Missouri has award-winning museums and beautiful wooded trails Missouri has a lot to offer film production.
We have the Missouri River and an increasingly popular cycling path running across the state, the Katy Trail.
The famous Lake of the Ozarks with more than a thousand miles of lake shoreline has already been used in many productions.
Missouri has urban cities like St. Louis and Kansas City; historical cities like Independence, Hannibal, and St. Charles; and quaint small towns like Cape Girardeau and Weston.
There is so much pure natural beauty here that goes under the radar nationally.
Fun fact – Missouri is the ‘Cave State’ with more than 6,300 known caves. Monster movies and historical thrillers love caves!
Nearly all filming can be done without ‘permits to film’ throughout the state.
Permissions to film at locations are required and support is available to professional productions through the Missouri Film Office, KC Film Office or local CVB.
The costs of living are also substantially lower in Missouri than in other states, which could be attractive to production, if we had a tax incentive.
Missouri Film Office
Andrea Sporcic Klund, MO Film Commissioner
Missouri Film Office PRODUCTION GUIDE
(Find Crew and Services)
Missouri Film Office State LOCATIONS DATABASE
Kansas City Film Office
Steph Scupham, KC Film Commissioner
KC Film Office PRODUCTION GUIDE
(Find Crew & Services)
KC Film Office LOCATIONS DATABASE
(Find locations)
Missouri Valley SAG-Aftra
Maureen O’Brien, Executive Director
IATSE Local 493 Studio Mechanics of Missouri
Gordon Hayman, Business Manager
Missouri Film Office and MO Dept. of Labor
In 2016 the City Council and City of Kansas City, Missouri unanimously passed a local filming incentive named the KCMO Film Development Program.
Receive up to a 10% rebate on qualified expenses.
Qualifying rebates are awarded on a first come first serve basis until funds are no longer available for the year.
Eligibility to Apply
Before applying to the KCMO Film Development Program, consider whether your project is eligible.
The following types of productions do NOT qualify for the program:
Further eligibility information, program details and paperwork are found on the KC Film Office website here:
As motion media production return to our state, we wanted to provide a resource page to offer guidelines and information on best safety practices.
Productions that shoot on location will have different safety challenges from those shot in a studio environment. There are many hurdles to safety, and we hope that this page can educate anyone who needs information on how the industry as a whole is handling this new normal.
We must all work together, maintain safe distances while on set, wash hands frequently, wear masks, and follow guidelines to stop the spread of Covid-19. It’s up to each of us to be vigilant and to do our part.
Undoubtedly, there will be updates and additional information as we continue to navigate the long term effects of this pandemic. We will update this resource page as necessary. If you would like to suggest a website link to add to this page email us at info@filminmo.com.
Stay safe!
State of Missouri Health Department
Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Show Me Strong Reopening Plan
Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services – PPE
Kansas City Film Office – Detailed Suggested Guidelines can be found here. Along with links to KC Public Health Office, KC PPE resource, and Mayor’s office for re-opening and recommended safety guidelines.
City of St. Louis to Provide Free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Small Businesses – Eligible small businesses and sole proprietors must be located in the City and have no more than 10 on-site employees.
STL County Government Office COVID 19 Page
A Safe Way Forward – A Joint Report of the DGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and Teamsters’ Committees for COVID-19 Safety Guidelines (follow-up to the white paper below)
AICP (Assoc. of Independent Commercial Producers) Guidelines and Best Practices
Director’s Guild of America (DGA)
Make-up Artist and Hair Stylist Guild
SAG-AFTRA resources & COVID safety recommendations
Association of Film Commissioners International
United States Department of Labor: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Copyright © 2023 Missouri Motion Media Association - All Rights Reserved.
FILM IN MO - Missouri Motion Media Association
PO Box 1274
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1274
Film in Missouri is good for all of Missouri
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