Is Texas a Good Place to Film Right Now? A Guide for Incoming Texas Producers
Short Answer, Yes!
Texas has had substantial increases in production in the past few years, and it’s just getting started. There are lots of factors, but the major reasons are diverse locations, financial incentives, crew depth, and quality gear availability.
Why Texas is Hot for Productions
The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) has $1.5 billion allocated to filmmakers producing in Texas through grant funding over the next 10 years. Many productions are receiving up to 31% in cash rebates based on total production costs—grants, not tax credits. Funds are currently being distributed at a rate of $300 million every two years, an increase from the previous $200 million allocation.
Why is this important? It provides long-term stability for the industry while significantly lowering costs for filmmakers, studios, and production companies.
What Locations Receive More Funding?
Getting the most out of your location matters, and understanding the advantages of each city is crucial.
Dallas Fort Worth area has supported more than 1000 projects in the past decade, with plans to support more in the future.
Austin has name-brand value and a variety of location types within an hour's drive.
Houston offers a port-style production environment and a city film commission.
San Antonio has recently increased local rebates to reach a staggering 45% when combined with the state rates.
It is also important to note that spending is not limited to these areas, although it is important to base it in an area with high industry traffic.
Requirements to Receive TMIIIP Funding
To successfully secure a cash grant from the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP), incoming Texas producers must plan their productions around specific thresholds and requirements. For film and TV projects, at least 35% of paid crew and 35% of paid cast (including extras) must be Texas residents. Commercial projects follow similar rules, requiring 35% of the combined cast and crew to be Texas residents.
A critical requirement is ensuring that at least 60% of total production is completed in Texas, along with meeting minimum in-state spending thresholds ($250,000 for long-form projects and $100,000 for commercials). This makes vendor selection a vital part of your incentive strategy.
By utilizing a local business like Shine Cine Camera Rental House in Fort Worth, a locally owned and operated company, you immediately contribute to your required in-state spend. Texas also helps productions meet incentive goals by offering an additional 2.5% boost for qualifying categories such as rural shoots or veteran hires. Partnering with a core local vendor simplifies logistics and supports your TMIIIP application from the heart of the DFW Metroplex.
What do Producers Need to Consider
With the benchmark of filming more than 60% of your production in Texas, planning is essential. Establishing your base or hub in the right city—such as Fort Worth or Austin—provides access to studios, production offices, experienced crew, and the infrastructure needed to support filming.
Sourcing crew locally and meeting the 35% Texas residency requirement satisfies TMIIIP thresholds and allows eligible labor costs to qualify for rebates.
The Advantages of Renting Local
The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) counts invoices from Texas-based vendors as essential eligible spending, making your equipment strategy particularly important. When bringing a production into the Dallas–Fort Worth area, every rental decision impacts your grant potential.
By choosing a local rental house like Shine Cine for cameras, lenses, lighting, and grip equipment, you keep more qualified spending in-state. This approach not only lowers shipping costs and reduces logistical risk but, most importantly, directs significant expenditures into your Qualified Texas Spend total.
When Texas Makes the Most Sense
Texas is an exceptionally strong and stable production location for projects seeking 5%–25% or more back on a meaningful in-state budget and that can commit to hiring at least one-third of cast and crew locally. The state offers a wide range of Texas-friendly locations, including urban, rural, western, suburban, and industrial environments, throughout the DFW Metroplex and beyond.
For producers looking for a stable, long-term incentive program rather than a short-lived experiment, Texas presents clear financial advantages. If this aligns with your project’s needs—whether for a season, feature, or commercial campaign—Texas is absolutely worth serious consideration. And if Fort Worth is on your shortlist, reaching out to Shine Cine early and locking in your local rental plan is one of the most straightforward ways to strengthen your TMIIIP application and keep more of your budget working directly on screen.