Rent a prison by the hour in Dallas, TX

Prison films have some pretty intense prop requirements. You'll need to do a lot of decorating if you're looking to create an authentic place for your mystery, documentary, or horror flick. Fortunately, there are a lot of places that come pre-decorated to match the requirements of your script. The first places you're likely thinking of are sets decorated to look like a prison or jail. But did you know that you can actually film inside of a real prison or jail? Depending on the venue of course; not all prisons are film-friendly.

Renting a prison set for filming in Dallas is possible but may be more time and paperwork than you're interested in. So why not book time at a prison set instead? Building your own set is also time-intensive. Not to mention all of the money involved in building the set from the ground up.
But Dallas filmmakers have some fantastic options. One of our favorite sets is at the Platinum Music Complex in North Richland Hills. Built into this former Richland Hills city hall is an authentic former jail that has been preserved for creative purposes. Everything from the interrogation rooms to solitary confinement cells exist in perfect working order.
The space is available by the hour or day, with a 4-hour minimum rental period. Organizing time at an actual prison may take weeks or months to arrange - but filming at a prison set can be arranged for the next day if there's space available!

Prison sets have the advantage of being very convenient and flexible, even serving as possible event spaces for Halloween parties and more. But an actual prison offers other advantages. Depending on how much space you have access to, a real prison offers many more potential sets to film within. If you're creating a documentary film about the prison or an inmate, there may be no good substitute for filming interviews anywhere else. Only the actual prison that your story is set in will do.
To work inside of a film-friendly prison, you'll first need to reach out to the PR department or management. They will have loads of questions for you about your budget, film, and company. So be sure you can answer them from the very beginning. You'll likely be barred from filming in some areas due to security or legal concerns. Don't forget that securing permission may take weeks or months, so plan accordingly.