DHS works with feature pictures, television—including documentary series, fictionalized series, non-scripted reality series, and mini-series—as well as video games, theatrical productions, and other non-news entertainment projects.
Our objective is to provide accurate information about the Department and its component agencies to entertainment industry professionals in an effort to better inform the American public about DHS’ mission, goals and areas of responsibility.
The Office of Multimedia, Motion Pictures and Television has several options for how we provide this information to writers, producers, development directors and others.
What we can provide:
Backgrounders and informational interviews: limited background calls and informational interviews with Subject Matter Experts, including field personnel, specific to the subject of the inquiry. This applies to both fiction and non-fiction. The idea of the backgrounder is to give the writer the correct information to create a treatment that is realistic and knowledge-based.
What we need from you:
- Simply send your inquiry to Multimedia@dhs.gov.
- With your inquiry, please include a brief description of your project, the areas where it relates to DHS, and the specific information you are requesting.
What we can provide:
Site visits and ridealongs: While writers and producers are developing the treatment to secure network distribution or are in the research phase of their project, at the discretion of the Director of Multimedia, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) can be enacted to allow site visits to DHS facilities, ridealongs with DHS field personnel, among other forms of assistance.
What we need from you:
- A signed Non-disclosure agreement (NDA) provided by the Director of Multimedia.
What we can provide:
Equipment, Personnel, Access to DHS Facilities, Access to official DHS visual identities (uniforms, logos, etc.): All of the fittings that can lend the production the look and feel of authenticity, including Subject Matter Experts to staff the shoot (where possible) as an additional resource.
What we need from you:
- The first step is to complete and submit a DHS Questionnaire to the Multimedia Office via E-mail. Once an acceptable distribution agreement between the production and a recognized distributor is reached, DHS will review the project.
- After reviewing the submitted information, a determination is made as to whether the Department is able to support the request for participation.
- If DHS agrees to participate, a DHS Multimedia Agreement will be signed by both parties.
Please review the DHS Instruction document, which explains the Department's policy for working with non-news and entertainment media inquiries.