What do MTV’s show Made, the movie Language of a Broken Heart and a Pier 1 Imports catalog all have in common? Each has used video footage or photographs that were shot in University Park.

The city of University Park has been used as a background setting for a variety of movies, shows and photo shoots throughout the years.

Steve Mace, the community information officer for University Park, said the city is very “picturesque” and is in a good location of Dallas, which makes it an attractive setting for photo shoots and film productions.

“We have beautiful houses and parks throughout the community,” Mace said. “There are trees that provide canopy, and we’re close to downtown.”

So far this year, University Park has been used as a location for one commercial film production, which was done by the Style Network, Mace said.

In 2011, nine permits were issued by University Park for commercial productions, among them the MTV show Made, an ABC-Disney production and a Halloween catalog.

In 2010, 11 permits were issued by University Park for productions, among them the TLC show “Four Weddings,” the Pier 1 Imports catalog and a Sam’s Club catalog for photo shoots, and the movie Language of a Broken Heart for footage in Goar Park.

The city of University Park has regulations for the commercial production of movies, television shows and photo shoots on public and private property to “provide a balance between the needs of the citizens of the city and the needs of the filming industry,” according to a city code.

Commercial films must have a permit from the city to be shot in University Park.

The cost of filming in University Park varies, depending a production’s size. For large productions, the permit costs $200, and filming fees cost $200 the first day and $50 for each additional day. Smaller productions cost $25 for the permit. There are additional fees for the rental of park property.

Permits are not intended to be revenue generator but instead help alert University Park officials of film activity that is going on in the city, so they can make sure that the productions are appropriate and residents are notified of projects that might affect them, Mace said.

The Town of Highland Park, on the other hand, does not charge for permits and has slightly different filming regulations than University Park.

Kathy Hannon, the secretary to the director at the Highland Park DPS, said photographers are not required to apply for a permit if they only use a camera and reflector boards. A permit is required if the photographer needs to use a generator during the shoot.

“The Town does not allow any commercial photography shoots for catalogs, etc.,” Hannon said.

Since 2009, there have only been two permits given in Highland Park for film productions. In 2011, the Town gave a permit to Matthew Broderson to film a music video titled Let Em Know at a private residence. Because the video was shot outside and had amplified music, a permit was required. In 2009 a permit was given to the television show The Deep End, which was carried in 2010 on ABC.

In addition to commercial productions shot in the Park Cities, the area is home to a variety of celebrities, as well.

Well-known University Park residents include Dallas Maverick’s head coach Rick Carlisle, SMU president R. Gerald Turner, PGA golfer Justin Leonard and Texas Rangers baseball player Michael Young, just to name a few, Mace said.

Janis Burklund, director of the Dallas Film Commission, said there has been an increase in the amount of television shows that have been filmed in Dallas the past several years.

“Recently, we’ve had a bigger push for television — both reality and scripted,” Burklund said.

The number of commercial film productions shot in Dallas has remained relatively consistent over the past six to seven years, she said. It’s hard to predict what the trend will be in the future, since there are a variety of factors that impact the decision on where a production gets filmed, including the economy and incentives provided by the state, she said.

According to the Texas Film Commission, the state of Texas offers a variety of incentives for qualifying productions, including up-front sales tax exemptions for a majority of items that are rented or purchased for the shoot, fuel tax refunds for off-road use of production equipment and refunds of the six-percent state occupancy tax for more than 30-consecutive days in a hotel room.

Organizations that Have Filmed in University Park Since 2009

• ABC-Disney
• Holmes Aquatic Center
• JC Penny
• MTV
• Neiman Marcus
• Sam's Club
• Terminix
• TLC