El Paso Production Outlook: Borderland Stories in Focus
El Paso video production surges this fortnight as horror fans pack the Philanthropy Theatre, 48-hour filmmakers sprint to finish cuts, and TxDOT shuts key stretches of I-10. Below is your practical guide—complete with permits, casting intel, and studio news—covering Oct 15-29.
Festival & Screening Highlights
- Oculto Film Fest (Oct 24–25) showcases Borderland fantasy and horror, plus networking mixers at the Philanthropy Theatre—prime scouting ground for genre crews
- 48 Hour Film Project premieres Oct 15 at LUX Cine IMAX, screening shorts made in a single weekend and spotlighting local editors, DPs and performers
- Foto Fiesta 2025 (Oct 18 & 25) offers free Saturday workshops at the El Paso Art Association, giving producers hands-on lighting and analog-film demos.
Permit & Traffic Alerts
- I-10 Widening West closes eastbound lanes at Redd Road nightly Oct 12-17; expect 9 p.m.–5 a.m. detours via South Desert Blvd
- 48-hour weekend closure shuts I-10 EB at Redd and WB lanes Mesa-to-Redd Oct 18-20, a full 48-hour stoppage impacting airport runs and equipment rentals
- McCombs Dr. closure between US-54 and Stan Roberts Oct 18-20 restricts access to Northeast locations; detours post to US-54 and Martin Luther King Blvd
Casting and Crew Calls
Backstage lists Afterwork, a rural-West Texas drama seeking distinctive faces from El Paso for October shoots, offering SAG-scale pay and hotel per diem. AllCasting advertises extras for the tent-pole “Dune 3,” with local submissions due Oct 16 and $185/day rates, illustrating the region’s growing appeal even to big franchises.
Studio Momentum & Incentives
Studio 4 Productions just opened a 12,000-sq-ft soundstage and cyc wall on Remington Road, giving commercial clients turnkey space minutes from the airport. Gyro Studios, freshly updated on Yelp, expands the post-production pool with new DaVinci suites and Foley booths. For financing, the Texas Film Commission’s incentive portal remains live; a complete application with 60 % Texas hires can net up to 22.5 % back on qualified spend.
Festival Buzz Spurs Industry Visits
UTEP’s Prospector Daily reports the El Paso Film Festival wrapped Oct 9 with Kevin Smith and Lloyd Kaufman keynotes, funneling press attention toward the city just as Oculto begins—helpful timing for producers courting media coverage. Even a minor I-10 eastbound shutdown caused by a semi-truck crash on Oct 9 demonstrated why detailed detours belong in every call sheet.
Closing Thoughts
From festival red carpets to late-night lane closures, the next two weeks pack both opportunity and logistical hurdles. El Paso camera crew and production teams should lock routes early, tap Studio 4’s fresh floor space, and submit rebate paperwork before cameras roll—then let El Paso’s cross-border creative energy take the rest.
