Missouri 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 Missouri? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Missouri
For an introduction to shooting in Missouri 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.
Missouri Film Locations
Missouri is a Midwestern state known for the cities of St Louis, Kansas City, and Jefferson City, as well as thousands of farms, rivers, forests, caves, nature parks, American Civil War sites, museums, and amusement parks.
Agricultural film locations include vineyards, cattle ranches, dairy farms, and fields of soybeans, hay, corn, wheat, sorghum, cotton, and rice. Missouri mines lead, iron ore, zinc, barite, and limestone. Energy locations include coal and natural gas fired power plants, nuclear power plants, as well as wind power facilities and hydroelectric dams.
Missouri has hosted productions including Ozark (2017-), Gone Girl (2014), Winter’s Bone (2010), Up in the Air (2009), The Informant! (2009), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), and The Cannonball Run (1981).
St Louis is the state’s largest city. Sitting on the banks of the Mississippi River, St Louis is known for the Gateway Arch designed by Eero Saarinen, Old St Louis County Courthouse, St Louis Cathedral, St Louis Abbey, St Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, City Museum, The Contemporary Art Museum St Louis, St Louis Science Center, National Museum of Transportation, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Pulitzer Arts Foundation designed by Tadao Ando, National Blues Museum, World Chess Hall of Fame, Fox Theatre, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Missouri Botanical Gardens, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Bellefontaine Cemetery, St Louis Zoo, Chain of Rocks Bridge, Six Flags Amusement Park, Silver Dollar City Amusement Park, Cotton Belt Freight Depot, Busch Stadium, and Enterprise Center. Washington University in St Louis campus is home to buildings such as Brookings Hall, Anheuser Busch Hall, and Graham Chapel. Mississippi River steamboats are available for filming. Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is located nearby.
Kansas City is the second largest city. Located at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers, the city is home to unique locations such as the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts designed by Moshe Safdie, Gem Theatre, Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, Kansas City Library’s Giant Book Shelf, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, National World War I Museum & Memorial, American Jazz Museum, Arabia Steamboat Museum, Independence Temple, Vaile Mansion, Kansas City Workhouse, Hall of Waters art deco building, Imperial Brewery building, Arrowhead Stadium, and Worlds of Fun amusement park.
Jefferson City is the state capital. Film locations include the State Capitol building, Governor’s Mansion, Missouri State Museum, and the decommissioned Missouri State Penitentiary.
Branson is known for the Titanic Museum, Evergreen Crystal Palace mega mansion, and Branson Scenic Railway.
Gone Girl (2014) filmed throughout Cape Girardeau.
The University of Missouri campus is located in Columbia. Architecture of note includes Jesse Hall, Memorial Union, and Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.
Winter’s Bone (2010) filmed in Forsyth, Christian County, Taney County, and Branson.
Glore Psychiatric Museum is located in St Joseph.
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is an American Civil War site located near Republic.
George Washington Carver National Monument is located in Newton County.
Powell Gardens is located in Kingsville.
Callaway Nuclear Generating Station is located near Fulton.
Caves of note include Meramec Caverns, Fantastic Caverns, Talking Rocks Cavern, Mark Twain Cave, Onondaga Cave, and Bridal Cave.
The Lake of the Ozarks State Park featured in Ozark (2017-). Other nature parks of note include Mark Twain National Forest, Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, Table Rock State Park, Castlewood State Park, Hawn State Park, Bennett Spring State Park, Roaring River State Park, and Elephant Rocks State Park.
Missouri Film Location Permits
Permits are required for filming in national parks, forests, recreational areas and monuments. Many public locations do not charge a fee. Proof of insurance is required. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Winters are cold with occasional snow. Summers are hot and humid. Missouri experiences thunderstorms and tornadoes.
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.
Missouri Tax Incentives For Filming
Missouri does not offer a production incentive program. Kansas City offers qualifying productions the following rebate options: Tier One 3.5%, Tier Two 7%, two optional bonuses at 0.25% each.
Missouri Film Crew & Talent
Crew. Missouri has a good pool of local crew.
Contact us if you are looking for a Kansas City or St Louis 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 Missouri.
Talent. The state’s population is predominately Caucasian and African American. Film characters associated with Missouri include baseball playing farmers, and storm chasers.
Missouri Film Equipment
Equipment. Missouri has some standard camera, grip and lighting equipment available locally.
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.
Missouri Studios & Post Production
Studios. Missouri has some basic studio facilities.
Missouri Film-Friendly Accommodation
Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Kansas City, St Louis and other areas of Missouri.
Final Notes
Safety. Missouri is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Dig into some toasted ravioli, provel cheese, and Kansas City-style BBQ.
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 Missouri, please see below:
Hire Missouri Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Missouri, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Missouri, 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.
