What? You don't speak FNL?
Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton
In English that reads, "Friday Night Lights" has been renewed for two more seasons and they are coming back to Austin to shoot. For actors, crew, and local citizens alike, this is just plain cool. Hopefully it will also be a strong representation of things to come here in town. Now that the Texas film incentive bill passed and based upon it getting funds appropriated, it is predicted that many other production firms from Hollywood, New York, and even other countries, will be on the next Southwest flight into the city.
Maybe not quite so fast, but given the fact that the '80s and '90s have already earned the state a solid, "Third Coast" designation, even before the film incentive wars had begun, there is clearly a draw. On top of that, a number of top producers have already lined up their large budget productions for an Austin shoot spot. The question is, how many more will follow?
Well if you listen to one of Austin's iconic film directors, Robert Rodriguez, then you should expect to see a lot more lighting rigs, camera cranes, and massive RVs cruising Austin area streets before long. At Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios, Governor Rick Perry signed the film incentive bill into law in front a crowd of plenty of film industry individuals who are hopeful this will come to be. Addressing the jubilant crowd, the director went ahead and outright committed to producing a whole line of films right here including Machete, Nerveracker, Predators (a Predator reboot, I assume that means remake), Sin City 2 and of course, The Jetsons.
Austin director, Robert Rodriguez
Rodriguez also called out the fact that filmmakers and actors simply love to come to Austin to shoot. Not a bad perk to get paid lots and lots of money to escape from LA or NY to make a movie in Austin. Can you say "paid vacation"? Watch any of the SXSW film festival coverage on the Sundance Channel or IFC and you get to see our hip little backyard broadcast over global satellite. For this year's SXSW, the Independent Film Channel interviewed film festival directors and actors, and it was hard to miss the numerous comments on how they love coming to Austin to screen their films. Hey, now you can shoot here too. Do you think Starbucks can actually get away with charging more for a latte if there is a chance you will be standing in line next to someone who might be famous? Geez, I sure hope not.
Friday Night Lights: photo via NBC
Regardless, having a few more of the film business' best and brightest dropping some roots at one of those big dollar lofts sprouting up like mushrooms would certainly be a nice draw to the city. After all, love or hate the insane pace of development here in Austin lately, the buildings are up folks! There would be nothing worse than a prolonged period of having to peer through the lack of drapery on the hundreds of empty downtown habitations (see Austin's first real estate bust in the '80s). Heck, there may even be a run on our coveted lakefront properties too.
So, to local writers, polish up your scripts; directors, get out your clapper; actors, assemble your reel; first ADs, start warming up your vocal chords, because it looks like there may be some work coming your way. For out of town film production houses checking out our Austin digs; welcome! Enjoy yourself and don't leave a big footprint. Also, here is a little sample of Austin stuff that is all about film.
Austin in Film at Austin.com: Articles on the Austin film scene
Austin Film Society : Learn, watch and love film...Austin style
Austin Film Commission : Culmination of film usefulness
Austin locations: Article on the diversity of Austin locales
Texas for Film : Short list of film resources found in Austin
Austin Reels : You guessed it, actor reels
The Alliance Austin : Find your agent, acting coach or get cast
Reel Women : One of our great film groups. For women and men
Film festivals in Austin: Screening films from international favs to underground gems
Texas Motion Picture Alliance : Visit and join. You can thank them for their work on the incentive bills