County Magazine

A few years back, Smithville native Adena Lewis noticed an influx of visitors to her Bastrop County town. Their destination: the house where Sandra Bullock filmed the 1998 drama “Hope Floats.”

“Sometimes, films just touch people’s hearts,” Lewis said. “I thought, this is kind of cool. This may be how we get other people to come see us.”

Lewis, now director of tourism and economic development for Bastrop County, ran with the idea. Smithville became the first community certified through the state’s Film Friendly Texas program in 2008. The rest of the county’s major towns followed.

The Texas Legislature named Bastrop County the Film Hospitality Capital of Texas in 2019. Large counties such as Dallas and Travis host the most productions receiving state incentive dollars, according to the Texas Film Commission. However, smaller counties can — and do — leverage their unique star quality to put money in residents’ pockets. According to experts, the work involved is worth the payoff.

Here are some tips on how to transform your county into the set of the next feature film.

Tip No. 1: Get certified

The Texas Film Commission’s Film Friendly Texas program trains communities to promote and support production activity, commission director Stephanie Whallon said. Communities must follow three steps to become certified: attend a workshop, pass local production guidelines that meet commission standards, and submit photos of potential filming locations. Counties are considered certified once all municipalities within them have completed the process, Whallon said. The commission markets certified communities as ready and eager to host productions and connects them with industry professionals.

Tip No. 2: Be a good host

Lewis stresses the importance of hospitality toward visiting productions. Also, try to keep the effects on daily life for residents to a minimum.

“The production process isn’t easy,” she said. “It’s a circus.”

Word of mouth is the No. 1 way to attract more productions, Lewis said. Pay just as much attention to the people hauling cables as you do to the stars, and treat every project with the same care regardless of budget or celebrity. Lewis remembers one shoot on the steps of a church where, thanks to the light, the camera could see through an actress’s skirt. A production rep asked Lewis where they could find an undergarment.

“I texted three of my friends and said, ‘Bring your slips to the Methodist church,’” she said.

Your county point person’s relationships are crucial, said Daisy Scheske Freeman. She’s the former Chamber of Commerce executive director in Gonzales County, where her connections have smoothed over several situations. For example, Freeman has vouched for location scouts; you can’t just walk up uninvited to someone’s land in rural Texas, she said.

Tip No. 3: Play to your strengths

Counties are encouraged to capitalize on the features that make them special. Gonzales County’s town squares are sometimes exactly what scouts want. Bastrop County’s proximity to Austin helps it attract productions needing to shoot country roads. The film commission’s locations database is a key marketing tool.

“They want the good, the bad, the ugly, the barn, the cows — you never know what the director is going to envision,” Freeman said.

The desolate beauty of Presidio County lends itself to the screen, said film producer Hillary Pierce, who got to know the area while filming the 2019 documentary “The River and the Wall.” She now lives part time in Marfa and still does location work there. Presidio County’s sweeping desert has appeared in Westerns for decades, from the 1950 film “High Lonesome” to the 2023 TV series “Lawmen: Bass Reeves.” “There Will Be Blood” and “No Country for Old Men” got Oscar nods for cinematography of the haunting landscape.

“You get a sense of grandeur and the great American West,” Pierce said.

Tip No. 4: Get ready for business

Productions often use local suppliers for things such as security, catering and lodging. Residents might find jobs on either side of the camera. Restaurants can see an influx of business. Gonzales antique stores sold props to the AMC series “The Son,” which filmed there in 2017, Freeman said.

To quantify economic impact, Whallon points to the HBO miniseries “Love & Death,” which filmed in several Central Texas counties during 2021 and 2022. According to the Texas Film Commission, the production hired more than 6,400 local residents for cast and extra parts and 800 for crew jobs, totaling about $32 million in wages. “Love & Death” also spent money with more than 900 Texas businesses, pumping $14 million into local economies.

Tip No. 5: Anticipate challenges

Experts urge clear communication between counties and productions about infrastructure limitations. In Bastrop County, TV shows “Fear the Walking Dead” and “Walker” needed much space for vehicles and trailers; the county coordinated parking lots. Gonzales County has worked on its Wi-Fi strength to meet production needs. Remote Presidio County’s restaurants aren’t always equipped to cater to hundreds of temporary visitors. When it comes to residents, communicate road closures early and often.

Tip No. 6: Promote tourism

Presidio County famously served as the backdrop for the 1956 epic “Giant.” Almost 70 years later, film tourists still come to see the Hotel Paisano, where James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor once stayed, and a “Giant” art installation on the outskirts of Marfa.

In addition to the “Hope Floats” house, Bastrop County is home to the gas station featured in 1974’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” It’s now a barbecue joint that trades on its place in cinematic history. Not every production is a tourism golden ticket. Even so, visibility is valuable. As Pierce puts it: “The more a place is seen on screen, the more interest can be drummed up.”

Learn more about about how to get involved with the Texas Film Commission and take a road trip along its many Texas Film Trails to see some of the most iconic spots featured in your favorite TV shows and films.