Perry Working to Bring Films to Texas
By: RNS
Updated: March 4, 2009
Governor Rick Perry is reiterating his request that the Texas Legislature allocate $60 million to fund the Texas Film Incentive Program.
Perry says the money will help cultivate the state's entertainment industry to attract investment and create jobs for Texans.The entertainment industry brought in more than $1.2 billion to the state economy over the past ten years, but Perry says those numbers are declining.
Perry joined Sen. Bob Deuell and Rep. Dawnna Dukes today to discuss bills filed this session to strengthen the state's film incentive program. They want to create a sustainable program that attracts individual productions and develops the skills, infrastructure and culture that give Texas a long term competitive edge in the industry.
Perry also emphasized the need to ensure Texas graduates are prepared to enter the workforce as competitive animators, writers, actors and directors.
Texas has lost about 7,000 crew positions and $500 million in production spending to states with more competitive film incentives, with about 25 percent of Texas-based film professionals now working in New Mexico and Louisiana.
Related stories:
