Old county jail becomes film set

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Travis County Commissioners have approved a deal that would allow the old county jail to support the local film industry.

Tuesday, commissioners approved a contract with the film company, Irregular Media, that will allow them to film an independent movie in the old jail on March 21.

"Apparently the word has spread that when film companies need a jail, there's one available in Travis County," said Travis County judge Sam Biscoe.

In the last few years, Biscoe recalls 6-8 film shoots in the old jail, which hasn't been used for housing inmates in more than 20 years. The county only charges a $100 fee for filmmakers to use the space.

"We don't get much opportunity to participate in the film industry here, and this is us doing our part," said Biscoe.

The old jail hasn't seen many improvements since the early 1960s. Its authenticity makes it an appealing film set.

"Its pretty exciting coming over here and seeing all these old cells and knowing that people were here, you know," said Albert Gomez, who has worked maintenance at the Travis County Courthouse for 15 years. Gomez gets the place ready when the filmmakers come to town.

"We saw Heather Locklear over here," said Gomez. "John Walsh was also here about last year. He came over here and took a tour of the whole jail."

The old Travis County jail is mostly used as a storage facility for the county. The sheriff's office occasionally uses it for a haunted house on Halloween. The county thought about renovating it and creating new office space, but the cost was too high and they are limited because of the building's historic designation.

The county requires all film crews shooting in the old jail to carry liability insurance.