Screens, Stages, and Open Streets in Lincoln
Lincoln video production teams have an unusually smooth runway this fortnight: marquee horror screenings, a brand-new broadcast complex, and a permit board free of street closures all converge between 17 and 31 October.
Festival Heat at The Ross
The third-annual Ross Fright Fest blankets the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center with nightly cult and classic horror films through Halloween. Opening-weekend highlights include Argento’s Tenebrae in a restored print on 17 October. The series culminates in a two-night live score of silent chiller Nosferatu by the Anvil Orchestra on 30-31 October, drawing regional press and gear rentals alike.
Just two days after Tenebrae, the Met Opera’s Live in HD stream of La Sonnambula hits the same screen on 18 October, offering crews pristine 4K projections for B-roll tests. With seats selling fast, producers scouting audience-reaction pickups must reserve cameras early.
Key Dates and Quick Hits
- Oct 17 – Tenebrae 4K screening, Ross Fright Fest
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- Oct 18 – Met: La Sonnambula live in HD
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- Oct 30-31 – Anvil Orchestra scores Nosferatu live
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- Daily through Oct 31 – Fright Fest lineup continues
Permit Landscape and City Support
Lincoln regulates on-location shoots through a single Film Permit Application administered by the City Clerk under Municipal Code 14.34. As of 17 October the online permit dashboard shows no street, park, or right-of-way closures for film through 31 October. Applications remain free, with liability insurance only required for public-space shoots or heavy equipment—a cost advantage over neighboring metros. The Parks Department adds that filming in venues like Pioneers Park triggers just a $200 fee once attendance tops 500.
New & Expanded Facilities
- HuskerVision Complex: 3 IP-based control rooms, 2,600-sq-ft LED studio, podcast suites
- Music Box (MBX): downtown rehearsal & recording space now open for indie shoots
- Carson Center Labs: VR and motion-capture bays accepting weekend bookings for test shoots
Casting, Training, and Community
Backstage lists paid roles for a regional holiday commercial and a student thriller, both closing 23 October and shooting on UNL’s East Campus. Non-profit The Digg Site continues its tuition-free weekend workshops, giving aspiring crew hands-on experience with RED cameras and DaVinci Resolve. Vision Maker Media, though hit by federal funding cuts in August, still plans a public showcase of Native short films in early November, keeping Indigenous storytelling visible on local screens
Incentives & Forward Look
- State Grant Momentum: Fallen Giant Films’ $5 million award signals growing Nebraska production support
- Flatwater Film Festival 2025 schedule drops next spring but Seward organizers invite early submissions now
- No Man’s Land Film Festival returns to UNL on 13 Nov, with tickets launching 27 Oct
Wrapping Up
With Ross Fright Fest in full scream, brand-new 4K control rooms humming inside Memorial Stadium, and a permit office posting blank closure boards, the last half of October offers unmatched ease for Lincoln camera crew logistics. Stake out those golden-hour skyline shots while the streets—and the paperwork—stay clear.
