The Informed Drinker: In the Beginning, There Was Rum
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Weekend Music Preview: Woven Bones Tour Kick-Off [Beerland / Friday]
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Austin City Council yesterday voted unanimously to approve economic incentives for NBC's drama series, "Friday Night Lights," in order to keep the production based here.
An economic development grant of $40,000 would be offered to NBC Universal if the network commits to filming the second season in Austin; a subsequent $40,000 grant would be presented upon completion of filming.
"Austin is becoming the alternative to Hollywood as the kind of ground-zero for independent digital film making," said City Councilmember Brewster McCracken to the council yesterday. "Having the opportunity to have [Austin]-based filmmakers and community is a big deal."
Production of "Friday Night Lights" has an estimted financial impact on Austin's economy in the "tens of millions."
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I hope someone bitches about these kickbacks to NBC!
wah!
Nah, I love Friday Night Lights. I don't know if it's the melodrama or seeing GrEZ's on the screen.
Dear City Council,
You bunch of whores, please quit giving my money away so we can have a phantom movie industry in Austin. I honestly am speechless, yet I didn't think y'all would do any different. There is no difference between the Austin City Council and the GOP. We are probably in the millions already this year for subsidies, incentives, and corporate gifts. For the last time, I know how to spend my money way better than you, so quit doing it for me!!!
-Stew
Thanks for the news -- but didn't the show already move? An acquaintance of mine worked for the show to get extras and she told me the show was already gone to New Mexico. Would they move it back again?
they actually haven't moved to new mexico. they just wrapped for the season and it is unsure whether or not they will be back next season or move to another location. Some crew members are looking for other work, and others are planning as if it will get picked up to shoot in Austin. Very unclear now and probably needed something big like this proposal. Stew's comments are a bit confusing. They are looking to offer tens of thousands of dollars to try to keep something that brings MILLIONS of dollars to the area, not to mention proves to people that shows can survive with the crew and locations that Austin has. Austin's film industry needs incentives to keep it afloat. This isn't some future "one day we will need them" situation. Right now there are at least 3 multi-million dollar movies being shot in SHREVEPORT, only because of incentives, much more generous than what is happening for FNL. Nobody goes to Shreveport to shoot a movie because it is a great movie making town. Money, money, money. So this isn't a corporate gift. It's an attempt to keep a viable industry alive in Austin.
Stew-
There are not enough hours in the day to educate you about incentive packages--just know that Texas is the only state currently without a film incentive package and that we are losing millions of dollars to New Mexico and Lousiana. Maybe you should spend less time commenting and more time researching your perpetual conspiracy theories.
Tron,
I know this is somewhat off topic, but since you seem to know a lot about incentive packages can you please explain to me why the fee waivers for SXSW make sense for the city? Unlike show productions, which can take their business elsewhere, SXSW is already here and successful and not moving anywhere. Given this, how does the city come ahead paying for something (residual revenue from the event) that it already gets for free? Especially when a large portion of those give aways are police services from an already underfunded department.
Edward
'hmmm' is right about the importance of the film incentives package. Stew seems to think this money goes to pad the pockets of big Hollywood film and tv studio executives, but the fact is it directly effects the livelihood of thousands of creative film professions in Austin, from entry level production assistants to seasoned crew members and burgeoning independent filmmakers, by helping to keep a constant stream of productions in Texas. These productions bring in millions of dollars not only to film people but scores of local businesses that provide housing, transportation, materials for sets, etc. These incentives also have stipulations that guarantee a large percentage of cast and crew is local. The longer we take to pass incentives the larger the exodus is of talented film professionals to states like Louisiana and New Mexico. I'm so sick of hearing these so-called austinites whining and complaining about the 'phantom film industry' and the small traffic disruptions caused by productions. How are we suppose to grow as a cultural arts center if people are so resistant to any signs of progress in the local film industry?
and to Edward, it's only easy to consider 'residual revenue' from SXSW as something the city 'gets for free anyways' because the people at SXSW have busted their asses for years putting on an event that brings millions to the city every year. I think it's the very least we could do help support something that has helped elevate Austin's stature for the past 20 years.
LFP,
"it's the very least we could do"??!!! The producers of SXSW haven't been "busting their asses for years" in the name of charity. SXSW is a *for profit* event. Yes, they have worked hard and the event is successful and *makes money* for the producers. This *is* the reward for their hard work. More power to them. But, they didn't do this in a vacuum. The culture and natural beauty of Austin have contributed in no small part to making SXSW and its producers the success that they are. Again, SXSW in Dallas? I don't think so. If anything, SXSW should be thinking about giving something back to the city that has helped them become a successul business. How about starting by giving our $100,000 back. LFP, if you feel SXSW,Inc. deserves charity, you have the right to donate as much of *your* extra money to them as you like.
Edward,
I'm not fully informed on the exact numbers of SXSW's operating budget vs. how much money is generated for the city in taxes alone, so I'm not going to comment on the fee waiver issue.
I was wondering why I just saw a giant truck with "Dillon High School Band" and the Panthers logo on the side of it here in Shreveport. I tried looking online for information but couldn't find any. Did Friday Night Lights really leave Austin to come here? I can't even imagine where we would have a football field in Shreveport that would look good on film.