The city of Mesa has become an increasingly popular spot for filmmakers and those looking to shoot commercials or documentaries, as well as those seeking education in the art of filmmaking.
In part, that’s thanks to more lenient requirements for filming.
According to Jessie Broderson, film commissioner for Mesa, a fee isn’t required if you don’t need a police barricade to film, meaning that commercials and smaller filming projects are cheaper to film in Mesa than in other states.
“If they’re not doing a film that requires barricading or off-duty officers, then there is no fee for them,” Broderson said. “And even those two requirements are not as expensive as they may be in other cities.”
If you do need a police barricade to film, or need to use a city-owned facility, that will require a permit, however. Although the permit application itself is free, it does require some form of insurance liability, which can run anywhere from $500,000 to upwards of $1 million or more. Broderson estimates that the city gets around 35 to 50 permit requests a year.
Permit or not, Mesa has found itself as a trendy spot for people looking to film, especially for advertisements or documentaries.
“We are very heavy on documentaries and commercials,” Broderson said. “There are several location managers who really love filming in Mesa because we make the process as easy as possible for them. They have great locations here.”
Filming in Mesa also helps boost the local economy. And with filming in Hollywood and other big states becoming more and more costly, Broderson thinks that economic stimulus will only increase more and more as time goes on.
That goes for the rest of the valley too.
“We see that LA is getting more and more expensive not just in the permit process but just all the things you need to do to put in a film,” Broderson said. “We have a good industry vibe in Mesa and the whole valley. That is something we can really capitalize on, with so many days of sunshine and so many diverse ways you can film, whether it be urban or desert landscapes.”
Location Manager Bryan Bukovec scouts areas around cities to find good homes, business and public spaces to film scenes for films or commercials. He said Mesa is a joy to film in.
“Mesa neighborhoods resemble everyday America with green grass to pristine desert landscapes and a variety of shopping and dining options that cover average to upscale,” Bukovec said. “The city of Mesa supports filmmakers of all budget sizes and is very helpful and knowledgeable.”
Bukovec said the city is very helpful and accommodating with getting people set up with permits to film and helping point them in the right direction if they need anything specialized. He complimented Broderson in her role as well.
“If you have a complex shoot or need specialized services the film commissioner works closely with you to put you on the right path and connects you with key departments to follow up with,” Bukovec said. “When I started filming in Mesa several years ago I got familiar with the filming requirements on the website and introduced myself to Jessie as she is very skilled and provides quick turnaround times.”
It’s not just current filmmakers who benefit from Mesa, though. Mesa is also a great spot for aspiring filmmakers thanks to ASU’s Sidney Poitier New American Film School.
Mesa Councilmember Jen Duff spoke highly of the school and said that it’s a shining example of Mesa’s commitment to the arts.
“These students are leveraging that talent into an economic activity for Mesa. We always had high regard for the film industry,” Duff said. “We highly regard all arts in Mesa, and it’s very important to us. It’s one of the reasons we chose to have a digital arts school in downtown Mesa, and we want to leverage that into economic activity.”
Duff said that although movies aren’t filmed very often in Mesa, the city can present itself as a central hub for aspiring filmmakers in the state.
“We don’t really promote ourselves as a destination for film,” Duff said. “But more as a place where people in the film industry have great educational opportunities.”
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