As soon as Troy Holmes and his husband, Qadree, became Flossmoor residents almost two years ago, they saw the village’s potential as a picturesque setting for film, television and commercials.

“The tree lined streets, the architecture, the quaint little downtown … We immediately were attracted to the idea of getting productions down here,” Holmes said.

The Holmes’ film commercials themselves through their business Quiriosity Productions, which has offices in Chicago and Los Angeles.

“When we saw that you had to register your dog in Flossmoor but … there was no regulations for film, we were like, ‘oh OK, um, maybe we should reach out,'” Troy said.

They worked with the village manager’s office to draft an ordinance the Village Board passed last week. It aims to address residents’ complaints and ensure the community benefits as Flossmoor, a town of 9,700 people, draws more attention from production companies.

Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson said several projects have chosen Flossmoor as a filming location over the past two years. Without regulations in place at the village level, producers had no incentive to warn residents of filming taking place near their properties that could disrupt their daily activities.

In one recent case, Nelson said a film crew sought guidance on where to shoot an evening parking lot scene. They were directed to an empty lot south of Flossmoor Road but, unbeknownst to Nelson, flashed bright lights as part of the production that beamed into residents’ homes.

“We didn’t know enough about what they were doing in that lot and how late they would actually be there,” Nelson said. “If there was better communication around what was happening, I think that would have worked better for everybody.”

Nelson said many of her Flossmoor neighbors, such as Holmes, work in the film community and are supportive of the ordinance.

Marcellus Marsh, who runs Bionic Content, a production company that largely focuses on commercials, grew up in Flossmoor and returned in 2021.

“I just really saw how beautiful the community is and can appreciate it on a whole other level as an adult, as a photographer,” Marsh said.

He said he was excited to promote Flossmoor himself, and hopefully draw more attention to the village so bigger production companies pay attention to its value as a filming destination. Marsh filmed a stroke awareness commercial that received state funding last summer in a home near Braeburn and Brassie Avenues, which added to his excitement in the village’s potential for film and television.

“We stumbled upon this house that the owner was able to give us a really good rate on — and that’s another thing, the homes are affordable for production because they don’t get these opportunities,” Marsh said.

He also said he’s grateful that Nelson is proactive in seeing the value in filming and ensuring the ordinance passed was best for the community and producers.

“I think she’s been great at connecting the dots and seeing the value of letting our community be seen beyond our borders,” Marsh said.

The village ordinance requires producers to complete an application at least 14 business days ahead of the desired production date.

Application fees are $100 for public service announcements and nonprofits and $300 for commercial productions. Applications for student films can be filled out free of charge. The village may accept expedited requests, between five and 13 days ahead of filming, for an extra $500 fee.

Producers are expected to attain any required permits from other governmental jurisdictions and written permission from any affected residents or businesses. They must also provide proof of notifying area occupants, which means a block on either side of any potential street, right of way or parking closure, the ordinance states.

Building occupants within 300 feet of the place of filming have the right to object to filming by writing to the village manager within two days of receipt of the notice, the ordinance states.

It also requires producers to provide a certificate of insurance that also insures the village for $1 million general liability, bodily injury, property damage and automobile liability. Larger-scale commercial productions may be required to provide up to $5 million.

Nelson said the ordinance is likely not perfect, and said the board will make adjustments as needed. She said the regulations do not aim to prohibit filming from taking place in community, as she is excited for its potential to bring more attention to the town.

“We want to encourage folks to use Flossmoor, and we’d love to be promoted as a place to film,” Nelson said. “However, we also realize that residents have a concern and need for the ability to enjoy their homes and know what’s happening around them and not be disturbed. So it’s really just trying to balance those two goals.”

ostevens@chicagotribune.com