New group to lure moviemakers to Texas

When you hear that the movie version of Dallas is probably going to be filmed in Canada, you get the vague feeling that something might be wrong with Texas' movie industry. Apparently, other people think so, too: Texas film professionals are gearing up to lure more filming to the Lone Star state through a statewide movie alliance that would work not only to lure outside projects, but also to promote in-state moviemaking.

The Texas Motion Picture Alliance (a tentative name) would take up where the state Legislature has left off: In the last session, lawmakers approved a small incentive package for filmmakers, but that was forgotten when everyone started worrying about school finance. Texas was doing pretty well with movies in the '80s and '90s, with Terms of Endearment, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Armageddon and Robocop 2 filmed here, but in the last few years movies with a combined $500 million budget have checked out Texas, then decided to film elsewhere because the incentives here weren't good enough. Texas Film Commission Director Bob Hudgins, speaking in Houston recently, said he'd like to create a 15-member board of actors, movie crew, local film commissions and others to direct the state's movie effort.

Hudgins said Texas' professional crews and varied filming locations should make it a really attractive place for people to make movies, but the state has to give a little back to producers to make filming here practical. "We still have all the assets we once had ... we need to be able to parlay those assets into (more film production)," he said.

If you're interested in the proposed state commission (and need to pick something up at Waterloo), head to Austin on Friday for the group's formative meeting. It'll be held from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Capitol's underground extension auditorium, 1100 San Jacinto. (If you're wondering about all the movies that have been made in Texas, here's a list.)