Indiana Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews
Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Indiana? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Indiana
For an introduction to shooting in Indiana see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.
Indiana Film Locations
Indiana is a midwestern state known for Indianapolis, rust belt locations, amusement parks, college campuses, sport stadiums, beautiful fall colours, sand dunes, rivers, lakes, lighthouses, covered bridges, picturesque farm houses, small town America looks, and Amish country.
Agricultural film locations include fields of wheat, corn, soybeans, apples, and blueberries, as well as hog and cattle farms. Industrial locations include a range of factories and coal mines. Energy locations include coal and gas fired power plants, hydroelectric dams, and wind power facilities.
Indiana has hosted productions including Parks and Recreation (2009-2020), Roseanne (1988-2018), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Pearl Harbor (2001), Con Air (1997), Natural Born Killers (1994), A League of Their Own (1992), Rain Man (1988), and Breaking Away (1979).
Film locations of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
Indianapolis is the state capital and the largest city. Film locations include the State Capitol building, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Eiteljorg Museum, Indiana State Museum, Indiana Medical History Museum, Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, Museum of Psychphonics, Indiana Historical Society, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, Athenaeum, Market Street Catacombs, Oldfields-Lilly House and Gardens, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Colts Stadium, NCAA Hall of Champions, Atomic Bowl Duckpin vintage bowling alley, Indiana World War Memorial Plaza, Soldiers & Sailors Monument, Garfield Park, and Eagle Creek Park. White River State Park offers great shots of the Indianapolis city skyline.
Gary is an industrial city located on Lake Michigan, near Chicago. Gary Works is a major steel mill. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) and Pearl Harbor (2001) filmed in Gary.
Lake Michigan lighthouses have interesting industrial backdrops. Lighthouses of note include Buffington Harbor Breakwater Lighthouse, Indiana Harbor East Breakwater Lighthouse, Gary Harbor Breakwater, and Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse.
Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal connects the Grand Calumet River to Lake Michigan.
Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County is one of the largest wind farms in the world.
Evansville is a city on the Ohio River. Film locations include the Evansville Museum of Arts, and Willard Library. The establishing shots in Roseanne (1988-2018) filmed in Evansville.
The city of Columbus is known for its modernist architecture. Some buildings of note include North Christian Church by Eero Saarinen, Fire Station Number Four by Robert Venturi, Clifty Creek Elementary School by Richard Meier, and St Peter’s Lutheran Church by Gunnar Birkerts.
Indiana University is located in Bloomington. Film locations of note include Maxwell Hall, Morrison Hall, Indiana Memorial Union building, Kirkwood Observatory, Herman B Wells Library, Lilly Library, Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Grunwald Gallery of Art, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Indiana University Auditorium, Memorial Stadium, and Bill Armstrong Stadium.
Ball State University campus is located in Muncie. Buildings of note include the Bracken Library, and Scheumann Stadium.
University of Notre Dame campus is located in Notre Dame. Buildings of note include the Main Building, Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Washington Hall, Joyce Center, and Notre Dame Stadium.
Purdue University is located in West Lafayette. Buildings of note include Purdue Memorial Union, University Hall, Ross–Ade Stadium, Mackey Arena, Lambert Fieldhouse, and Alexander Field.
Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market is located in Shipshewana.
Studebaker National Museum, and East Race Waterway are located in South Bend.
RV/MH Hall of Fame is located in Elkhart.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is located in Vincennes.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is located in Lincoln City.
Auburn Cord Duesenberg is an automobile museum in Auburn.
Antique Fan Museum is located in Zionsville.
Historic West Baden Springs Hotel is located in West Baden Springs.
Seiberling Mansion is located in Kokomo.
Indiana Beach is an amusement park located on Lake Shafer in Monticello.
Whitewater Valley Railroad runs between Connersville and Metamora.
Wolf Park is located in Battle Ground.
Empire Quarry is a beautiful abandoned limestone quarry in Bloomington.
Upper Cataract Falls are located in Owen county.
Nature parks of note include Indiana Dunes National Park, Brown County State Park, Turkey Run State Park, Hoosier National Forest, McCormick’s Creek State Park, Fort Harrison State Park, Falls of the Ohio State Park, Spring Mill State Park, Marengo Cave US National Landmark, Clifty Falls State Park, Pokagon State Park, Morgan-Monroe State, Ouabache State Park, Yellowwood State Forest, Chain O’ Lakes State Park, Whitewater Memorial State Park, Summit Lake State Park, Potato Creek State Park, Mounds State Park, and Charlestown State Park.
A League of Their Own (1992) filmed in locations such as Evansville, Huntingburg, and New Harmony.
Natural Born Killers (1994) filmed in Hammond.
The establishing shots in Parks and Recreation (2009-2020) filmed in Carmel and Zionsville.
Con Air (1997) filmed in Elkhart and Goshen.
Indiana Film Location Permits
Indiana does not require any state-wide permits. Permits are issued by state, city and county agencies on a case by case basis. Proof of insurance is required. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Spring is warm and pleasant. Summers are hot and humid. Autumn is warm with beautiful fall colors. Winters are relatively mild with snow through January and February. Indiana also experiences tornadoes in the spring and summer.
• The Indy 500 takes place in Indianapolis in May.
• Little 500 is a cycling race that takes place in Indiana University, Bloomington.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in the United States.
Unique Local Stories
Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.
If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.
If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.
Indiana Tax Incentives For Filming
Indiana does not offer a production incentive program.
Indiana Film Crew & Talent
Crew. Indiana has a small pool of local crew. Chicago is a major nearby production centre for crew to drive in.
Contact us if you are looking for an Indianapolis based director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew in Indiana.
Talent. The state’s population is predominately Caucasian and African American. Hoosier State movie character stereotypes include corn farmers, Amish communities, and college basketball players.
Indiana Film Equipment
Equipment. Indiana has some standard grip, lighting and camera gear for hire. Chicago is a major nearby production centre for film equipment rentals.
Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.
Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.
For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.
Indiana Film-Friendly Accommodation
Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Indianapolis and other areas of Indiana.
Final Notes
Safety. Indiana is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Have a night out in Indianapolis. Stop in an enjoy small town baked goods. Visit the Amish country for a cultural experience.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Indiana, please see below:
Hire Indiana Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Indiana, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Indiana, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
