From red carpets to rural ranches, the Texas film industry is not just telling stories on screen but driving a powerful economic engine that injected over $2.3 billion into the state's economy last year alone.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2023, the Texas film and television industry generated $2.36 billion in direct spending across the state
- The film sector supported 18,500 direct jobs in Texas in 2022, leading to $1.1 billion in wages
- Texas film productions spent $512 million on local goods and services in 2023, boosting multiplier effects to $1.2 billion total impact
- In 2023, Texas hosted 247 film and TV productions
- Total in-state spending by productions reached $1.89 billion for the year ending 2023
- 142 feature films were shot partially or fully in Texas in 2022
- The Texas film industry employed 28,400 full-time equivalent workers in 2023
- Below-the-line crew jobs totaled 15,200 in Texas productions FY2022
- Above-the-line positions (directors, writers) numbered 1,890 statewide in 2023
- The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program allocated $80 million in rebates for FY2023
- 28 projects qualified for Texas film incentives totaling $75.2 million in 2022
- Average rebate per qualifying project was 22.4% of spend in FY2023
- 'Friday Night Lights' sequel series shot with $4.1 million Texas rebate 2022
- Netflix's 'The Ranch' filmed seasons in Austin studios, spending $28 million locally
- HBO's 'The Righteous Gemstones' used Dallas facilities for 3 seasons
Texas film industry thrives, generating billions in economic impact statewide.
Economic Impact
- In fiscal year 2023, the Texas film and television industry generated $2.36 billion in direct spending across the state
- The film sector supported 18,500 direct jobs in Texas in 2022, leading to $1.1 billion in wages
- Texas film productions spent $512 million on local goods and services in 2023, boosting multiplier effects to $1.2 billion total impact
- The industry's output contributed 0.8% to Texas GDP in 2022, valued at $2.4 billion
- Film tourism from productions added $450 million to Texas economy in 2023 via visitor spending
- Local vendor contracts from film shoots totaled $320 million in FY2022, supporting 5,200 indirect jobs
- The sector's tax revenue generation reached $187 million for state coffers in 2023
- Film-related construction projects invested $89 million in Texas infrastructure in 2022
- Export of Texas-shot content generated $150 million in international licensing fees in 2023
- Hotel bookings from film crews contributed $112 million statewide in 2022
- Retail sales tax from film production purchases hit $45 million in FY2023
- The industry spurred $67 million in real estate development near soundstages in 2022
- Philanthropy from film workers donated $23 million to Texas charities in 2023
- Energy consumption by productions led to $34 million in utility bill payments locally in 2022
- Insurance premiums paid by Texas film projects totaled $28 million in FY2023
- Transportation services for film equipment generated $76 million in revenue in 2022
- Agricultural rentals for shoots contributed $19 million to rural economies in 2023
- Printing and signage for productions spent $12 million locally in 2022
- Legal services for film deals billed $41 million in Texas in FY2023
- Banking fees from production financing reached $15 million statewide in 2022
- Advertising spend by Texas films totaled $56 million on local media in 2023
- Event catering for wrap parties and premieres cost $8.7 million in 2022
- Medical services for crew health generated $4.2 million in billings in FY2023
- Telecom services for on-set communications billed $22 million in 2022
- Waste management from sets cost productions $9.1 million locally in 2023
- Security services for shoots contracted $31 million in FY2022
- Animal handling for animal actors paid $2.8 million to trainers in 2023
- Prop fabrication workshops earned $17 million from Texas films in 2022
- Costume rental businesses reported $14 million revenue from shoots in FY2023
- Location scouting fees totaled $6.5 million paid to Texas scouts in 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
While Hollywood might think everything's bigger in Texas as just a saying, these numbers prove the state's film industry is writing a multibillion-dollar economic blockbuster where every location scout, catered wrap party, and trained animal actor gets a starring role in supporting local jobs and filling state coffers.
Employment and Workforce
- The Texas film industry employed 28,400 full-time equivalent workers in 2023
- Below-the-line crew jobs totaled 15,200 in Texas productions FY2022
- Above-the-line positions (directors, writers) numbered 1,890 statewide in 2023
- Grip and electricians filled 4,500 jobs on Texas sets in 2022
- Production assistants employed reached 3,200 across Texas in FY2023
- Costume designers and wardrobe staff totaled 1,120 in 2022
- Set designers hired numbered 890 for Texas projects in 2023
- Camera operators and DPs worked 2,340 gigs in FY2022
- Sound mixers and boom ops filled 1,650 roles statewide 2023
- Editors employed in Texas post houses hit 1,450 in 2022
- VFX artists numbered 2,800 in Austin studios alone FY2023
- Stunt performers registered 780 active in Texas 2022
- Location managers totaled 420 working Texas shoots in 2023
- Casting directors handled 1,200 sessions in FY2022, employing locals
- Make-up and hair artists staffed 1,950 positions in 2023
- Props masters and buyers numbered 760 across projects 2022
- Transportation coordinators managed 890 fleets in FY2023
- Script supervisors logged 1,120 jobs in Texas 2022
- Animal wranglers employed 250 for film work in 2023
- Drone pilots certified for shoots numbered 340 in FY2022
- Interns and apprenticeships filled 2,500 slots statewide 2023
- Diversity hires reached 45% of crew in qualified projects 2022
- Union memberships grew to 12,400 in Texas film locals FY2023
- Freelance day rates averaged $450 for skilled crew in 2022
- Training programs graduated 1,800 new entrants in 2023
- Veteran hires in production roles hit 850 in FY2022
- Women comprised 38% of key creative roles in Texas 2023
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
While the Lone Star State's film sets may be helmed by a director and writer (1,890), they are utterly built, lit, costumed, and propelled by a formidable army of over 28,000 skilled crew—proving that in Texas, the real stars are the ones holding the gaff tape and driving the trucks.
Incentives and Rebates
- The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program allocated $80 million in rebates for FY2023
- 28 projects qualified for Texas film incentives totaling $75.2 million in 2022
- Average rebate per qualifying project was 22.4% of spend in FY2023
- Streaming platforms claimed 45% of Texas incentive funds in 2022
- Austin-based projects received $29 million in rebates FY2023
- Dallas productions secured $18.6 million under the program in 2022
- Houston incentives totaled $12.4 million for 9 projects in FY2023
- Indie films captured 15% of rebate pool at $11.9 million in 2022
- Texas rebate cap per project is $4 million, invoked by 3 shows in FY2023
- Local spend requirement of 60% met by all 32 qualifiers in 2022
- Post-production rebates issued $6.7 million in FY2023
- VFX-specific incentives disbursed $9.2 million to Texas firms 2022
- Music video incentives totaled $1.8 million for 22 clips in FY2023
- Relo packages for key personnel offered up to $7,500 per hire in 2022
- Workforce development grants awarded $2.4 million to training in FY2023
- Rural Texas projects received bonus 5% uplift on rebates in 2022
- Application processing time averaged 45 days for approvals FY2023
- Total in-state spend for rebate-eligible projects hit $336 million in 2022
- Network TV shows got 28% of incentives at $21.1 million FY2023
- First-time Texas projects claimed $8.9 million in rebates 2022
- Soundstage construction grants issued $15 million since 2020 program start
- Digital media incentives expanded to $10 million cap in FY2023
- Audit compliance rate for rebate claims was 98% in 2022
- Texas approved incentives for 'Yellowstone' spin-off spending $65 million
- Walker, Texas Ranger reboot received $3.2 million rebate in FY2023
Incentives and Rebates Interpretation
Texas is offering a star-studded, strategically calculated buffet of incentives where everyone from streaming giants to indie auteurs is getting a generous slice of the financial pie, all while keeping a remarkably clean audit trail and ensuring the money stays largely in-state.
Major Productions and Facilities
- 'Friday Night Lights' sequel series shot with $4.1 million Texas rebate 2022
- Netflix's 'The Ranch' filmed seasons in Austin studios, spending $28 million locally
- HBO's 'The Righteous Gemstones' used Dallas facilities for 3 seasons
- Austin Studios expanded to 30 acres with 9 soundstages operational since 2022
- Troublemaker Studios in Austin hosted 12 major VFX projects in 2023
- Fort Worth Studios features 5 stages and hosted '1883' Paramount series
- 'Dune' (2021) filmed desert scenes in Big Bend National Park, Texas
- 'There Will Be Blood' shot oil fields in Marfa, contributing $15 million spend
- 'No Country for Old Men' filmed extensively in West Texas 2007
- 'The Alamo' (2004) recreated battle on San Antonio sets costing $50 million
- 'Spy Kids' franchise built permanent sets at Troublemaker Studios
- 'Tree of Life' by Terrence Malick shot in Waco and Austin areas 2011
- 'Hell or High Water' filmed in Clovis and Fort Worth 2016
- New Reel FX Animation Studios in Dallas produced 'The Book of Life' sequel plans
- Bastrop Studios hosted 'Songbird' and expanded to 40,000 sq ft in 2022
- 'Preacher' AMC series ran 4 seasons from Albuquerque but used Texas VFX
- 'Walker' CW reboot films at Austin Studios with 150+ episodes planned
- 'Fear the Walking Dead' shot Texas border episodes in El Paso
- Sundance selects 14 Texas indies annually, like 'Mudbound' premiered 2017
- Austin Film Festival showcases 200+ Texas projects yearly since 1994
- Marfa Myths festival tied to film with 'Giant' legacy screenings
- Texas soundstage inventory grew 25% to 1.2 million sq ft by 2023
- 'Tulsa King' Paramount+ pilots scouted Dallas for Taylor Sheridan
- 'Landman' new Sheridan series greenlit for Fort Worth shoot 2024
Major Productions and Facilities Interpretation
From dusty 'No Country for Old Men' plains to glittering 'Dune' deserts and streaming's 'Friday Night Lights' fields, Texas has cleverly traded its iconic backdrops for a booming, billion-dollar film industry that knows the value of a good scene—and a solid tax rebate.
Production Statistics
- In 2023, Texas hosted 247 film and TV productions
- Total in-state spending by productions reached $1.89 billion for the year ending 2023
- 142 feature films were shot partially or fully in Texas in 2022
- Television series days of production totaled 1,256 in FY2023 across Texas
- Commercials accounted for 892 shooting days in Texas markets in 2022
- Documentaries filmed in Texas numbered 67 in 2023, with 340 total shooting days
- Music videos productions hit 156 in Texas in FY2022
- Soundstages utilized reached 2.1 million square feet in peak 2023 usage
- New media projects (streaming originals) totaled 89 in Texas 2022
- Austin hosted 78 narrative projects in 2023, including 12 features
- Dallas-Fort Worth saw 65 productions with $450 million spend in FY2023
- Houston area had 52 shoots averaging 18 days each in 2022
- San Antonio recorded 41 film days per project on average in 2023
- El Paso hosted 23 border-themed productions in FY2022
- West Texas ranches hosted 34 western genre shoots in 2023, totaling 210 days
- Animation pipelines in Texas processed 12 projects covering 450 minutes in 2022
- VFX shots completed in Texas studios numbered 1.2 million for 2023 films
- Post-production facilities handled 167 hours of footage in FY2023
- Aerial drone filming days reached 456 across Texas in 2022
- Underwater shoots in Texas pools and lakes totaled 28 projects in 2023
- Night exterior shoots logged 789 nights statewide in FY2022
- Car chase sequences filmed on Texas roads numbered 41 in 2023
- Crowd scenes with over 500 extras occurred in 23 productions in 2022
- Green screen stages booked for 1,034 days in Texas in FY2023
- Independent features shot entirely in Texas rose to 56 in 2023
- Streaming episodic content shot 312 episodes in Texas 2022
Production Statistics Interpretation
Texas is clearly taking its "everything is bigger" motto to heart, with a near $2 billion production spree that's turned the state into a sprawling, round-the-clock backlot where indie films, streaming juggernauts, and even underwater car chases are all clamoring for a piece of the action.
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