Garland Video Production: True-Texas Films, Fall Fest & Fast Permits
Garland video production teams get more than suburban quiet this fortnight. With a niche film festival, an autumn street party, active casting boards and a streamlined permit portal, the city offers plug-and-play visuals and straightforward logistics from 11 to 25 September 2025.
It Came From Texas Film Festival
The third-annual ICFTX screens eight Lone-Star legends—from Bonnie & Clyde to Bernie—inside the 350-seat Plaza Theatre, plus a secret camp-classic riffed live by Mocky Horror Picture Show. Festival passes run $75, but crews with press badges shoot lobby interviews for free, and a parked 1930s Ford coupe provides ready period set-dressing on opening night. Dallas Observer touts the fest as “the most Texan weekend of the year,” drawing regional media you can piggy-back for networking.
Production Perks
- Panels feature crime historians and JFK archivists—sound-bite gold for doc teams.
- Screenings run noon–10 p.m., letting crews capture daylight B-roll on the redeveloped square between shows.
Fall Fest & Guzzler 0.5K (Sept 20)
Downtown transforms into an orange-lit midway from 5-10 p.m., complete with craft-beer crawl, live Top-40 covers and a tongue-in-cheek “race” that lasts less than two blocks. Pumpkin-patch photo ops and a night-time stage mean stock seasonal footage without a location fee. Registering the event as background yields easy crowd close-ups; just stay clear of the Kid’s Zone per city guidelines.
Casting & Crew Leads
- “Without” Short Film seeks local actors & PAs at $50/day; deadline 12 Sept; shoots Garland 13 Sept.
- DFW Extras Boards list Garland-adjacent commercials through 15 Sept with day rates averaging $185.
Pro-tip: Bring festival lanyards to auditions—ICFTX branding shows you’re active in the community.
Permits & Incentives
Garland centralizes filming under the Special Event Permit: $125 base fee, 45-day filing window, two-week review, and the same form covers drone shots, amplified sound or street closures. Private-property shoots dodge municipal fees but still need a Location Use Agreement if exterior parking or sidewalks appear on camera. At the state level, a push for nearly half-billion-dollar incentives and “Film Friendly” certifications signals richer rebates ahead—Garland officials attended Abbott’s April workshop to capitalize
Infrastructure Spotlight: Audio Dallas
KERA recently toured Audio Dallas—the storied studio where Willie Nelson cut Red Headed Stranger—reminding crews that Grammy-level gear sits 10 minutes from downtown and books by the hour when not in session. Even if no sessions are scheduled this week, scouting now can lock future mix-downs without Dallas premiums.
Quick-Hit Tips
- Rent early: Festival-goers and Fall Fest crowds spike LED and lens demand by Sept 11.
- Parking intel: Plaza Theatre loads in from Fifth St.; plan around Dallas College student traffic.
- Drone ceiling: Garland lies under Love Field’s Class B shelf; stay ≤400 ft unless you snag ATC clearance.
- Network hack: Festival guests linger at Intrinsic Smokehouse post-panels—carry release forms for pop-up interviews.
Conclusion
From historically Texan screen gems and a quirky beer sprint to open casting and a two-step permit, Garland punches above its weight this month. File the paperwork, pack extra cards, and your Garland video production calendar will be full before the credits roll.
