Port Arthur is Film Friendly

Film Friendly Texas

The Texas Film Commission announces Port Arthur is a Film Friendly Texas community.
Port Arthur has stories to tell and places for filmmakers to set their own stories.

We’re proud of our Film Friendly Texas designation and crews to investigate our sites. We welcome film makers to create features, music videos, documentaries, training films, commercials and more.

“Port Arthur offers coastal views that help propel a story and hospitable people ready to assist crews,” Darragh Castillo, Destination Management Specialist, Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau, says. “The Museum of the Gulf Coast links us to a history of music and movie ties, and we’re ready to add to that legacy.  Bring on the features, shorts, music videos, documentaries, and more. After a day of filming, crew members will be able to enjoy our restaurants, hotels, and other highlights, including Sea Rim State Park. Every story starts somewhere, and we’d like it to be here.”

We’re Ready for Our Closeup!

We’ve got great backgrounds, from Sea Rim State Park to Pleasure Island. Historical, architectural and cultural spots in Port Arthur sure look good on screen.
Read up on some of our ties to film and talent. Then go to the bottom of this blog to get the guidelines for filming in Port Arthur.

Port Arthur Ties to Hollywood and Film

Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur honors area talents for film industry contributions.  Our musicians, including the great Janis Joplin, also have stories to tell. We can’t wait for creators to add to this list:

• Influential Hollywood animator and director Kelly Asbury of Beaumont directs “Shrek II.” At a point it earns a spot as the highest grossing animated film of all time.
• G.W. Baily of Port Arthur is known as Sgt. Luther Rizzo in “M*A*S*H,” Lt. Harris in “Police Academy” movies and TV’s “The Closer.”
• Writer and producer J.D. Feigelson is hailed for “Dark Night of the Scarecrow” (1981), “Chiller” (1985) and “The Twilight Zone.” (1985).   He credits KJAC-TV studios in Port Arthur as his starting point.
• Actor/director L.Q. Jones of Port Neches appears in classics such as “Casino,” “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid” and “The Wild Bunch.” As a director, Jones’ film  “A Boy and His Dog,” becomes the first science fiction film envisioning a dystopian and post-apocalyptic future.
• Janis Joplin, because… she’s from Port Arthur and people love making documentaries on her and her music.

Personalities, on Screen and Off

• Evelyn Keyes of Port Arthur earns kudos in several roles. I declare. She is Scarlett Ohara’s little sister in “Gone With the Wind.” Look for her ashes in the museum’s Notable People gallery.
• Port Arthuran Leanne Moore enjoys success as a Hollywood production accountant, production supervisor and producer.  Credits include “Back to the Future,” “The Mentalist” and “The Heidi Chronicles.”
• Have you seen Thelma “Tad” Tadlock in “Hit Parade?” This Port Arthur dancer and choreographer shows action in film, TV, commercials and Broadway.
• All-Pro NFL lineman Bubba Smith of Beaumont gets a second career. As  a movie “tough guy,” he lands roles in “Police Academy” “The Naked Truth” and “Gremlins 2.”

Fun Fact: Set in Texas

Film in Port Arthur, and set it anywhere. The Lone Star State has served as terrain from Morocco to Montana to Mars.

Production Support

Get your crew headed to Port Arthur. We’ll connect you to hotels, restaurants and some fun “off time” attractions to keep everyone creative.

Read about “Red Rocket,” a film made in our area, here. 

As for technical support and like-minded connections, try these:

• Lamar State College-Port Arthur Commercial Music, Visual and Performing Arts Department. The college offers associate degrees in Audiovisual and Sound Engineering. Students in these degree programs are preparing to be competitive in the professional industry market. The faculty are professional and experienced in the industry. LSCPA and the CMVPA Department have worked on many occasions with the City of Port Arthur on video and sound projects.
• Southeast Texas Film Alliance
• Beaumont Film Commission 
• Boomtown Film and Music Festival

Get to filming!

For a copy of City of Port Arthur’s film permit and guidelines, click here.

Read more about the Texas Film Commission and Texas film trails here.