Dallas might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of filmmaking, but the Dallas film industry is full of surprises. Over the last few years, Dallas has quietly become a go-to spot for movie makers, indie filmmakers, and TV producers who want something different. The city offers a unique blend of big-city energy, Texan charm, and a film community that’s growing fast.
In this post, we’ll take you behind the scenes of Dallas’s film industry. We’ll look at what’s drawing filmmakers to Dallas, and why more and more people are calling it the “next big thing” in film. Whether you’re a movie buff, a filmmaker, or just curious, there’s plenty to explore in Dallas’s evolving film scene.
The first thing to note, is the financial incentives to film in Dallas.
Financial Incentives to Film in Dallas
When it comes to choosing a location for video shoots, budget often plays a crucial role. Luckily for filmmakers, Dallas, Texas, has not only the scenic backdrop and modern infrastructure but also a wealth of financial incentives to make this city an ideal filming destination.
Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP)
The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program is a state-level incentive designed to attract film, television, and digital media production to Texas. Through TMIIIP, productions that meet certain criteria are eligible for grants that can range between 5% and 20% of eligible in-state spending.
Eligibility Requirements: Productions must spend at least $100,000 for a feature film, television series, or digital interactive media project, and $50,000 for commercials or educational videos. For smaller projects, the threshold is $10,000.
Incentive Levels: Grants vary based on spending amounts and type of production. For instance, projects spending between $250,000 and $1 million are eligible for a 5% incentive, while those spending over $3.5 million can receive up to 20%.
Extra Benefits for Using Texas Crew: The TMIIIP incentivizes employing Texas-based crew members by providing increased rebates, helping to support the local economy while keeping costs low for producers.
Dallas Film Commission Support
Dallas also offers localized support through the Dallas Film Commission. While not a direct financial incentive, the commission can connect filmmakers to local resources, facilitate permitting, and provide discounts through relationships with local vendors, transportation providers, and accommodations. This saves productions money while streamlining the logistics of working in Dallas.
Discounted Services: The commission often collaborates with businesses that provide equipment rentals, catering, and post-production services, ensuring you can access these necessities at competitive prices.
No-Cost Filming Locations: Dallas offers numerous no-cost or low-cost filming locations, reducing location costs for your production. These locations are often diverse, ranging from urban landscapes to scenic parks and historic sites.
Sales Tax Exemptions
Texas offers valuable sales tax exemptions for certain production expenses. Eligible productions can benefit from sales tax exemptions on items like rented or purchased equipment, services, and some operational costs, which can lead to significant savings.
Qualifying Items: This includes camera and lighting equipment, props, wardrobe, set design materials, and post-production services.
Application Process: Filmmakers need to apply for a Texas Sales Tax Permit to qualify for this exemption. While paperwork is required, the potential tax savings often justify the administrative effort.
Hotel Occupancy Tax Exemption
For productions that require crew members to stay in Texas hotels, the state offers a Hotel Occupancy Tax Exemption for stays of more than 30 days. This exemption can lead to substantial savings for long-term projects.
Application of Tax Exemption: After 30 consecutive days, your team’s lodging costs become exempt from the state’s hotel occupancy tax, which is currently 6% in Texas.
Wide Applicability: This benefit is ideal for productions that have extended timelines or need to accommodate larger crews for long periods.
Cost of Living and Production Savings in Dallas
The lower cost of living in Dallas contributes to an overall reduction in production costs. From affordable accommodations to competitive rates for local vendors, choosing Dallas helps make every dollar go further compared to more expensive cities like Los Angeles or New York.
Lower Production Overheads: From food to transport, Dallas offers more affordable rates, allowing filmmakers to stretch their budgets.
Attractive Quality of Life for Crew: Dallas offers a high quality of life with lower housing and entertainment costs, making it easier to retain crew members on longer projects.
Diverse Shooting Locations in Dallas
Dallas has a range of settings that can stand in for various other cities or regions, which adds value to productions looking to keep location changes within the city. From skyscrapers and corporate offices to quiet suburban neighborhoods, Dallas’s versatile scenery provides diverse backdrops, allowing productions to get creative without location changes that would increase costs.
So, if you’re considering your next location for a video shoot, think Dallas—where Southern charm meets big-city convenience and budget-friendly filming options.
Dallas’s Most Famous Studios and production Companies
Here’s a list of some top film production companies in Dallas, Texas, known for their quality, expertise, and client portfolio:
Reel FX
- Specialization: Animation, Virtual Reality, and Live-Action
- Notable Work: Animated features like *The Book of Life* and VR projects for top brands.
- Overview: Known for its high-end animation and VR, Reel FX is a leader in creative storytelling through advanced technology. They work on both branded content and full-length animated features.
Element X Creative
- Specialization: Commercials, Digital Content, and Post-Production
- Notable Work: Projects for brands like Chevrolet, McDonald’s, and Samsung.
- Overview: Element X is a full-service production company with a focus on advertising. They handle everything from pre-production to post, offering CGI, VFX, and animation services as well.
Brazen Animation
- Specialization: Animated and Branded Content
- Notable Work: Known for impactful animation with narrative depth, used in various commercial and original storytelling projects.
- Overview: Brazen Animation blends traditional storytelling with new technology, producing high-quality animation that’s ideal for both branded and original content.
M3 Films
- Specialization: Documentaries, Feature Films, and Corporate Videos
- Notable Work: Award-winning documentaries and narrative features.
- Overview: Known for its documentary and feature film work, M3 Films has a reputation for quality storytelling and production value, with projects that often focus on socially conscious themes.
Serendipitous Films
- Specialization: Commercials, Corporate Videos, and Web Content
- Notable Work: Campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola, Honda, and Home Depot.
- Overview: This full-service company handles everything from conception to delivery. They are known for working with major brands and creating compelling corporate and digital content.
Greenlight Media & Marketing
- Specialization: Branded Entertainment and Commercial Content
- Notable Work: Projects for brands like AT&T, Samsung, and the NBA.
- Overview: Greenlight specializes in content that merges brand and entertainment, focusing on creating emotional connections through visual storytelling.
MindHandle
- Specialization: Brand Storytelling, Advertising, and Corporate Videos
- Notable Work: Projects for major brands, particularly in the corporate and training video sectors.
- Overview: MindHandle is well-regarded for its brand-focused storytelling and is a go-to for companies looking to create engaging training or brand-related videos.
Southern Sky Films
- Specialization: Independent Films, Music Videos, and Commercials
- Notable Work: Collaborations with both brands and independent artists, producing music videos and commercials with an artistic touch.
- Overview: Known for their artistry and cinematic quality, Southern Sky Films is popular for music videos, commercials, and indie projects.
Equilateral Films
- Specialization: Commercials, Corporate, and Branded Content
- Notable Work: Projects for high-profile clients like American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
- Overview: Equilateral Films focuses on high-quality commercial content with an emphasis on story-driven visuals. They’re well-regarded in the Dallas commercial scene.
Lucky 21
- Specialization: Advertising, Comedy, and Commercial Production
- Notable Work: Campaigns for major brands like Pepsi, Pizza Hut, and Verizon.
- Overview: Lucky 21 has built a reputation for high-energy, creative projects, especially in comedy. They are a favorite for brands seeking humorous and engaging ads.
Honorable Mentions
– Towers Productions (Documentaries and TV series)
– Campbell Agency (Talent and commercial production)
– Deep Vellum (Film production and literary adaptations)
Each of these companies offers something unique, from high-end commercial and branded content to cutting-edge animation and VR. Whether you’re looking to produce a commercial, an indie film, or a brand-driven story, Dallas has a diverse range of talented production companies to support any vision.
Dallas Film Festivals
Dallas hosts a number of exciting film festivals each year, covering a wide range of genres and catering to various audiences. Here’s a look at some of the notable film festivals in Dallas:
Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF)
- When: Annually in the spring
- Focus: International films, shorts, documentaries, and Texas-made films
- Overview: DIFF is the largest and most prestigious film festival in Dallas. It attracts filmmakers and film lovers from around the world, showcasing a diverse selection of indie and international films, along with Q&A sessions, workshops, and panels.
Oak Cliff Film Festival
- When: Annually in June
- Focus: Independent and underground cinema
- Overview: Set in Dallas’s historic Oak Cliff neighborhood, this festival has a unique, indie spirit. It celebrates experimental and independent films, attracting filmmakers who enjoy pushing boundaries. Screenings are often held in quirky venues, adding to the festival’s artsy vibe.
Asian Film Festival of Dallas (AFFD)
- When: Annually in July
- Focus: Asian cinema, including feature films, documentaries, and shorts
- Overview: AFFD is one of the largest festivals in the U.S. focusing on Asian cinema, offering a platform for films from across Asia and the Asian diaspora. It’s popular for its diverse lineup, featuring everything from mainstream Asian hits to underground indie films.
Dallas VideoFest
- When: Varies, typically in the fall
- Focus: Experimental video, shorts, and alternative media
- Overview: Known for pushing creative boundaries, Dallas VideoFest is one of the longest-running video festivals in the U.S. It includes sub-festivals like “Alternative Fiction” and “DocuFest” (documentaries), and showcases experimental and cutting-edge video work.
Thin Line Fest (Denton)
- When: Annually in March
- Focus: Documentary films, photography, and music
- Overview: Just outside Dallas, in Denton, Thin Line Fest combines documentary film, photography, and music, offering a unique mix of visual and audio storytelling. It’s known for its diverse and thought-provoking documentaries and also hosts live music performances.
Women Texas Film Festival (WTxFF)
- When: Annually in August
- Focus: Female-driven stories and films by female filmmakers
- Overview: This festival shines a light on women filmmakers, showcasing films with strong female narratives or by female directors, writers, and producers. It’s a great platform for women in film to connect and gain visibility.
Denton Black Film Festival (DBFF)
- When: Annually in January
- Focus: Black stories, filmmakers, and the African diaspora
- Overview: While held in Denton, DBFF attracts a large Dallas audience and celebrates Black culture through film, music, and art. It features a mix of documentaries, shorts, and feature films by Black filmmakers and about Black experiences.
USA Film Festival
- When: Annually in April
- Focus: American-made films and short films
- Overview: One of the longest-running film festivals in Dallas, the USA Film Festival focuses on American cinema, particularly new, independent, and regional films. It’s known for supporting short filmmakers and offers awards in various categories.
Latino Cultural Center Film Series
- When: Varies throughout the year
- Focus: Latin American and Latino stories
- Overview: Hosted by the Latino Cultural Center, this series celebrates Latin American and Latino filmmakers and stories. It includes a rotating lineup of films throughout the year, featuring a mix of shorts, features, and documentaries.
24-Hour Video Race
- When: Annually, typically in May
- Focus: Filmmaking competition
- Overview: A fun, high-energy event where teams have just 24 hours to create a short film based on given prompts. It’s open to filmmakers of all ages and skill levels, making it popular in the Dallas creative community. The final products are showcased in a screening event.
With its attractive financial incentives, supportive film commission, and affordable cost of living, Dallas is a smart choice for filmmakers looking to maximize their budgets. Whether you’re producing a feature film, a commercial, or a digital media project, Dallas provides an ideal combination of resources and cost-effective incentives that can bring your creative vision to life while staying within budget.
Ready to Start Your Movie in Dallas?
If you have a film or movie project in mind, Blare Media is ready to help you bring it to life. With our comprehensive film production services, experienced camera crews, and local expertise in Dallas, we can turn your vision into a reality. Let’s collaborate to make your film a success!
Contact Blare Media today to discuss your next film project in Dallas, TX and how we can help make it unforgettable.
