Lt. Governor Patrick Says Texas can be 'Film Capital of the World'

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R) is pushing to make Texas the world’s premier destination for film and television production, and some of Hollywood’s biggest Texas-born stars are backing the initiative. Dennis Quaid, Matthew McConaughey, and Woody Harrelson visited the Texas Capitol last week to support Lt. Governor Patrick’s vision, which seeks to expand film incentives and attract even more productions to Texas.

"We are not trying to make Texas the next Hollywood – we don’t like Hollywood," the lt. governor shared in a social media post announcing the initiative.

"We want to export Texas values."

The push to boost Texas’ film industry follows a 2023 meeting with filmmaker Taylor Sheridan, who has since moved nearly all of his productions to Texas. According to Lt. Governor Patrick, this shift has infused millions of dollars into small-town economies, with Fort Worth becoming a regular filming location.

"For every dollar invested in the incentives, Texas received $4 of new money into our economy," Lt. Governor Patrick noted, citing data from the Texas Film Commission. Beyond direct spending, additional revenue is generated through sales tax, hotel tax, and gas tax from production crews working in the state.

He emphasized that Texas' film incentives do not directly fund high-profile actors, producers, or directors. Instead, the incentives support behind-the-scenes workers, including set builders, equipment haulers, makeup artists, and electricians.

"On any given large shoot, hundreds of people are employed with minimum salaries that start near $50,000," he explained.

To further cement Texas’ place in the industry, Texas is also expanding film-related courses in colleges, ensuring that local students can train for careers in film and television.

Lt. Governor Patrick hosted an event for Senate and House members to hear directly from Quaid, McConaughey, and Harrelson about the industry’s impact.