Film & Television Production in Texas
Texas has a strong heritage of film and television production, and has maintained a reputation for being a great place to make any type of project. The more than 130 local production companies have created an artistic and hard-working community that attract filmmakers from all over the world. In 2007, Texas was the primary location for Director Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood, which went on to win the Academy Award® for Best Cinematography. No Country for Old Men, The Tree of Life, True Grit, Spy Kids 4, Bernie and the television series Dallas, Friday Night Lights and The Lying Game recently filmed in Texas.
The film industry in Texas began when the New York-based Star Film Company moved to San Antonio in 1910, producing more than 80 films annually. In 1927 the World War I movie Wings filmed in Texas and went on to win the first Academy Award® for best picture.
Since then, Texas has hosted an impressive list of critically acclaimed films and television programs, including Giant (1956); The Last Picture Show (1971); The Sugarland Express (1974); Dallas (1978-1991 and 2012 - present; Terms of Endearment (1983); Barney and Friends (1992-2010); Dazed and Confused (1993); Apollo 13 (1995); Office Space (1999); Spy Kids (2001); and Secondhand Lions (2003). Visit our filmography for a more comprehensive list of projects filmed in Texas.
Why Texas for Film & Television
Financial Incentives
The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program offers production incentives for qualifying feature film and television projects. Filmmakers are also eligible to receive sales tax exemptions on many of the goods and services used during production. Hotel stays of more than 30 consecutive days may be expempt from a portion of the occupancy tax. Please visit the Production Incentives Overview page for detailed information.
Qualified Crew
With a long history of production activity and several major-city production hubs, Texas has experienced and qualified crew bases throughout the state. On average, 80 percent of the crew for feature film and television projects made in Texas are hired locally. Visit the Production Directory for a list of these talented folks.
Great Locations
Texas is all about locations. With more than 268,000 square miles, the perfect location for your project is out there. Texas has a dramatic variety of terrain, from beaches along the Gulf of Mexico to the tail end of the Rocky Mountains. Texas also leads all other states in the number of farms and ranches with primary crops of cotton, corn, grains rice and wheat. Contact our in-house location scouts for assistance in finding your ideal location.
Support Services
Texas is your filmmaking one-stop-shop. From prop rentals to housing, Texas has the infrastructure in place to accommodate productions of every size. Our Production Directory also has information on production support companies available in Texas.
Climate
With mild winters, long stretches of clear skies and warm temperatures during the summer, our weather is another great reason to come to Texas. Our rainy seasons in the Spring and early Fall are brief and usually have minimal impact on production schedules.
