Laredo Video Production: Film Society Workshops, Drive-In Horror & Faster Permits
Laredo video production teams get a rare cluster of screenings, workshops and on-camera festivities over the next 14 days—plus a streamlined permit process that finally makes border-city shoots as nimble as Austin or Dallas. Below is everything confirmed between Sept 11 and 25 2025 and why you should clear space on the call sheet.
Laredo Film Society Takes Center Stage
- Film Club Friday – Sept 12, 7-11 p.m., LFS HQ. A cult-horror screening and discussion give emerging cinematographers free seats, AC-friendly lighting practice and networking with host Roy Gonzales.
- Sharon Arteaga Talk – Sept 18, 1:30 p.m., TAMIU Student Center. The Austin writer-director shares grant-writing hacks in a 90-minute Q&A; student crews can shoot BTS with campus clearance.
- Film Grant Workshop – Sept 19, 7:30 p.m., LFS HQ. Arteaga returns to walk locals through funding portals; LFS promises actionable templates by session’s end.
Why it matters: The Society’s triple bill condenses months of professional development into one long weekend, saving crews a trip to San Antonio.
Screen Under the Stars: Drive-In Horror Night
- 24/7 Laredo Drive-In – Sept 19, 9 p.m. Organizers project the cult classic An American Werewolf in London on a 40-foot inflatable screen; classic-car owners park upfront, offering ready-made set dressing.
- Vendor Call is still open for food trucks and merch tables, giving commercial crews last-minute sponsorship slots.
Production impact: Free entry and vintage props translate into zero-budget B-roll that sells southwestern nostalgia to brand clients.
Casting Calls & Community Shoots
- Short-Film Casting seeks actors for shoots on Sept 13-14 and 20-21; no experience required and $350/day offered for leads.
- Laredo Little Theatre Auditions closed Aug 14 but callbacks run this week, giving PAs practice with stage-to-screen lighting rigs.
Drag Brunch Adds National Flair
- Wickedly Twisted Entertainment Launch – Sept 21, RYZE Rooftop. RuPaul’s Drag Race star Kandy Muse headlines a 500-seat brunch alongside DJ Big Lou, turning the skyline lounge into a full LED stage for multicam coverage.
Why it matters: Live-music sync licenses come pre-cleared by organizers, letting crews repurpose footage for sizzle reels with minimal legal lift.
Permits & Incentives: New Rules Kick In
Laredo adopted a Film-Friendly ordinance on Aug 12 that centralizes permit handling under the CVB, sets a $50 application fee and a 10-day review clock for most shoots. Productions still need $1 M in general liability and must coordinate traffic control if blocking public streets. Texas Film Commission guidelines remain unchanged: filming solely on private property requires no municipal permit unless gear spills onto public right-of-way.
Quick Tips for Laredo Video Production
- Lock gear early: Film Society triple-header plus drive-in night can exhaust local LED rentals by Sept 11.
- Scout downtown: San Agustín historical district offers colonial facades within two blocks of LFS HQ—ideal B-roll between workshops.
- Cover your drone: Border Patrol airspace requests a 48-hour waiver even for sub-55-lb craft; apply via FAA DroneZone.
- Network at brunch: RYZE’s talent green-room access opens to credentialed crews after 3 p.m.—bring release forms.
Conclusion
From intimate horror screenings and grant workshops to open-air cult classics and a nationally headlined drag brunch, mid-September proves that border-city creativity is far from sleepy. Add Laredo’s freshly minted Film-Friendly ordinance, and Laredo video production teams finally get the red-tape relief they’ve needed to move from passion projects to paid gigs—no long I-35 drive required.
