Source: Deadline
Texas is on the cusp of a sweeter deal for film and TV production, the latest state pushing to keep projects local.
The Texas House officially passed Senate Bill 22 Monday in a move that would boost cash available to $300 million every two years for the next decade starting with the September 1 fiscal year – so $1.5 billion total. That’s below an initial biennial $500 million the State Senate signed off on earlier this month but still a major upgrade in terms of dollars and stability.
Texas appropriations run on two-year cycles and so have its film incentives. About the highest they’ve ever been was $200 million for th current cycle two-year cycle. The one before that was just $40 million. The new incentive would run through 2035, giving productions a whole new level of visibility. It offers direct cash grants with percentages tiered based on spending up to 25% for $1.5 million of qualified in-state expenditures — up from 20% currently. That can reach 31% with various uplifts.
It’s been a priority bill for Lt. Governor Dan Patrick this session and he’s had some notable support from Texas natives Dennis Quaid, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson and Taylor Sheridan, leading to some high wattage testimony at the State House in Austin and during a major activation during SXSW to help push through the legislation. Glen Powell, Owen Wilson and more have shared their love for Texas filmmaking on social media and in a video called True To Texas – Let’s Bring Productions Home filmed partly at Stray Vista Studios in Dipping Springs west of Austin.
The bill, which passed the House by 112-26, now heads back to the Senate and ultimately to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott, a supporter, who has until June 1 to sign.
“The idea is that Texas doesn’t have to be the end all, just not lose productions that want to shoot here,” said Grant Wood, a co-founder with Chase Musslewhite of Media For Texas, a new group that’s been spearheading the push. Its site lists a dozen productions that are Texas stories but shot in states with better incentives were better.
“Georgia gives a billion dollars a year [in tax credits]. New York is at $700 million. We really need something that’s going to at least give us a seat at the table so that we can stop our Texas stories from going to New Mexico, Louisiana, Georgia. That’s our biggest issue. It’s not even attracting or competing to get all the production that we possibly can in Texas. It’s just to stop the Texas stories from leaving,” said Musslewhite.
“We are proud to have played a role in advancing this historic legislation, made possible by the leadership of Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Senator Joan Huffman, and Representative Todd Hunter. We extend our deepest gratitude to these champions, to the legislators who voted YES in both chambers, and to the passionate members of our creative community who have rallied behind this cause. We are also grateful for the support of Texas-born talent who understand the importance of telling Texas stories here at home,” the group said in a statement Monday.
“While the bill’s funding was adjusted from the original $500 million to $300 million, this remains a landmark investment in the future of media production across the state. There are a few final steps ahead, but today’s vote gives us strong confidence that SB22 will soon make its way to Governor Abbott’s desk for final approval.”
It called the passage a “victory belongs to every crew member, storyteller, entrepreneur, and advocate who believes in the power of Texas-made media.”
Some big names operate out of Texas from Richard Linklater-founded Austin Film Society and Austin Studios, Robert Rodriquez-based Troublemaker Studios and the ATX Studios complex, also both in Austin. Sheridan, whose latest shoot in Texas is Landman for Paramount+, is looking at partnering with businessman Ross Perot, Jr., who owns warehouses in the Alliance area of Fort Worth, to build sound stages there. The team behind juggernaut The Chosen has filmed at Capernaum Studios near Fort Worth and is now set at Camp Hoblitzelle in Midlothian.
“There’s about five major developments where the land has been bought, the plans have been made … They just sort of need this bill to pass to feel confident,” says Musslewhite.
The crew base is good but could certainly use expanding. She said her group is talking to the Georgia Film Academy – which has done an exceptional job in career development — to develop some sort of similar workshop in Texas “to speed things up and help people get their trade degree very quickly.”
There’s been a push to boost incentive across the country with New York boosting its package to $700 million a year and California working on a major upgrade to $750 million.
