How To Utilize Film Commissions as an Indie Filmmaker: What You Must Do Before You Start Filming

Learn directly from the Houston Film Commission, taught by Deputy Director, Alfred Cerventes, a 20-year film commissioner! Proceeds benefit Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP) as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

As an independent filmmaker, film commissions should be your first stop for finding locations, resources and incentives. What most filmmakers don’t know, however, is that film commissions can also help with the screenwriting process, casting, distribution and many other aspects that can help you emerge with a festival worthy, marketable feature film. Often filmmakers struggle with completing their projects because they are unaware of how to properly utilize their biggest resource – the film commissions. Best of all, Film commissions provide their services to production companies free of charge.

How can you best utilize your local film commission? How do you find the state/country with the most attractive incentives for your project and what is the process for working with a film commission out-of-state? What can a film commission do for your project that you couldn’t or shouldn’t do for yourself?

In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, host Alfred Cervantes will uncover how film commissions can best help independent filmmakers. Drawing from his 20 years of experience, Alfred will teach you how to find local crew, talent and equipment to use while filming, how to obtain permits, the hard and soft incentives offered in different places, and how to use a film commission as a liaison between governmental departments and agencies to facilitate connections with local communities and make arrangements for filming on public property. You will leave this webinar armed with knowledge and ready to start filming your project!

Alfred Cervantes, Deputy Director of the Houston Film Commission and a native Houstonian, has worked in various capacities in film for the past 23 years. His duty with the film commission is to promote the greater Houston & Harris County area to film producers, production executives and independent filmmakers, to scout locations and facilitate any production’s local filming experience. As a freelancer he worked on Reality Bites, The Chase, Jason’s Lyric, Apollo 13, and Powder. Alfred has a wealth of knowledge and is excited to share it with you!