If your show is union, your aerial unit has to be too. That is not a preference, it is a condition of hiring.
Texas runs a mix of union and non-union production, so the honest answer in Austin is that it depends on the show. We can crew either, and the useful thing for a producer here is not having to find two vendors to cover both cases.
CineDrones supplies Local 600 crews for union productions and non-union crews where the show allows it. We know how the aerial unit fits into the camera department on a union call sheet, how the day is accounted for, and what production accounting needs from us. It is the least glamorous part of the job and the part that most often decides whether a vendor gets hired twice.
Austin's crew base has deepened considerably but is still smaller than the coastal markets, which means booking further out and bringing your own redundancy. It also means the crews here tend to be generalists in the best sense.
Austin has grown from a festival town into a working production market, with Austin Studios anchoring a crew base that has deepened considerably. Texas incentives keep pulling features and series in, and aerial demand has followed.
We shoot downtown, the river, the Hill Country, and the Texas landscape — and we travel. CineDrones works nationwide, so if your production is basing in Austin and shooting somewhere else entirely, that is a normal week for us.
LOCAL 600 DRONE OPERATORS — OTHER MARKETS: Albuquerque Atlanta Chicago Las Vegas Los Angeles Miami New Orleans New York Salt Lake City
Get ready to elevate your production to new heights with CineDrones! Operating in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Albuquerque, Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Salt Lake City, and New Orleans, we bring the power of cutting-edge drone technology to every project. Whether you're capturing breathtaking aerial footage, thrilling FPV shots, or immersive drone-based virtual reality, our expert teams of FAA-certified pilots, aerial camera pros, and drone techs have you covered. From inspections to mapping, even drone deliveries—CineDrones does it all. Fully compliant with Part 107 regulations and protected by a $5M aviation liability policy, we guarantee precision, safety, and creativity. Plus, with Local 600 union and non-union crews available, we’re ready to deliver jaw-dropping results wherever you need them!