Welcome to the Nebraska Film Office!
Please consider registering your project with the Film Office. We can provide you with more accurate information regarding permits and resources across the state that will help you have a successful project. – Film Office Activity Registration Form. We also suggest you follow SAG/AFTRA COVID-19 mitigation protocol while filming here. If you would like more information on available Certified Covid 19 Officers (CCOs), please be in touch.
We are eager to assist you with your physical production needs in Nebraska with location information, crew information, community contacts and support. Let us know your plans. We can provide specific photos and location information for your specific project. We can provide you with registered crew, equipment and production services to assist with your endeavors. We can connect you with community and educational liaisons across the state with the experience needed to accomplish your goals and, we can connect you with the proper community, county and state contacts for any permitting necessary to film at that location. Nebraska is open. We never closed during the pandemic. We ask for the safety of your crew, your actors, and our communities, you follow all relevant filmmaking protocol and our state’s DHHS guidelines available in the following links. Onward and stay safe.
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January 1, 2021
Good bye 2020, welcome 2021! Season’s greetings and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Governor Ricket’s latest News Release: News Release12.31.20
DHHS Health Directive: 12.30.20
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December 14, 2020
Governor Rickets Latest Press Conference on CV19
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ARCHIVES JULY 2020-DECEMBER 2020
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OCTOBER 29, 2020 — News Release
Contact: Laurie Richards, Nebraska Film Office (402) 202-1905
Starr Lehl, City of Scottsbluff (308) 630-6213
Karla Niedan-Streeks, Gering CVB (308) 436-6886
It’s A Wrap: Street Outlaws Filming Concludes
It was a busy summer and fall in the Scottsbluff/Gering area for television production filming. The Los Angeles based production company Pilgrim Media Group filmed several episodes of the Discovery Channel’s reality TV show “Street Outlaws” south of Gering on Highway 71 and west of Scottsbluff on Highway 26.
Prior to filming in western Nebraska, the production company filmed on location in Casper, Wyoming. As the crew was finishing up in Casper, they took a look at drone footage, road criteria and a road scout checklist submitted to them in late May by the City of Scottsbluff Economic Development. After a Sunday afternoon visit to the area, the decision was made that the Scottsbluff/Gering area would be their next stop. The crew began arriving in mid-August and completed filming on October 12th, with economic impact to the area estimated at over $2 million.
In May, the State Film Office division of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development responded to inquiries of filming a “wheel-to-wheel” reality television show requiring smooth, straight, two lane concrete highways from across the state. The Film Office reached out to Starr Lehl, Director of Scottsbluff Economic Development. “I knew we had to respond quickly and with accurate information meeting their criteria. We wanted to be a part of this opportunity so we sent them images of roads across the state of Nebraska,” said Laurie Richards, Nebraska Film Officer.
The twin cities area was host to the Coen Brothers movie “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” in 2018. “Filmmaking means opportunities for local businesses and jobs for our region. Once we are able get location scouts and production companies here, showcasing our beautiful landscapes and production resources is part of the endeavor and the fun. “Buster Scruggs made a nearly one million dollar impact to the area plus additional filming of a movie starring and co-produced by Francis McDormand, the wife of Joel Coen called “Nomadland ” said Lehl.
The City of Scottsbluff worked with Andrew Smith of Adventure Photography and the Nebraska Department of Transportation District 5 Office to secure drone footage and photography of roads meeting the criteria. A small team of local business and community leaders met with production management and location scouts. Once the decision was made by Pilgrim Media Group to film in western Nebraska, the wheels were set in motion to secure permitting through the Scotts Bluff County Commissioners and NDOT for use of the chosen Nebraska Highways.
“There were definitely some residents inconvenienced by the filming because of noise and traffic disruptions, but for the most part the community embraced the opportunity. Pilgrim Media and City of Gering employees went door to door in the filming area to inform citizens of what was going on and I believe that helped tremendously,” said Karla Niedan-Streeks, Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau Director. The majority of the community understood the economic impact to businesses continuing to struggle during the COVID pandemic including area hotels, restaurants, gas stations and retail stores. Several local people working limited hours or laid off from their jobs were given an opportunity to work for the production company. A team of medical professionals traveled with the cast and crew monitoring activity on set with temperature checks and regular rapid COVID tests.
Filmmaking is a business that can be beneficial to all communities in Nebraska – it not only brings the cast and crew here to enjoy the area to patronize businesses, it can always have the spinoff effect of tourism and people wanting to know where television shows and movies are filmed. “We are fortunate in western Nebraska to have the facilities and resources available to accommodate the filmmaking industry and we’re looking for the next opportunity,” said Lehl.
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2019 independent filmmaking in Nebraska was blooming! WE anticipate more of the same in 2020!
We saw a variety of projects ramp up around the state last year. Keep an eye on our social media pages to learn up to date information regarding casting, requests for crew and various supporting roles necessary to help make your project a success in Nebraska! Nebraska Film Office/Nebraska Film Commission — Facebook, and Nebraska Film Association — Facebook for starters! There are a number of sources of information on social media that will lead you to Nebraska filmmakers, writers, actors, locations and more.
Nebraska has a rich heritage in the film industry. From the early work of Fred Niblo, 1920s silent film director from York, to actresses Marg Helgenberger, from North Bend and Hilary Swank from Lincoln, and director, producer and screenwriter Alexander Payne, from Omaha, the state knows how to grow and nurture talent. Keep your eyes on this site for future information related to the state’s presence in the film world.
Be sure to check out the Nebraska Independent Film Projects, Film Streams and the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. These entities represent a small part of the infrastructure that helps Nebraska’s independent industry flourish.
A study of the film industry in Nebraska was completed by Economic Research Associates in 2002. It provides valuable information regarding the economic impact of the film industry at large and analysis of the industry in Nebraska. Read the study here.
Check out one of the many photo galleries of some of the state’s most scenic landscapes made available by the Nebraska Tourism Commission.
