Capitol-City Lens: Madison Video Production Round-Up
Madison video production crews have a mix of festival energy, fresh studio infrastructure, and bureaucratic to-dos over the next two weeks. From MMoCA’s skyline screening and library flicks to a new east-side studio and revived state incentives, here’s your roadmap for maximising budgets and beating roadblocks between 11 and 24 September.
Rooftop Cinema Finale — 14 Sep
MMoCA’s Rooftop Cinema series concludes Saturday, 14 September, with gates at sundown on the museum terrace. The event delivers golden-hour crowd shots against State-Capitol views—ideal B-roll for lifestyle or tourism spots. Press kits note that tripods are allowed only at the rear parapet; reserve space via [email protected] by 12 Sep.
Library & Campus Screenings
- Pinney Library Friday Night Flicks screens the indie short package September 5 on Fri 12 Sep, 6 p.m.
- Cinesthesia continues at Central Library with a free, literature-meets-cinema pick every Tuesday through November; September’s entry is The French Dispatch on 17 Sept. Both venues waive additional permits for house crews, making them painless for quick ENG pickups.
New Studio: Roundhouse Opens Doors
Roundhouse Studios at 1741 Commercial Ave. offers 10 individual bays and a shared cyc wall, filling a long-noted gap in Madison’s creative real estate. Co-director Jolynne Roorda says early-bird renters lock discounted rates through year-end, so music-video directors and tabletop shooters should pencil in test days now.
State Incentive Returns
Wisconsin re-launched its film-TV tax credit in July, setting aside $5 million annually with a $1 million per-project cap and a minimum local spend of $100 k for long-form content. Combined with Madison’s relatively low crew rates, the 25–30 percent refund significantly narrows budget gaps versus Chicago or Minneapolis.
Road & Infrastructure Alerts
WisDOT lists overnight bridge-approach work on I-39/90 at County V beginning 16 Sep—lane closures run 10 p.m.–5 a.m. for about 30 working days. Expect 10-minute delays for grip trucks returning from Janesville or Milwaukee gear houses. A smaller AT&T conduit project on John Nolen Drive kicks off 22 Sep, briefly affecting access to Olin Park’s lakeside lots.
What’s Quiet—and What’s Next
The next major regional fest—the Wisconsin Film Festival—doesn’t arrive until April 2026, but organizers open volunteer sign-ups on 1 Oct 2025. Meanwhile, MMoCA’s Spotlight Cinema fall slate begins 31 Oct, with titles to be announced in early October.
Key Takeaways
- Event gold: Rooftop Cinema’s finale (14 Sep) and Pinney’s Friday Flicks (12 Sep) deliver ready-made audience B-roll.
- Space boost: Roundhouse Studios adds affordable indoor sets; lock launch-pricing before 30 Sep.
- Paperwork now: Parks and street shoots require five-day notice and insurance—no exceptions.
- Rebate ready: Wisconsin’s revived $5 M credit refunds up to 30 percent of local spend.
- Route smart: I-39/90 night work starts 16 Sep—pad 10 minutes for late-wrap travel.
