NEWS EDITOR – ASHTON JEFFERS
ORIGINALLY PRINTED ON NOV 28, 2022
When someone thinks of filming spaces and locations, the star-studded Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre pop into mind because of how Hollywood and Los Angeles, California have drawn in filmmakers and content creators across the globe. One might wonder what draws filmmakers to regions like the Texas Hill Country, where one of the largest development projects is taking place. Hill Country Studios is one of the many developments within Texas focused on growing the film industry in this region. On Oct. 27, the San Antonio Business and Economics Society hosted a Luncheon at Club Giraud, presenting the economic impact of the filming industry in San Antonio and the Greater Regional Area. They invited representatives of Hill Country Studios and the San Antonio Film Commission to discuss the impact the film industry has in store for the future of San Antonio and the surrounding area.
Hill Country Studios is said to be developing in one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas, Hays County, and plans to create space for filming studios to produce movies, television series and documentaries. Using these filming locations, Hill Country Studios plans to create jobs for around 1,400 employees in film production. One of the central questions asked about the development of Hill Country Studios is why San Marcos? San Marcos is a city in Texas that has grown rapidly due to its location between two major cities: Austin and San Antonio. The presence of Texas State University acts as a town working to provide space for incoming university students, faculty and staff. With the topic of job creation, Hill Country Studios hopes to hire from the local San Marcos community and work with Texas State’s Film Studies Department to provide internships and other job opportunities for students. Hill Country Studios is also looking into contracting small businesses in the downtown San Marcos area to provide catering and food services to the studios, supporting those who have already established companies within San Marcos rather than outsourcing.
Hill Country Studios wants to ensure they support the city of San Marcos and establish themselves as a regional asset, encouraging people interested in the film industry to come from the surrounding areas such as San Antonio or even Austin. This way, individuals do not have to seek work in current major filming locations such as California or Atlanta, Georgia. They can choose to work with projects located where they currently reside. While Hill Country Studios may face some pushback, the company itself is Houston-based, dedicated to encouraging others to view Texas as an asset to the filming industry.
The San Antonio Film Commission was present at the luncheon: a group focused on promoting and assisting media production industries in San Antonio. The organization markets the greater San Antonio area, which includes eight counties, all the way up to Comal County, and works with various media projects, including photography, tourism, and filming opportunities in San Antonio. They also post casting and crew calls for upcoming projects filmed in San Antonio, connecting industry professionals with vendors to make filming successful and accessible. Kimberly LeBlanc, San Antonio Music and Film Commissioner stated, “We want to help open doors and provide streamlined and positive experiences for filmmakers working in the San Antonio area. When they need to utilize public locations, we can help bring all parties to the table and facilitate conversations to help them meet their needs.” The San Antonio Film Commission is working to engage filmmakers of all backgrounds in San Antonio with meaningful exchanges between the city and their media interests that make cultural and economic impacts. The University of Texas San Antonio also has created film and media studies programs that hope to work on projects with the San Antonio Film Commission.
San Antonio is seeking to be competitive with other filming destinations across the United States, like California, Georgia and Oklahoma. The diversity and cultural heritage of San Antonio and central Texas have made it a strong contender for filmmakers and filming locations in the United States while also creating opportunities for residents to be involved with film production and development.