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Howdy,
Welcome to Central Texas, a major regional production center for the film, television, commercial and video game industries.
From iconic filmmakers such as Robert Rodriguez and Richard Linklater to legendary video game creators like Richard Garriott and Warren Spector, along with critically acclaimed television productions like "Friday Night Lights" and major ad agencies including GSD&M, Central Texas is home to our state capital of Austin and film-friendly historic small towns like Smithville. We cover the following counties: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Coleman, Concho, Coryell, Crane, Falls, Hays, Irion, Lampasas, Lee, Llano, Limestone, Mason, McCulloch, McLennan, Menard, Milam, Mills, Reagan, Robertson, San Saba, Schleicher, Tom Green, Travis, Upton and Williamson.
A year ago, in early 2009, Texas was ranked 42 out of 42 states offering production incentives, which essentially meant that we were offering a disincentive relative to the industry norm. That is, compared to what most other states were offering, we were penalizing productions on cost to come to Texas instead of going almost anywhere else - so they went elsewhere (even sometimes when they were making projects set in Texas).
But thanks to TXMPA's efforts, legislative leadership from our own State Representative Dawnna Dukes, and steadfast support from Governor Rick Perry and many others, we were able to get new and improved production incentives legislation passed that put us back in the game on a fair and level playing field. And while we may not have the most aggressive or generous tax incentive around, we do have what may be the most practical and sustainable one, as it is directly tied to investing in jobs for Texans - not handouts to Hollywood. Most importantly, our incentives are tied to our most precious resource: the experienced and skilled pool of resident talent we have here that other states have to import (at greater cost to those productions, and less economic impact to those states).
Personally, my main motivation to support TXMPA is very simple, and frankly very selfish: I just want folks like me to be able to do what they love, and to be able to do it here - not to have to leave our homes, families and friends behind for months at a time in order to find work. I don't think that's too much to ask, and I think it's achievable.
Looking ahead to the next legislative session in 2011, we have a lot of work to do. We need to protect the legislative gains we achieved last session, but also move the ball forward. Now that we have a competitive incentive program that's bringing production back to Texas, we can demonstrate performance to state leaders, and justify greater investment in our industries so we can create more jobs for Texans. Meanwhile, we also need to significantly bolster TXMPA itself, which is still all-volunteer, but needs full-time staff in order to more effectively fulfill its mission of statewide industry advocacy long-term.
So I'm asking for your support. Please join if you're not already a member, and renew if your membership has lapsed. And if you've benefitted from film, tv, commercial or video game production in Texas - either as an individual or a business, directly or indirectly - please also consider a donation or becoming a sponsor. (See the links up top under the big star.) And if you've already done this, please help us spread the word, and get others to support our cause.
I also invite you to join us at our Monthly Central Texas Meeting/Mixer the last Sunday of every month at The Highball in Austin (1142 S. Lamar), which features industry guest speakers and networking. (It's always free and open to the public, so bring your friends and colleagues.) Also be sure to join our Facebook group, and follow us on Twitter (see the links up top).
Many thanks and kindest regards,
Paul Alvarado-Dykstra
Central Texas Represenative
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
512-425-0985
@robogeek |
