Here's How to Begin Production in All 50 States
The good folks at SAGindie are here to make location-scouting pain-free and easy.
If you currently find yourself with a completed screenplay, some financing in place, an aching desire to start location-scouting, and no clue of how to take the next step, SAGindie's State Production Resources page will definitely come in handy.
If your film is set in Alabama and yet you've never stepped foot in the Yellowhammer State, for example, SAGindie is here to introduce you to each of the key players you should reach out to while working in (and with) the state. After all, a lack of "location awareness" shouldn't dissuade you outright from obtaining the setting your story demands. If you've begrudgingly settled on shooting Rocky in North Dakota or a biopic of The Boston Strangler in South Jersey, change your mind! This list can pair you up with resources in the necessary shooting locations that will provide your story with some on-the-ground authenticity. Even more importantly, local film officers will be able to let you know about all the tax incentives and other financial benefits that each state has to offer for shooting in their area.
"This list provides an extremely comprehensive, state-by-state, guide of local film offices, cooperatives, departments of labor, available attorneys, and nearest SAG-AFTRA affiliates."
Location-scouting should be a fun, engaging process, and SAGindie's comprehensive mission here is to gather and provide the resources, or at the very least, the people in charge of them. Unsure of who the key players are in each of the 50 states? This list provides an extremely comprehensive, state-by-state, guide of local film offices, cooperatives, departments of labor, available attorneys, and nearest SAG-AFTRA affiliates.
As an added, "fun fact" bonus, it also lists fellow independent features that were filmed in the state (and conceivably took advantage of its resources). Moonlight and Spring Breakers representing Florida is a nice example of recent success stories in the Sunshine State (both courtesy of A24, of course).
To check out SAGindie's entire 'U.S. Film Production Resources by State' list, please click here.
