3 days ago
Red state coming for Hollywood to offer billions to TV and filmmakers… if producers make religion look good
Texas has grand plans to take on Hollywood by offering generous tax rebates to film and TV makers - but only if they sprinkle their silver screen magic on the Lone Star State.
Texas has laid out a proposal to provide at least $1.5 billion over the next 10 years to lure producers to make their movies, shows, and even video games, in the state.
However, the money will only be made available if the projects show Texas in a positive light.
The proposal will help to 'export Texas faith and family values,' according to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who has made it a legislative priority.
The final decision on whether a project will get a grant will be made by a special film commissioner appointed directly by the governor.
Conservative lawmakers in the red state are unwilling to divert taxpayer dollars towards projects that could clash with religious values and cultural views on sex and profanity which they consider to be integral parts of Texas culture.
The plans have the backing of major stars such as Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, and Renée Zellweger.
It comes as Trump is trying to boost homegrown film production and has threatened to slap a tariff on productions made abroad.
California has also argued for further tax incentives to stop productions moving to cheaper filming areas in the US or overseas.
New Mexico, for example, offers a 30 percent tax rebate to productions made in the state.
This has meant hit film and TV series set in Texas - such as Taylor Sheridan's 2016 thriller Hell or High Water - end up actually being filmed in New Mexico.
'I haven't ever heard of this in another state, but wow,' The Maze Runner producer Ellen Goldsmith-Vein told Bloomberg.
'If it can bring consistency to the mix, where major broadcasters and studios and streamers can feel like "We can make an investment in Texas and it won't change every two years," then we can be more focused on setting up multiple productions in Texas,' producer Martin Jones, head of Austin Studios, told the publication.
McConaughey and Harrelson were so set on making their recent show Brothers in Texas that they each gave back 15 percent of their pay to cover the extra costs incurred over shooting in Georgia.
'Texas stories deserve a Texas backdrop,' McConaughey said in a promotional video supporting the plans.
The video sees the stars playing former characters discussing the economic and social benefits of incentivizing more productions to film in the state.
Despite the interest, some studies have found it may not be economically beneficial to spend taxpayer money on movie production.
An audit of film and TV subsidies in New York found that it 'is at best a breakeven proposition and more likely a net cost.'
A study of film incentives across America found no employment effect and only a temporary wage impact, according to a study by the University of South Carolina.
However, filmmakers still rely on such incentives to get projects over the line.
'The idea of shooting in a state or jurisdiction that does not have a rebate or incentive is close to a nonstarter,' Ben Everard, co-founder of Grey Matter Productions and Everard Entertainment, told Bloomberg.
