Texas Incentives Draw More Productions as Lawmakers Mull a Big Increase: ‘We Want to Make Sure We’re the Ones Telling Our Stories’

2 weeks ago 1

When the largest state in the country with a production incentive program does anything, it’s supersized. Texas has been enticing productions to film within its borders for about a century and isn’t letting up on its commitment anytime soon.

Last year, the Texas legislature approved a statewide filming grant of $200 million, up from $45 million. This session, Senate Bill 22 proposes a $500 million program that automatically renews every two years, for 10 years total. Aside from the funding, another key benefit would mean long-term productions coming to Texas wouldn’t have to worry each year that their incentives might disappear with a flick of a pen. SB 22 is about security as much as funding. (The vote on SB 22 has not occurred as of deadline.)

Fred Poston, executive director of the Texas Media Production Alliance (TXMPA), says, “With a state that’s as proud as Texas is, we want to make sure we’re the ones telling our stories.”

The TXMPA advocates for the state: the Texas geography can stand in for a slew of other locations, there’s strong infrastructure and it boasts attractive incentives.

Austin film commissioner Brian Gannon, notes that the incentive program has been able to build onto Texas’ production history and help make film and television a state “cultural export.”

Though Hollywood has experienced a slowdown in local production, Gannon says Austin has been hopping. The second half of Taylor Sheridan’s “1923,” starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, just concluded its run and “it’s amazing to see everything,” says Gannon. “They shot so much here, and then watching the actual show, it’s great to see Austin play so many different places.”

Additional recent Austin-based productions include comedian Tom Segura’s new Netflix show “Bad Thoughts,” as well as Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson’s new project, “Brothers” for Apple TV+. 

Hit series “Yellowstone” used the Longhorn state in production.

McConaughey and Harrelson have also been hard at work trying to entice production to follow them to Texas, where they both own homes: they’ve shot a PSA and also spoke before the Texas legislature to help encourage voting approval of SB 22.

And, while the Sundance Film Festival has made recent news headlines for leaving its long-time home and making a future move to Colorado, Austin hosts multiple film festivals, including the famed South by Southwest, with no plans to change that. “The DNA is intermixed,” says Gannon of Austin’s multiple festival partnerships. He adds that it’s not just about media consumption, but also the great places to dine, sightsee and schmooze in as well. 

Gannon recalls a big barbecue dinner one year during the opening night of the Austin Film Festival and seeing Ron Howard. “There’s an intimacy that’s part of why productions love Austin: You can be a celebrity here and you’re just a normal person. You can have a life and not be hounded.”

While productions prefer incentives, the infrastructure is imperative. Martin C. Jones, head of Austin Film Studios, notes that their 20-acre property with seven soundstages and two office buildings are always being updated and improved for future productions. One new addition has been a massive bar set originally build for “Walker,” which ran for four seasons on the CW. Too impressive to tear down, the studio saved it for other productions to rent. 

Jones credits decisions by directors like Richard Linklater for helping shape production in the state. Linklater founded the Austin Film Society in 1985, a nonprofit dedicated to helping support filmmakers and their projects. The society operates a leading arthouse theater with programming nearly every day of the year that is curated by a dedicated full-time staff.  It operates as a satellite venue during South by Southwest as well. The organization opened Austin Film Studios in 2000.

“We have this enviable crew base because of the decisions [made by multiple directors] to put down roots and build this foundation upon which our Texas ecosystem has been anchored,” says Jones. “So now, the way we measure success is keeping people [in Austin], keeping them in their homes and not necessarily having to go away. During the filming of ‘Walker’ it was great to see some crew members who had flocked to Georgia … come back home to Texas.”

Jones notes that in their 25 years of operation, Austin Film Studios has hosted 1,100 productions, which have yielded 37,000 jobs and $2.77 billion in economic impact.

In business for almost 45 years, MPS Studios, which operates out of locations in both Dallas and Austin, has also experienced success with its varied production support. Executive vice president Meredith Stephens notes that they recorded an increase in production across film, television and commercials over the past year.

Dark comedy series “Bad Thoughts,” with Tom Segua, filmed in Texas. SHAUN NIX/NETFLIX

In addition to offering soundstage availability, MPS rents cameras, lenses, lighting equipment and more; they’re also the official Arri service and warranty repair center for a large section of the country. Not only can they get anything a production might need, but they’re experts at making sure anyone renting knows all of the benefits and capabilities of their borrowed equipment.

“Our film industry in Texas extends over 100 years,” says Stephens. “You have third- and fourth-generation film professionals that live and work in the state so you don’t have to fly in a ton of people to do even a really large production.”

MPS has a 35-person staff, many of whom are “highly skilled technicians that are manufacturer trained,” notes Stephens.

High demand in the area has led to additional purchases, so MPS has the latest and greatest technology on hand — and if it doesn’t, it will source it.

While the state hasn’t always been top of mind for Hollywood projects, that seems to be changing as producers and studios alike realize what the Longhorn state has to offer. 

And for film fans, the Texas Film Commission’s website’s Film Trails option offers fans a variety of sightseeing spots across the state. Grouped by category, paths follow popular film and television show locations. For instance, Thrills and Chills highlights the many versions and sequels of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” 2007’s “No Country for Old Men” and 2009’s “Friday the 13th.”

The Texas Classics category takes fans to spots from 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde,” the “Dallas” TV series and 1999’s cult classic “Office Space.” 

Before there can be Texas-inspired creativity, though, there has to be financing. And for that, there’s the incentive program.

“You get a lot of bank for your buck shooting in Texas,” says Jones.   

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