Central Texas film industry continues to grow, production studios under construction
AUSTIN (KXAN) --- From San Marcos to Bastrop, production studios are in the works across Central Texas.
It comes at a time when the Golden Globe-nominated series, "1923," plans to use Austin as its base for production while filming throughout the state.
A spokesperson for California-based production company 101 Studios earlier this month confirmed to the Austin Business Journal that the Paramount Plus show would be shooting at ATX Film Studios.
The show is a prequel to “Yellowstone” and stars Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Brandon Sklenar and others.
"Austin has been growing as a film and creative industry Mecca."
Matthew Schmidt, City of Austin Economic Development Department
Economic impact
The City of Austin expects the production to contribute millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs to the area.
"$52 million of expected investment and economic impact into the Austin area," said City of Austin Economic Development Department Program Manager Matthew Schmidt.
Along with that, Schmidt said there will be about 200 jobs directly for the production and 152 indirect jobs.
"The production will require an estimated 100 direct hire jobs for the local crew and 100 direct
hire jobs for Austinite cast and extras," according to the city.
The economic impact is broken down as follows:
- $15,000,000 in salaries for direct jobs
- $15,006,107 in salaries for indirect jobs
- $21,855,534 in spending
"That's hotel stays, spending at restaurants and just leisure activities in the area," Schmidt said.
Incentives for the production company
Last month, Austin City Council approved up to $82,500 in incentives for the production company behind the project.
Those funds are part of the Austin Creative Content Incentive Program.
Schmidt said the program provides a small stipend, which actually goes towards the wages that they're paying the local residents in Austin as well
It offers the following incentives to qualifying film and television productions:
- 0.50% of wages paid to local residents (Austin Metro Area)
- 0.25% of the project is produced by Austin-based companies or promotes Austin
"They have to be a project that is awarded through the Texas Moving Image Incentive Program to initially be eligible for our programs," Schmidt said.
'Austin is a great destination for production'
Director of the Austin Film Commission Brian Gannon said the city's production capabilities are constantly growing.
"We have a crew base. So when you hire folks to work on your production, they know what they're doing," Gannon said.
On top of the local workforce, Gannon said the city's location positions it as a great place to film.
"You've got all the small towns in the communities around Austin that could play for a lot of different periods," Gannon said. "Austin itself, all the neighborhoods were developed at different times. So aesthetically, we've got a ton of different looks just right here within the city limits."
Gannon said for the past 50 years, Austin has been a destination for film and television production.
"We have volume stages in town. You know, we have 2,000 square foot studios, and we have 200,000 square foot studios," Gannon said. "So whatever comes in, we can kind of handle right here in Austin."
Production studios in the works
A major film studio project in Bastrop County is on track to open in late 2025, the studio CEO said.
Alton Butler, CEO and owner of Line 204, said the first studios could be ready before the end of 2024, but the full project is expected to finish in late 2025.
A second film studio development is planned in San Marcos. The $267 million project will have film and virtual production studios, according to the city in 2022.
"We're in an area where the industry is starting to look for places outside of the usual you know, your Los Angeles or New York. All the pieces are aligning for Texas. I think the industry is looking for the next big new market."
Jacob Cowan, Hill Country Studios Chief Marketing Officer