North Dakota 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 North Dakota? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in North Dakota
For an introduction to shooting in North Dakota 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.
North Dakota Film Locations
One of America’s most rural states, North Dakota is an upper midwestern state famous for its Old West landscapes with Old Forts, Indian lands, vast northern plains, star-filled skies, lakes and forests, and the arid vistas of the Badlands.
The state has plenty of dairy farms, cattle ranches, and buffalo herds. Crops of interest include wheat, barley, corn and sunflowers. Oil, coal, uranium, and manganese are mined. Energy locations include coal-fired power plants, as well as wind energy and hydroelectric power.
North Dakota has hosted productions including American Honey (2016), Jesus Camp (2006), and Fargo (1996).
Bismarck is the state capital. Film locations of note include the state capitol building, North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, United Tribes Technical College, Former Governors’ Mansion, Camp Hancock State Historic Site, and the Belle Mehus Auditorium. Lewis and Clark Riverboats are available for film projects.
Fargo is the largest city. Film locations of note include the Fargo Air Museum, Plains Art Museum, Lindenwood Park, Northern Pacific Railway Depot, and Fargo Theatre. Bonanzaville has historical reconstructed buildings including a prairie church, general store, drug store, fire station, and a schoolhouse.
Fargo (1996) was partially shot in Fargo, Grafton, Bathgate, and Grand Forks.
Kenmare is a picturesque small town.
American Honey (2016) filmed partly in Williston.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is known for its badlands landscape, bison and feral horses. The park consists of the North Unit, the South Unit, and the Elkhorn Ranch Unit.
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is located in Medora.
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is a reconstruction of a fur trading post.
Fort Mandan is a reconstructed fort near Washburn.
Knife River National Historic Site protects the remains of three large Hidatsa villages.
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park has a reconstructed On-A-Slant Indian Village, Historic Fort Lincoln, and General Custer’s House.
National Buffalo Museum is located in Jamestown.
Fort Ransom State Park preserves two homesteader farms: the Bjone House and the Andrew Sunne farm.
Nekoma Safeguard Complex, an abandoned anti-ballistic missile system.
Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site is another Cold War era location available for filming.
Minot is home to the Dakota Territory Air Museum, and Scandinavian Heritage Park.
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world’s largest scrap metal sculptures.
Garrison Dam is one of the largest earthen dams in the world.
North Dakota Film Location Permits
There are no state-wide permits but depending on the location individual cities, counties, highways and parks may require location permits and proof of insurance. Filming on Indian Reservations requires the permission of tribal authorities. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
North Dakota has warm, pleasant summers with long daylight hours. Winters can be very cold. June to July are the best months to film wheat and barley fields. July to August are the best months to film corn and sunflower fields.
The United Tribes International PowWow takes place in September in the Lone Star Arena at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck.
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.
North Dakota Tax Incentives For Filming
No film tax incentives at present.
North Dakota Film Crew & Talent
Crew. North Dakota has a very small pool of local crew and equipment. Best to bring in key crew and equipment with you.
Contact us if you are looking for a Bismarck or Fargo 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 North Dakota.
Talent. The state’s population is predominately Caucasian. North Dakota is home to Native American tribes including Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Nation, Spirit Lake Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, and Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara Nation). Film characters associated with North Dakota include cowboys, hunters, fisherman, oil industry workers, and missileers.
North Dakota Film Equipment
Equipment. North Dakota has some standard grip, lighting and camera gear for hire.
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.
North Dakota Film-Friendly Accommodation
Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Bismarck, Fargo and other areas of North Dakota.
Final Notes
Safety. North Dakota is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Eat. Don’t leave without trying Juneberry Pie, Knoephla soup, Chippers, and Lefse.
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 North Dakota, please see below:
Hire North Dakota Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in North Dakota, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in North Dakota, 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.
