offers vast, open spaces and is beefing up its industry infrastructure to attract production not only across the state but in several pockets that have become hubs for all types of media production. From the central regions in and around Austin and Waco to the western panhandle near Amarillo, the Lone Star State is positioning itself for a production boom, aided by the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive program, recently passed by the state legislature.
“This allows you to tell stories from anywhere, from any time period, from places that exist to places that don’t exist,” says Nate Strayer, the founder and CEO of Stray Vista. He decided to set up shop in Dripping Springs not only for the reduced overhead compared to elsewhere, but also for the community of creatives and professionals making the Austin area their home.
The city of Waco has evolved into a major production and tourism nexus thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines, whose home renovation series “” spawned lifestyle brands as well as the Magnolia Network. The Magnolia Market at the Silos is a massive, two-block retail and food complex that draws an estimated 30,000 visitors a week, making it almost a theme park for the home renovation crowd.