Turnkey Sound Stages and Production Facilities are Transforming Film Production Logistics with "Autopilot"

Your Production is Cleared for Immediate Takeoff

By Brett Hays, Line Producer, Flyover Film Studios

You know that feeling when you're home, and the thought of going out instantly becomes a chore? It involves traffic, finding parking, putting on actual pants, and the long list of logistical shenanigans that come with "leaving the house." As a line producer (who does wear pants and a blazer to work) every time a new project calls me, the first thought in my head is: How much time are we going to spend getting to the starting line?

A typical feature film production is an exhausting, months-long exercise in logistics, akin to trying to build a massive commercial jet on the tarmac, right before its maiden flight. You have to hire an entire army of crew members, source every single piece of gear, set up a functional office, and then, only then, can you even think about "Action!"

It's an enormous, often thankless, logistical grind that eats up budget and creative energy before the camera even rolls. Occasionally, projects fail to take off, leaving the crew abruptly stranded (on the runway) between jobs.

As a Line Producer who’s had to navigate the start-up phase for countless independent films and for studios like Disney, Netflix, and A24, I can tell you that the single biggest time and money sink is pre-production set-up.

The "Autopilot" service, a recent development at Flyover Film Studios, has completely changed my perspective, and we now have case studies from recent films to explore its impact. Built by filmmakers for filmmakers, Flyover's core mission is to improve the filmmaking process.

We Don't Start on the Ground—We Start in the Air

The core principle of Autopilot is that it bypasses the entire pre-flight checklist. The studio doesn’t just offer a rental space; they offer a fully integrated, turnkey operation.

Think of it this way: I don't have to spend a month hunting for a production office, another week sourcing tables and chairs, and countless hours on the phone for support facilities for all of the departments. The 100,000 sq ft of soundstages and lockups, the 3 fully furnished production offices, and the massive 100,000 sq ft of set dec, props and wardrobe are all pre-loaded, pre-vetted, and ready to go.

My time, and more importantly, the Director's time, is immediately focused on the creative vision, not on the logistics of getting a printer installed.

The Team is Already in the Cockpit

For me, the most invaluable part is the staffing and management structure. The Line Producer’s job is only as good as the team around them. When you sign on for Autopilot, you get an integrated, veteran crew from day one:

• Integrated Leadership: We have a leadership team, including my fellow PGA Producer Sarah Sharp and experienced Production Supervisor Iman Sharabash, already managing the process. You’re not hiring a freelance office and hoping they gel; you're leveraging a cohesive unit.

• The Office is Staffed: Our experienced POC (Kristi Gescheidler, with a decade of work for Warner Bros. and Sony) and dedicated Production Secretary are already in place. Forget the scramble to hire a new, green production office team.

• Seamless Community Support: The partnership with the Champaign County Film Office is a game-changer. They act as our complimentary concierge for location scouting, permitting, and local vendor connections. No more cold calls to city officials in a new town—it’s a direct line to streamlined operations.

• Casting: The "Autopilot" service streamlines background talent management via integrated in-house casting and payroll. Compass Casting and Bokeh Background, provide local casting, connecting your production to a vast regional talent database. Our extras platform is fully digital and modern, streamlining on-set management with efficient, eco-friendly processes. This includes integrated payroll, electronic onboarding, and digital vouchers.

The Financial Advantage is Front-Loaded

As a Line Producer, I am the ultimate steward of the budget. Autopilot's integrated financial services are revolutionary because they directly address the biggest challenge in independent and studio financing: cash flow.

Flyover’s extended team doesn’t just handle accounting—they actively monetize your Illinois tax credit during production. This pre-monetization offers critical, early funding. My accounting department is audit-ready from day one, managing the complex cost tracking and internal controls, so when it's time for the final audit and sale of the credit, the process is seamless and maximized.

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The Case Study: A Mid-sized Film Takes Flight

We recently put this model to the test on a mid-sized feature film. The production was initially slated for a 19-day shoot in Chicago. After running the numbers, the production made the strategic decision to relocate to Flyover Film Studios, utilizing our complete "Autopilot" service. The projected total savings were staggering—over $2.7 million of the GROSS budget. The enhanced 40% Illinois Tax Credit for downstate productions was a significant benefit for the project, delivering additional tax credits compared to Chicago.

This wasn't just a move for affordability; it was a move for efficiency. Once the cameras started rolling, the on-the-ground efficiencies were so significant that the team was able to cut an additional two days from the schedule, completing the work in just 15 days.

More Time on Camera, Less Time on the Road

Our model is built on one core principle: centralization. Productions in major cities are constantly battling traffic and logistical chaos. Commutes burn hours and budget just to get the crew and gear to a location.

For our mid-sized film, over 90% of filming locations were within a half-mile radius of our soundstages and production offices. The daily "commute" was reduced to a few minutes' walk or drive. This hyper-efficient footprint means the production day is dedicated to filming, not logistics.

The result was a direct, dramatic impact on the transportation budget. A stationary basecamp was the key to this, reducing the transportation budget by a half-million dollars. We saved on fuel, reduced the risk of equipment damage, and could plug into house power instead of costly gas generators.

Dramatically Lower Hard Costs

Choosing Flyover means trading the high costs and logistical hurdles of a major metropolitan area for a centralized, affordable production environment. The savings across accommodations and local logistics were immediate and tangible:

• Crew Lodging: We secured comfortable crew accommodations for as low as $50 to $75 per day, versus the typical $250+ in a major city.

• Cast Lodging: High-quality cast lodging was secured for $115 to $150 per day, compared to $400+ in Chicago. Local housing options are highly competitive with those found in urban centers. For instance, recent productions, which featured A-list actors and producers such as John Goodman, Bryan Cranston, Sean Astin, Wiz Khalifa, Omar Epps, and 50 Cent, were accommodated in housing that was private, spacious, luxurious and secure. Some facilities provided VIP services, including private entry, security, and white-glove treatment. One A-List talent gave glowing reviews of this service, stating it was among the best accommodations they had ever experienced for themselves and their entire team.

• Parking: The daily grind of paying $25-$80 in Chicago for parking disappeared, with costs reduced to $0 to $5 a day.

Streamlined Commute and Travel

• Commute: Compared to the long commutes often experienced in Chicago and other urban areas, Flyover offers exceptional accessibility. The offices boast an average commute to set of under 10 minutes. Furthermore, the closest city is typically only 20 minutes away in most directions. For projects requiring access to Chicago, the commute is less than 2 hours, with an Amtrak station conveniently located just one mile from the studio.

• Airports: Flyover offers a significant logistical advantage: the closest airport is just 25 minutes away, compared to a drive of over an hour in Chicago. A truly unique benefit is the private airstrip located at the Flyover production offices, allowing VIPs to land chartered flights directly at the studios whenever they want. With a private chartered plane available on the nearby airstrip, talent can conveniently depart almost immediately after filming wraps.

The Soundstage and Stationary Basecamp Advantage

Filming on location in a city incurs massive, unpredictable costs for site fees, security, and municipal oversight. By utilizing our soundstage, the film gained complete environmental control while drastically cutting location-based expenses:

• Location Fees: The cost for Locations and Stages plummeted from an estimated $800,000 in Chicago to just $250,000 in Rantoul—a half-million-dollar saving.

• Security & Police: The costs for security, police, and fire safety officers were a fraction of the Chicago estimate, representing a saving of over $135,000.

Most importantly, our stationary basecamp provided massive labor and logistics savings. In a major city, you move the entire fleet of production trucks every day. Flyover minimizes travel time. Your trucks and trailers can stay at basecamp because all locations are just moments away. Additionally, our fleet is sourced locally, meaning you won't need to arrange for vehicles to be transported from across the country. Labor costs were reduced by more than $200,000 by decreasing the size and hours of the driving team, and truck rental expenses were significantly lowered, saving over $100,000.

The Only Way to Fly

We are storytellers. We should be spending our time breaking down scenes, prepping with the director, and ensuring the creative team has the resources they need.

The Flyover "Autopilot" service allows us to do just that. It’s a production partner that has solved the hardest parts of the start-up phase. If you're looking for efficiency, financial maximization, and a production that is cleared for immediate takeoff, this is the only way to fly.