Fall Focus for St. Petersburg video production
St. Petersburg video production crews have a busy two-week window: Childs Park’s free “Monster House” Movie in the Park (Oct 4) and The Beach Theatre’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” matinee (Oct 5) supply camera-ready crowds, while a film-maker networking meetup (Oct 4) and the Creators Conference at the James Museum (Oct 11) open doors for collaboration. Meanwhile, the region’s Apply4 permit portal promises five-day turnarounds, and Visit St Pete-Clearwater’s film office is pushing producers toward its streamlined e-plan system just as fall light peaks on the Gulf Coast.
Upcoming on-camera opportunities
- Oct 4 – Movie in the Park (Monster House) at Childs Park, activities 6:30 p.m., showtime 7:15 p.m.
- Oct 5 – Nightmare Before Christmas matinee (4 p.m.) at The Beach Theatre, tickets on sale now.
- Oct 4 – Filmmaker networking & studio tour with Film Florida execs, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., St. Pete address TBA.
- Oct 11 – Creators Conference at The James Museum, panels on funding and post-production workflows.
Permit pipeline & location logistics
St. Pete-Clearwater Film Commission’s Apply4 system handles all municipal and county film-permit requests—upload shoot details and COIs; standard approvals take about five working days.
Visit St Pete-Clearwater reminds producers that the commission issues—but does not itself approve—permits, expediting routing to the correct city or county desk.
Pinellas County Parks added a dedicated filming notice this year; rangers ask for at least five days’ lead time and proof of insurance for any crew over ten people.
For street scenes, the city’s online Building & Permitting e-Plan Review now auto-generates application numbers, shaving a day off curb-lane closure requests.
Festival & education horizon
Although the Sunscreen Film Festival’s next replay day isn’t until Oct 17, its regular-submission deadline fell on Sept 30—meaning October crews should already be editing for late-winter jury review. St. Pete Pier’s Minecraft Movie outdoor screening lands Oct 17, just outside our window but worth penciling for kid-centric B-roll.
For screenwriters, Studio @ 620 hosts a three-day intensive Oct 17-19; early registration closes Oct 10, letting writers lock seats during this fortnight.
Quick-reference permit checklist
- Apply4 film portal for all jurisdictions (5-day standard).
- Visit SPC film office for routing & contacts.
- Pinellas parks filming notice required, insurance mandatory.
- City e-Plan Review auto-numbers applications, streamlining road-closure requests.
Looking ahead
With free family film nights, a cult-classic matinee, and two industry meet-ups packed into the next 14 days—plus an easier permit path—producers can capture lively fall crowds and lock exterior shots before Gulf humidity returns. Add in Sunscreen Festival prep and upcoming writer intensives, and the Sunshine City remains a budget-smart storyboard for everything from spooky shorts to branded lifestyle spots. Whether you’re hunting crowd extras, B-roll sunsets, or quick-turn permits, October’s first half keeps cameras rolling along Tampa Bay’s art-forward waterfront.
