Texas Is Losing Out On Movie & TV Productions To Other States According To Yellowstone Creator

Texas has long been a popular destination for movie and television productions, thanks to its diverse landscapes, growing film infrastructure, and attractive financial incentives. From sprawling deserts to urban skylines, the Lone Star State provides the perfect backdrop for a wide range of genres, drawing filmmakers from Hollywood and beyond.

One of the major draws for productions in Texas is the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program, which offers financial rebates to filmmakers who choose to shoot in the state.

Productions that spend a certain amount of their budget in Texas can receive rebates ranging from 5% to 22.5%, making it an appealing option for both big-budget films and smaller independent projects.

But according to one of Hollywood's major players who is from Texas, the state has to do more because other states are handing out bigger incentives to move away from the Lone Star State.

Sheridan, alongside Houston-born actor Dennis Quaid and numerous film advocates, spoke before the Texas Senate Committee on Finance on Wednesday, October 9, calling for increased incentives to the TMIIP.

The current incentives are the largest in state history at $200 million with a 22.5% tax rebate, but those numbers still leave Texas vulnerable to competitor states like Georgia and New Mexico that have incentives baked into their laws. Plus, the current incentive agreement will expire in 2025, leaving the next Texas Legislature to determine if the TMIIP will get a second life or not.

During the meeting, Sheridan pointed out that shows like "Fear Of The Walking Dead" filmed its first 4 seasons in Texas but moved to another state due to state's rebate system still being unstable. Also, since TV series shoot longer, that means longer and more stable jobs for Texans who work in the film and TV industry.

The legislature did not decide on an official outcome from the meeting but they are working on legislation to bring forward. You can watch the meeting in its entirety HERE.