Frequently Asked Questions
What services does the MFO provide to the film industry?
We act as a central information source for on-location filmmakers and provide the following services:
Location Information. This includes location photography as well as information and assistance in finding and securing locations. A photo library containing over 100,000 images is available to provide photo presentations of Montana locations that are customized to meet your needs.
Production Assistance. Information and assistance regarding accommodations, equipment, transportation, crew members and local services are available on this web site, in the Montana Production Guide, and by calling our office at 800-553-4563 or 406-841-2876.
Film Production Incentive. Montana Film Office administers the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act, Montana’s film production incentive enacted in 2005. Montana offers a refundable tax credit to qualified production companies that film in Montana. Production companies earn a 14% refundable tax credit on the first $50,000 in wages paid to Montana crew members, and a 9% refundable tax credit based on qualified Montana expenditure by the production company. There is no minimum spend or cap, however there is a $500 administrative fee, and the production company must file a Montana income tax return in order to claim the credit. See below for a complete list of incentives for filmmakers.
Liaison. Information and assistance are offered with federal and state agencies, city and county offices and local businesses, as well as individual landowners and the general public.
Montana Production Guide. An all-encompassing reference for shooting a production in Montana, our production guide details the following information: production support services and local crews; statewide accommodations; contacts for federal, state and city/county agencies; weather data; transportation information; and major locations, towns and cities, along with photos of Montana locations. The production guide is updated on a regular basis.
Web site. This web site is a primary source to immediately help you find the right people and the right places. Updated on an ongoing basis, it provides much of the same information as the production guide, but with hundreds of photos of Montana locations.
Does the MFO charge for its services?
No. Services are provided at no charge to individuals or companies interested in filming in Montana. Our office, a state agency, is part of the Montana Office of Tourism, the state tourism office and a division of the Montana Department of Commerce.
Do you need a permit to film in Montana?
Montana has no state filming permit. You will need permission to film in national and state parks, national forests and public lands, and other regulated lands. In all cases, the Montana Film Office can act as your liaison with the appropriate agencies.
What incentives does Montana offer to filmmakers?
- 14% Tax rebate on hired Montana labor
- 9% Tax rebate on qualified expenditures (rentals, food, lodging, etc.)
- No minimum spend or cap
- No sales tax
- Free production office furniture and traffic control signage
- Vehicle licensing exemptions. Out-of-state vehicles used exclusively in film production are exempt from licensing requirements for 180 consecutive days.
- Migratory equipment tax exemption. Out-of-state equipment used exclusively in film production is exempt from property tax for 180 consecutive days.
- No accommodations tax if staying longer than 30 days.
Does the tax incentive apply to Commercial,
Documentary, TV, Short Film, or Print Ad production?
Yes!
Does Montana's tax credit apply to
pre-production expenses that occur in Montana?
Yes, as long as the production company applies for and becomes certified prior to principle photography starting, the pre-production expenses will be eligible.
Can the production company earn the tax credit on non-resident crew members
even if they are paying Montana income tax?
No, the production company can only earn the labor tax credit for hiring Montana resident crew members.
Does the production company have to be eligible
to conduct business in Montana?
Yes, this is a very standard procedure. Business's can register their business name with the Montana Secretary of State by calling the Business Services Division at 406-444-3665.
Does the production company have to file a
Montana Tax Return in order to receive the tax incentive?
Yes, Montana's film production incentive is in the form of a tax credit. An income tax return must be filed with the Montana Department of Revenue, if the credit is to be claimed. If the production company owes Montana tax, the credit will first be applied to the tax owed and any remainder will be refunded in the form of a check. If no Montana income tax is owed, a tax return must still be filed to claim the credit, but the full amount of the credit will be issued to the company in the form of a tax refund check.
Does Montana have available crew?
Montana has talented and qualified local crew that are experienced in working on productions. A list of Montana crew is available by clicking Crews and Services on this web site and is a section of the Montana Production Guide. If you'd like to see crew lists from recent projects filmed in Montana, just let us know.
Does Montana have a production hotline?
Yes. Click on News 4 Crews on this web site.
The web site's hotline will list any current projects that need
crew. Unfortunately, we can't always be as informative as
we would like since information can only be included on our hotline after a production company gives permission. Often
production companies are reluctant to release information about
their project during its early phase.
What are the requirements to get on the Montana crew list?
The Montana crew list is a list of experienced and qualified Montana crew members available to work on productions filmed in the state. While the Montana Film Office is not an employment or referral agency, production personnel often wish to hire qualified local crew members. In an effort to match the two groups, we make this list available on our online crew database, Reel-Crew. The Montana crew list is also a section of our printed directory, the Montana Production Guide. There is no fee to be listed.
Requirements to be listed on the Montana crew list:
- A Montana address and phone where you can be contacted. This could be your own residence or a relative who lives in Montana.
- Verifiable production experience. Crew member credits and experience must be verified by Montana Film Office to ensure accuracy of the information. The Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com is an acceptable method of verification, or crew members may be asked to submit call sheets, crew lists, or pay stubs to verify credits and experience.
- For more information contact the Montana Film Office at 406-841-2876, e-mail us at montanafilm@mt.gov, or click here to register for the online crew directory.
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Who receives or uses the Montana Crew List and how is it distributed?
The Montana crew list is mailed or faxed to production companies all over the world upon request. It is made available at the Montana Film Office booth at various film industry trade shows. It also appears on this web site. The Montana crew list is updated 2 times yearly (January and June) and is included as a section of the Montana Production Guide.
Can I get a copy of the Montana Production Guide?
The Montana Production Guide is an all-encompassing reference for shooting a production in Montana. This guide details the following information: production crews and services; statewide accommodations; contacts for federal, state, and city/county agencies; location information and photos; weather data; and transportation information.
The Montana Production Guide is mailed free of charge to inquiring
production companies that could import dollars into the state, however,
it can be purchased by anyone. The $30 cost to purchase the guide
covers the production and printing costs. Available at no charge
are two lists from the production guide: Montana Production Crews
and Production Support Services. Contact us at 406-841-2876 or montanafilm@mt.gov
to request either or both lists.
How can I get work in the film industry if I don't have experience?
The answer to this question is located in the News For Crews section of this site under Getting Hired. (Hit your back button to return to this page).
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How can I get work as an extra or
find out about casting calls?
The best way to learn about casting calls held in the state is to watch local newspapers and listen to TV and radio broadcasts. You can also check the hotline under News 4 Crews for production information.
To find out about working as an extra, click
here. (PDF)
How can I be sure I'm dealing with a reputable talent agency?
There are a number of talent agencies in Montana and many of them are listed on this web site and in the Montana Production Guide. They all have experience with productions. But since Montana does not have a licensing or regulating body for talent agencies, as a state agency, this office cannot recommend one over another. However, we can offer some practical suggestions for do's and don'ts. To find out more about working as an extra, click here. (PDF)
How do I let the industry know about
the goods or services my business provides?
Contact us at 406-841-2876 or montanafilm@mt.gov. A section of the Montana Production Guide is "Production Support Services" which includes lists of the most frequently requested goods and services used by the film industry. Production Support Services also appears on this web site under Crews & Support Services. Other less-requested lists of goods and services are kept on file in the Film Office and are faxed upon request. Space limitations don't allow us to print every list in the production guide or put it on the web site, but we do have a large library of auxiliary goods and services that we are continually updating.
