Friday, March 29, 2024

Going Hollywood

Posted

The film industry can bring big bucks to town, and Granbury city officials want to get in on the action.

As part of that process, the City Council has adopted an ordinance establishing guidelines for commercial filming within the city.

The adoption of the code just happened to coincide with a film crew coming to town to film an episode of a CNBC program.

The upper floor of the historic red brick building at Pearl and Houston streets on the square was chosen for a two-guest-suite remodel project to be featured on an episode of “Cash Pad.”

The building is owned by Scott and Viki Young. Their “Red On The Square” high-end boutique is on the ground floor.

On “Cash Pad,” properties are remodeled so that their owners can earn life-changing extra incomes through short-term rentals.

The film crew shot footage around Granbury, including stars JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers taking a ghost tour of the old county jail off the square and a historic home.

City Manager Chris Coffman indicated that such exposure is great for the city’s tourism industry.

“We need more of this,” he said. “This is tourism dollars.”

The move to create enforceable filming guidelines began after city staffers attended a Texas Film Commission workshop on how municipalities can become certified as “film friendly” cities.

Coffman said that City Attorney Jeremy SoRelle and Public Information Officer Bethany Warner began working on a proposed ordinance to present to the City Council last fall.

The council adopted those guidelines at its regular meeting last week. Council members also amended a related fee schedule pertaining to various city services, licenses and permits.

The ordinance prevents film crews from impeding traffic on any public roads, creating fire hazards or otherwise inconveniencing or infringing on the rights of Granbury residents.

The code gives the city manager the authority to allow public buildings, parks, streets, or right-of-ways to be used in filming.

Under the guidelines, prior notification of filming will be given to any nearby owner, tenant or resident.

The ordinance also requires applicants to pay all costs associated with any needed involvement of police officers, firefighters or city personnel.

The adoption of the guidelines was the second step of the “film friendly” certification process, according to the city.

The third and final step will be to submit photos of area locations for the Texas Film Commission’s filming locations database.

More information about the Film Friendly program can be found at www.gov.texas.gov/film/page/fftx_overview.

More information about the economic impact of the film industry in Texas is available at www.gov.texas.gov/film/page/impact.

kcruz@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 258