Fall Spotlight: Upcoming Laredo Video Production Opportunities
Laredo video production teams can pack plenty into the first half of October thanks to a cluster of networking events and the city’s long-awaited permit overhaul. Below is what’s happening, why it matters, and how to prepare.
In-Window Production Events
- Oct 3 – Filmmaker Mixer (7-9 p.m., LFS HQ). Free RSVP gives directors, editors, and actors a chance to swap reels and crew up ahead of fall shoots.
- Oct 4 – Texas-Mexican Foodways Book & Film (11 a.m.–3 p.m., Border Heritage Museum). Chef-filmmaker Adán Medrano screens clips and signs books—ideal for culinary B-roll scouts.
- Oct 6 – Final Council Vote on Film Ordinance. Expected approval would lock in application, location, and street-closure fees and hand permitting to the Convention & Visitors Bureau.
- Oct 10-11 – Mexican Horror Double Feature (7 p.m.–1 a.m., LFS). Overnight screenings double as lighting tests for low-light rigs and a meet-up for genre crews.
Near-Future Highlights
- Submission Deadline (Oct 1) – Last call for local shorts vying for the Oct 17 Folklore Showcase; entries accepted through midnight.
- Folklore Showcase (Oct 17) – Though outside the two-week window, the cross-border program offers advance location passes for participating teams.
Permit Shift Hits on Oct 6
City staff confirm that the new ordinance introduces a Texas film permits structure mirroring statewide best practices: $150 applications, tiered daily fees, and clear insurance thresholds. The legislation also brings Laredo into alignment with the state’s Film Friendly program, streamlining access to regional incentives and location databases managed by the Texas Film Commission.
Why These Dates Matter for Crews
For South Texas filmmakers, the back-to-back events compress networking, scouting, and professional development into a single fortnight. The free mixer and screenings create informal casting pools, while Council’s permit vote promises faster turnaround for future commercials—critical when tight-lipped clients want same-week location locks. Producers eyeing October shoots should factor in the ordinance’s new street-closure fees and submit paperwork early to avoid the $100 late penalty.
Resources & Next Steps
- Download the permit packet once Council posts the final ordinance to Legistar.
- Review statewide location rules to ensure private-property shoots don’t accidentally trigger municipal oversight.
- RSVP for the Oct 3 mixer to lock in collaborative partners ahead of the horror double feature’s volunteer slots.
Call to Action
Whether you’re lining up B-roll at the Foodways event or prepping pitch decks before Council’s vote, bookmark these dates and sync your crew calendar now—because the next two weeks could set the tone for an entire season of Laredo video production.
