What residents need know
At a Sept. 16 meeting, City Council unanimously approved commercial filming guidelines as city officials work to join approximately 200 other cities as a Texas Film Friendly Certified Community through the Texas Film Commission.
The certification will position the city as a potential location for commercials, music videos, films and more, Economic Development Coordinator Haden Farr said.
The initiative is part of the city’s long-term goal to diversify revenue sources, enhance economic development opportunities and evaluate Fulshear’s profile as a distinctive destination, according to agenda documents. There are about $500 million in credits available to go around statewide, Mayor Don McCoy said.
“This is a huge economic impact to a city if something comes this way, and we’ll do our best efforts to make it easy for them to film in Fulshear,” McCoy said.
Zooming in
Fulshear officials said they will enforce safeguards to preserve quality of life for residents including:
- Limiting filming to 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekends and holidays
- Requiring advance production notice and collecting public feedback from affected residents, tenants and businesses
- Requiring productions to carry a minimum of $1 million in liability coverage
- Warranting productions to restore any public or private property used to its original or better condition as well as paying for any damage caused
- Allowing the city manager or designee the right to deny, modify or stop filming at any time to protect public health, safety and welfare
What’s next
City officials will now submit an application to the Texas Film Commission, including five potential filming locations within the community, according to agenda documents.
City officials have already designated Farr, who has attended the required Texas Film Commission workshop, as the city’s community liaison to facilitate filming requests.
Additionally, Farr said more details will be shared about the financial benefits of filming at the next City Council meeting, scheduled for Oct. 21 at 6 p.m.
