Texas-born Hollywood actors are banding together to promote the state’s thriving film industry.
Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, and Renée Zellweger recently appeared in an ad promoting the benefits of producing in Texas.
This “True to Texas” commercial was shot in Austin at Stray Vista Studios and directed by Nic Pizzolatto, an Emmy-nominated True Detective creator and award-winning producer who lives in the Capital City. In the 4-minute video, which is shot like a true film or television road trip scene, the actors advocate for greater film incentives to attract indigenous talent back to Texas.
READ MORE: Matthew McConaughey’s Brutal Bee Sting!
“Why should Texas movies be made anywhere but Texas?” Quaid stated in a caption regarding the trailer. “Filming in Texas isn’t just about showcasing our stunning landscapes—it’s about creating jobs, boosting local economies, and building a thriving industry right here at home.”
Infamous San Antonio murder case is presented on Netflix.
On Monday, February 4, 2019, Candie Dominguez, the last co-defendant in the murder of Jose Luis Menchaca, who was battered, dismembered, and his body parts burned on a barbecue grill, enters the courtroom for sentencing in the 379th State District Court, presided over by Judge Ron Rangel. Dominguez received a 30-year term as part of a plea agreement in exchange for testimony in the Daniel Lopez murder case.
This comes as new film studios have begun to emerge in Central Texas, and more movies, like Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, 1923, and Landman, have filmed in Texas in recent years. Last year, Sheridan and Quaid urged the Texas Legislature to increase funding for the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIP), as the state’s current film incentive agreement expires in 2025.
READ MORE: Matthew McConaughey’s Dad Knew Exactly How He Was Going To Die
Although Texas’ film incentives are the greatest in state history, totaling $200 million with a 22.5% tax rebate, they do not compare to competitor states such as Georgia and New Mexico, who have explicit incentives built into their statutes.
“Why should all these other states take advantage of this investment but not Texas?” Harrelson asked in the video. “Exactly. We should not have to shoot in Georgia, New Mexico, South Carolina, or Oklahoma.”We should just keep that money in Texas,” McConaughey, Quaid, and Harrelson responded.
McConaughey and Harrelson are also no strangers to advocating for films in Texas. This year’s video is a continuation of the 2023 campaign in which they starred among other Texas celebrities such as Glen Powell and Owen Wilson in support of bills that were eventually passed to grant tax breaks to state-produced film and television.
Each performer in the video underlined the economic and cultural benefits of filming in Texas, which ranged from job creation to support for local businesses. They went on to say that the state’s diverse terrain, which includes the Hill Country, coastal regions, and bustling cities, is ideal for any production.
Harrelson and McConaughey closed their campaign by urging the Texas Legislature to take the appropriate action.
“It’s time for Texas to become the home of telling stories that people want to see and hear,” the actor remarked. “Sounds like it’s time for Texas to roll cameras,” Harrelson said. “Yep. So, Texas Legislature, don’t you like what Hollywood has been dishing out? “Take over the kitchen.”
Radiant TV, offering to elevate your entertainment game! Movies, TV series, exclusive interviews, music, and more—download now on various devices, including iPhones, Androids, smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and more.
