St. Louis Is Film and Television’s Best-Kept Production Secret

Sundance premiere of Chasing Summer puts a spotlight on the state’s tax incentive, crew depth and locations that can play anywhere

ST. LOUIS: Many productions start with the same question: Where can we stretch the budget, keep logistics simple and still get the right look on screen?

More and more often, the answer is St. Louis.

Under the radar but fully production ready, St. Louis is emerging as a smart, efficient choice for film and television projects that need flexibility without friction. The region offers a competitive statewide incentive, experienced crew across departments and a location portfolio that can double for almost anywhere. Pair St. Louis’ central location with an after-hours experience that makes long shoots feel manageable, and productions come for the numbers but stay for the ease.

That story is now headed to one of the biggest stages in independent film. Chasing Summer will premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 26 at the historic Eccles Center in Park City, Utah. Written by and starring critically acclaimed actress, comedian and best-selling author Iliza Shlesinger, the romantic dramedy also stars Megan Mullally (“Will and Grace”), Garrett Wareing (“The Long Walk”), Lola Tung (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”), Tom Welling (“Smallville”), Aimee Garcia (“Dexter”), Cassidy Freeman (“The Righteous Gemstones”) and Jeff Perry (“Scandal”).

“Producers are making faster decisions with tighter margins,” said Kelley Hiatt, St. Louis Film Office manager. “St. Louis works because it removes obstacles. We can move quickly from script to scout to solutions, and we have the local crew and vendor strength to deliver.”

Why St. Louis Works Right Now

St. Louis has the key elements producers need, in one place. Productions in St. Louis can access a competitive incentive that rewards smart production choices. Missouri’s Motion Media Production Tax Incentive offers a base credit with opportunities to increase the percentage when projects meet specific criteria.

Locations that can play anywhere. Historic brick streets and industrial corridors, modern business districts, artsy neighborhoods, green spaces, riverfront views and small-town looks are all within easy reach, often with minimal company move.

Crew depth and a growing vendor ecosystem. Productions can staff up locally and tap a network of partners across camera, grip, lighting, art, wardrobe, transportation and more.

Central access that reduces travel pain. Cast and crew can get here easily, and the region’s geography makes it practical to build a contained footprint for longer shoots.

A genuinely good place to work. When the day wraps, St. Louis delivers real quality of life for visiting teams: great food, lively neighborhoods, sports, music and culture without the price tag or congestion of larger markets.

A Sundance-Bound Case Study: Chasing Summer

Chasing Summer is a recent example of how St. Louis is winning projects that might once have gone elsewhere. Producers initially explored filming in Oklahoma or Texas before discovering Missouri’s incentive and contacting the St. Louis Film Office.

After connecting with producer Houston King, the film office reviewed the script, scouted potential locations and shared photo packages to help the production visualize St. Louis on screen. King then visited for a boots-on-the-ground scout, spending two days touring locations and building a plan that aligned with the incentive framework.

St. Louis was awarded the film in spring 2025, and Chasing Summer filmed in summer 2025.

As part of the process, the film office also worked with King to support an approach that aligns with incentive criteria tied to positive Missouri impact while protecting the creative integrity of the film, increasing the tax incentive awarded to the production.

Local Impact You Can Measure

While in St. Louis, Chasing Summer established a full floor of production office space in Brentwood for three months and brought work to a wide range of local partners, demonstrating how production dollars flow beyond the set and into small businesses throughout the region. Examples include:

• Camera and grip: Bad Dog, Horizon, Momus LX
• Art and set: Image 360, Custom Paint, Baked by Ashly
• Wardrobe and costumes: Hanneke’s
• Storage and logistics: McGuire Moving Co.
• Catering: Alexander’s Foods
• Travel and accommodations support: Anew Travel, Le Méridien
• Locations and operations: St. Louis Skatium, Portable Water Closet, Terry’s Towing, The Maids of St. Charles

Chasing Summer contributed to more than $10 million in overall production spend in St. Louis in 2025. Throughout the year, the local film industry shot for some 1,400 days, employing more than 600 crew members and paying more than $1.3 million in local wages. Together, these investments underscore how productions like Chasing Summer deliver lasting economic impact – fueling local businesses, creating jobs and strengthening St. Louis’ creative economy well beyond the screen.

The St. Louis Film Office Is Built for Speed and Service

The St. Louis Film Office, a division of Explore St. Louis, supports film, television and commercial productions with location assistance, local connections and on-the-ground coordination designed to make filming in the region efficient and successful. For productions looking for an affordable, flexible and filmmaker-friendly home base, St. Louis is ready.