Hays County makes film-friendly push

Hays County is a film-friendly place. The cities of San Marcos, Kyle, Buda and Dripping Springs have all been certified as Film-Friendly cities and many film productions like “Boyhood,” “The Getaway,” “Tree of Life,” “The Newton Boys,” “Piranha,” “Idiocracy” and more have used the county’s scenery as backdrop to their stories.

But now Hays County, in partnership with the San Marcos Cinema Club, is pushing to become even more film-friendly with a county-wide initiative that aims to beef up the Texas Film Commission website with dozens of new options for film production crews to shoot and serious potential to boost the local economy.

“By enticing the TV/film industry to Hays County, we not only get to show off the unique assets and geography that our corner of Texas has to offer, but we can also potentially boost our local economy significantly, with particular benefit for our arts and cultural organizations," San Marcos City Councilwoman Lisa Prewitt said.

The Hays County Commissioners Court voted on a proclamation sponsored by Precinct 2 County Commissioner Mark Jones and County Judge Ruben Becerra to support the county-wide "50 Locations in 50 Days campaign" on July 16. Photo by Laureen Chernow

The 50 Locations in 50 Days campaign aims to register 50 Hays County properties in 50 days, between July 13 and Sept. 2, on the Texas Film Commission’s website as potential locations for television and film production. The campaign will culminate with the Cinema Club’s annual filmmaking contest, the 72-Hour Film Race, held from Aug. 30 - Sept. 2.

A recent study commissioned by the Greater San Marcos Partnership uncovered that the total economic impact of motion picture production spending in Hays and Caldwell counties from 2008-2016 amounted to $26.7 million in indirect spending as well as contributed $360,975 in general tax revenue. Now local officials are wanting to capitalize on the film industry and the money that they bring to the local economy.

While film production spending inevitably benefits a host of local businesses, from lodging and catering to construction and lighting, all the funds spent to house cast and crew in San Marcos, also directly fund local arts and cultural organizations via the Hotel Occupancy Tax.

On July 16, the Hays County Commissioners Court passed a proclamation sponsored by Precinct 2 County Commissioner Mark Jones and County Judge Ruben Becerra to support the countywide "50 Locations in 50 Days campaign." The proclamation notes that by enticing these industries to the area “we seize the opportunity to boost our local economy while spotlighting the natural beauty and unique assets our region has to offer.”

Kyle City Councilwoman Daphne Tenorio is one of those people looking to spotlight a unique asset of the community, her family’s property, Tenorio’s Village.

Tenorio's Village served as a local grocer and dancehall until sometime in the 70s, when the Texas Department of Transportation moved the Interstate 35 exit a few miles south.

Guillermo Tenorio Sr., Councilwoman Tenorio’s late father-in-law, owned Tenorio’s Village, a cinder block building with a distinct Alamo shape along Interstate 35 that served as both a local grocery store and a dancehall.

“It used to be my father-in-law’s grocery store, and there’s a lot of stories here. My father-in-law has passed, but we still hear stories about things he would do in the community for people right in that little store,” Councilwoman Tenorio said.

Tenorio Sr. ran the store and dancehall until sometime in the 1970s, when the Texas Department of Transportation moved the interstate exit south of his store, effectively cutting off the stream of traffic, according to Councilwoman Tenorio.

Film crews shoot a scene on the Texas State University campus for Richard Linklater's 2016 film "Everybody Wants Some!!." Photo by Van Redin

After he closed the grocery store and dancehall, Tenorio Sr. rented the building out to different businesses. It currently houses Kyle’s The Little Hair Shop and a screenprinting business. But Councilwoman Tenorio said she sees more opportunity for the historic building as well as for the City of Kyle.

“If you look at it it’s kind of rustic and has a neat appeal to it and I think it would be a great opportunity to use as a backdrop. So I thought what a great way to promote Kyle by registering a piece of history,” Tenorio said. “And as a city councilwoman I see this as a huge economic boost for the city in that you will have production people that have to eat and production people who will have to sleep and be housed. And as a councilwoman, I see that as a great win-win for the city. I see it as an opportunity to boost sales for the local businesses as well as bring a name to the City of Kyle.”

Tenorio said she also sees this as a way to continue her father-in-law’s legacy by preserving his little piece of history in Kyle.

“He was an entrepreneur and this business was his livelihood and I’m just looking forward to being able to keep his livelihood alive, his name alive,” Tenorio said. "He did so much, not just for our family, but after his death we heard so many stories about him helping people… I just think this is an opportunity to keep his little part of Kyle alive.”

Councilwoman Tenorio isn’t the only local official jumping on the initiative. County Judge Ruben Becerra, San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson and Councilwoman Prewitt are all intending to register their properties during the campaign.

The Cinema Club is also offering assistance to property owners with their application — explaining the financial perks, taking photographs of the property and answering any questions. To get assistance in registering a property call 512-557-5837 or email 50loc50days@gmail.com.