Film Industry in Austin (Dallas, Bastrop: movies, college, living)

[blewangel02]

I'm sure this question has been asked a number of times...but I'm gonna pretend I'm asking mine a different way. My boyfriend is 21 and still in college and I am 23 yr old professional. He is wants to pursue a career in the film industry, so we are considering a move from the D.C. area to either Austin or LA. Obviously we know LA is the place to be, but we already live in an overpriced, crowded city, so I am not particularly eager to move to LA. There isn't much that appeals to me about the city besides a general change of scenery.

So...Austin has been named a great place for movies, but even though plenty of movies are shot here, are there many studios in the city?? So are studios and production jobs prevalent in Austin or this place just a great deal for LA studios?

[DWong]

Originally Posted by blewangel02

I'm sure this question has been asked a number of times...but I'm gonna pretend I'm asking mine a different way. My boyfriend is 21 and still in college and I am 23 yr old professional. He is wants to pursue a career in the film industry, so we are considering a move from the D.C. area to either Austin or LA. Obviously we know LA is the place to be, but we already live in an overpriced, crowded city, so I am not particularly eager to move to LA. There isn't much that appeals to me about the city besides a general change of scenery.

So...Austin has been named a great place for movies, but even though plenty of movies are shot here, are there many studios in the city?? So are studios and production jobs prevalent in Austin or this place just a great deal for LA studios?

I have the same question! Last time i checked, every TV show, or movie was pretty much being filmed somewhere here in LA or NY... what's the deally w/ austin?

[gigi927]

www.villamuse.com
Friday Night Lights is the only TV show that is currently filmed here, but if/when Villa Muse comes to fruition, there could be a lot more business for actors.

[atlanta hope]

Sounds like Shreveport has taken over some Austin's film business -- and this article says something about Villa Muse not working out.

In less than 3 years, Shreveport has passed Austin as a film hotbed (http://www.austin360.com/movies/content/movies/stories/2008/05/0518shreveport.html - broken link)

[Sushi4321]

I think no city wanted to give Villa Muse all the financial incentives without having some say so. During the meeting with the Austin City Council the Villa Muse group were not even prepared to respond to the questions that they had been asked prior to the meeting. They wanted several expensive taxpayer investments (power grid, sewage treatment, etc.) with no taxpayer say so. The threat was that they would shop the project elsewhere - I know they went to Bastrop shopping the project.

As far as the Austin-Manor location, one thing that was never mentioned about the proposed site was that it was in a flood plain. I live across the creek from that location and anytime there is a hard rain it is under water.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by DWong

I have the same question! Last time i checked, every TV show, or movie was pretty much being filmed somewhere here in LA or NY... what's the deally w/ austin?

Wrong. There are MANY movies and tv programs filmed outside of California and NYC. Plenty have been filmed in Texas. One recent box office hit, "No Place For Old Men" was filmed in Texas. Austin and Dallas are both some rather top places for many films, movies, tv shows and commercials to be produced.

[DWong]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Wrong. There are MANY movies and tv programs filmed outside of California and NYC. Plenty have been filmed in Texas. One recent box office hit, "No Place For Old Men" was filmed in Texas. Austin and Dallas are both some rather top places for many films, movies, tv shows and commercials to be produced.

You know what I mean, of course movies like that and other's you're not going to recreate some places or cities. It's hard to recreate a scene in Austin, NOT being filmed in Austin. Turn on the TV now... how many of those things are being filmed in LA or NY... come on now... see for yo self.

There's website showing where all things are being filmed.. drive through LA in a day... it's rare you don't see something being filmed!

I've attended TV shows tapings... they are almost all done here.

[atxcio]

I don't think there are a large number of studios here, and Villa Muse may never be built... but there is a lot of filming going on. Maybe this link will help with the studios:

Austin Film Society

You might also want to look at Shreveport and Albuquerque. Austin and those two are the top rated areas around here..

Top 10 Movie Cities 2008 / MM’s eighth annual countdown of the best places to live, work and make movies | MovieMaker Magazine

Although, I've heard Shreveport has surpassed Austin on $$$ spent by the film industry. Not sure I'd want to live there, but if my business was film, I think I'd have to at least check it out.

[twange]

First off, a little more specifics would be helpful. For example, is you BF wanting to be a director? Screen-writer? Actor? Post-production? Film-composer? Film-crew? I think this would have a lot to do with whether or not Austin would be a good fit. If you're an independent director, composer, writer...it might be a great fit since you can make contacts here and elsewhere. But if you want to make a living as part of a film-crew/post-production etc...there might not be enough steady work due to lack of production studios...unless you somehow get hooked up with Robert Rodriguez and get a job working at his compound...

Seriously though, I think it depends on what he wants to do.


Here's another really informative link. Make sure to dig a little:

Texas Association of Film & Tape Professionals

[austifornian]

Originally Posted by blewangel02

I'm sure this question has been asked a number of times...but I'm gonna pretend I'm asking mine a different way. My boyfriend is 21 and still in college and I am 23 yr old professional. He is wants to pursue a career in the film industry, so we are considering a move from the D.C. area to either Austin or LA. Obviously we know LA is the place to be, but we already live in an overpriced, crowded city, so I am not particularly eager to move to LA. There isn't much that appeals to me about the city besides a general change of scenery.

So...Austin has been named a great place for movies, but even though plenty of movies are shot here, are there many studios in the city?? So are studios and production jobs prevalent in Austin or this place just a great deal for LA studios?

Austin is a great city for film. As far as production jobs go, it is a great staging area to start a career. There are lots of opportunities to work on student films, independent films, etc. here. Most of these opportunities are of the no pay/low pay variety but it is a great place to build your reputation and your resume. It is a lot more affordable to do this type of apprenticeship here than in LA as you can structure your life to be able to take these type of jobs a lot easier here than there.