everything from football fields to state parks to drive-ins and dives.

Before you prepare to follow in Scorsese's footsteps, though, make sure you're totally up to date on the filming regulations in Norman. Knowing what you can and can't do will keep you on the right side of the authorities and ensure you have a trouble-free shot in this Tornado Alley City of Festivals — weather permitting, of course.

Do I Need a Filming Permit in Norman?

All movie and TV show productions that are filmed, not just in Norman but throughout Oklahoma, are treated on a case-by-case basis. You may need a film permit, and then again, you may not, and there will be times when you will need more than one.

When you're going to be filming on private property without causing any disruption to the local community or pedestrian or vehicle traffic, you probably won't be required to obtain a film permit. That said, though, if you'll be using special effects, you won't be exempt from permitting just because you're on private property.

If you're planning to film on city property, including in public parks, in a state park, or will require road or sidewalk closures, then you will need a film permit.

If you're going to be filming in various locations around the city, you may well need to apply for several film permits. There is no general film permit available in Norman that covers multiple locations.

Tip: You may need to give yourself plenty of time to investigate exactly what film permits your production requires, then implement an organized and very strategic plan to obtain them.

Permit Management in Norman

Oklahoma Film and Music Office & Various

The Oklahoma Film and Music Office does not issue film permits. The OF+MO is a non-profit organization that acts as a liaison for production companies wanting to film in Norman and elsewhere in the state of Oklahoma.

When you want to film in Norman, they should be your first port of call for permitting information. On the OF+MO webpage, in the resources section, you will find a Project Information Form. On the form, you will be able to fill in all of the details of your production, such as:

The type of production you will be filming

The name of the production company and contact details

The locations you hope to film at

Whether you will need interstate highway or road closures

The size of your cast and crew

What equipment you will be using

Whether there will be prop weapons, stunts, or special effects

Proposed filming dates and times

Whether you will be filming with a drone

You will also need to add a brief synopsis of the project and the scenes you hope to film in Norman.

Once you've completed the form and made the online submission, the OF+MO will have all of the information they need to assist you in contacting all the different authorities you need to obtain the correct permits.

What Insurance Do I Need in Norman?

Do you need insurance to film in Norman really shouldn't be a question any professional production company needs to ask. It's not a statutory requirement to have insurance if you want to film in Norman or elsewhere in the state of Oklahoma, but, and it's a big but, you're bound to need at least minimal coverage and, in some cases, more.

While it may not be a law that you need insurance, you will find that the majority of city authorities will require you to have adequate insurance coverage. This will apply especially if you're going to be filming on city property, places where there are likely to be members of the public, or if your production involves the use of dangerous stunts or special effects, including smoke and pyrotechnics. Private property owners are also quite within their rights to demand you have insurance coverage, too, and you will find that many insist on it.

On-set accidents can happen all too easily, and strained backs or broken noses are not what your production budget is for. If you have the right insurance policy, your cast, crew, and production budget will also be protected.

Apart from those very valid reasons for having insurance, if you're hoping to benefit from the Filmed In Oklahoma incentive, you'll need an insurance policy that meets the standard of the program's regulations. You can obtain more information about insurance requirements for the Filmed in Oklahoma incentives from the OF+MO, as they act as administrators for the program. Not having the right insurance, in this case, could mean a lot of money going down the drain as the incentives are exceptional.

As a rule of thumb, you should expect to contract insurance coverage for:

General liability

Workers' compensation

Property damage

Vehicle liability

Drone liability – if applicable

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 Norman?

Norman may be one of the largest cities in Oklahoma, but it has maintained its small-town appearance. Take a stroll down Main Street, and you'll feel as if you've been time-warped back to the '40s, so if you're scouting for that sort of location, you now know exactly where to head.

In truth, Norman has an unusual mix of distinct types of filming locations that you won't find in many other places across the country and an atmosphere that just shouts university city. While Norman has undeniably attractive streets, it also has some amazing natural spaces within its boundaries, like Lake Thunderbird State Park, Little River State Park, Oliver Wildlife Reserve, and the Discovery Cove Nature Center. If you're searching for a combination of urban and natural, then you're onto a winner with Norman.

Not only are there exceptional natural spaces in Norman, but there are also ones that have been created by man. The city boasts two magnificent golf courses and several ranches with well-tended properties perfect for your version of Yellowstone, Little House on the Prairie, or, if you're there in tornado season, a remake of Twister. You won't need to guess about the weather either, as Norman is home to the National Weather Center, and if filming there doesn't add authenticity to a movie on tornados, then nothing will.

If you need to hire horses, you'll have several equestrian centers to choose from in and around Norman. There's also a dog obedience center if you have a mutt you need to put it through its paces. Even more diverse is the aquaculture farm and the ATV park, where you can get your actors riding quads over dirt tracks.

When you need some special festive atmosphere, then you need to be filming at the Down's Family Xmas Lights exhibition. Not only do they go overboard with their annual illuminations, but they also organize a festive food bank, and every visitor is expected to donate, so don't go empty-handed.

Norman isn’t lacking in football stadiums, or if you need baseball or softball pitches, you'll find the Little Axe Stadium is right up your street. There are several casinos and event spaces, too, plus a couple of Walmarts if you need to shoot some shopping scenes.

Special Requirements in Norman

Filming In State Parks

If you want to film commercially in any of the state parks in Norman, then you will need to apply for a permit. To begin the permit application program, the first thing you need to do is contact the manager of the park you want to film in. You can usually find the park manager's contact details on the park's official website.

If they are in agreement with you filming at your chosen location, they may accept an online permit application, or they may request a pre-production meeting to talk about the details of your project and have a walk-through of where you want to film.

Filming in state parks is not free of charge. You will be expected to pay an application fee and location fees, which vary depending on the size of your cast and crew. If yours is a complex production, the relevant park manager may decide to increase the fees.

Standard State Park Filming Fees

Cast and Crew of 1 to 2 - $0 – using handheld equipment only

Cast and Crew of 1 to 10 – $150 per day per location

Cast and Crew of 11 to 30 – $250 per day per location

Cast and Crew of 31 to 49 – $500 per day per location

Cast and Crew of 50 plus – $750 per day per location

Filming At The University of Oklahoma

If you want to film scenes for your movie on the campus or in any of the buildings of the university you will need to make initial contact with the university's Media and Public Relations department. They will want to know the details of your project so they can assess its feasibility and whether it will be a disruption to the daily running of the educational facility and its students. Fees for filming at the university are decided on a one-off basis. Not all requests for filming are granted, so don't take filming here as a given.

What Does it Cost to Film in Norman?

What it will cost you to film in Norman greatly depends on the locations you have chosen to film at and if you will require assistance from local authority employees such as the police or fire department. While the OF+MO offers assistance, they don't issue blanket permits, so it will depend on each authority as to how much they will charge you to obtain the permits you require.

Additional Fees

Most authorities in Norman will assess each project individually, so until you begin the application process, there's no way of knowing what charges you will incur.

Geographical Jurisdiction of Norman?

Norman is a sprawling low-rise city that covers an area of around 190 square miles in central Oklahoma, just 20 miles south of Oklahoma City. With a population of approximately 130,000, it's one of the more populous in the state.

Norman's northern border is defined by East Indian Hills Road, its western by 72nd Avenue NW, its southern by East Post Oak Road, and its eastern by South Dobbs Road.

There are several small towns in the prairie lands surrounding Norman. To the west is Newcastle, and to the south are Goldsby, Noble, Slaughterville, and Etowah. To the east of Norman is Pink, while to the north is the town of Moore.

Should your chosen filming location fall outside of the jurisdiction of Norman, you will still need to make the OF+MO your first point of contact regarding film permitting. The OF+MO will assist you in liaising with the correct authorities in the outlying areas.

Outreach in Norman

The OF+MO doesn't publish any requirements for conducting outreach in Norman or the rest of the state of Oklahoma. You may find that some of the local authorities will require it, or you may find they don't stipulate it's necessary.

In whichever case, you should always consider doing outreach, especially if you're going to be filming in a heavily populated residential area or a commercial area where there's a high concentration of businesses.

Distributing a simple notification to households and businesses around your filming location can prevent a lot of problems. It doesn't have to be a complicated communication but should contain at least most of the following:

The name of the production company

The title, format, and genre of the production

Production company contact name and number

Times and dates of filming

Exact locations of filming

Any parking restrictions that may occur

NB: If your production involves the use of fake weapons and you’ll be firing fake ammunition you should also mention that in the notification. That prevents generating a state of panic and numerous calls to the local police department.

Community Management in Norman

Having film crews on the streets of Norman is still a relatively new occurrence, so even though you may have distributed notifications, you can expect to arouse some curiosity. That's where having a community manager on your team to control the crowds comes in exceptionally handy. There's nothing worse than an onlooker getting in the way of shooting what might be an Oscar-winning scene.

A community manager can take on the role of dealing with the public from the minute you hit town. If you delegate the job of outreach to them, they'll need to be there at least two or three days before the rest of the production company. Don't think they'll be resting on their laurels, either. Conducting outreach is a responsibility and dealing with any questions or objections the notifications may raise is an even bigger one.

On the day of the shoot, though, the community manager will be able to keep the crowds happy, do some on-the-spot public relations for the production, and diplomatically move on any intrusive onlooker should one appear.

Conclusion

As a filming location, Norman is still relatively unknown, but with all the amazing urban and natural attributes it has, it won't be long before its full potential is recognized. Let's face it, if Martin Scorsese has taken a shine to Norman, that's giving this Cleveland County city a massive thumbs up from the film industry. Check it out, and you're bound to be enamored with it too.

City Guide Filming in Norman, OK

Production Permit Fees

Minimum Insurance

Additional Permits

Discounts