Attracting media production producers to Hays County has more pros than cons

People are asking “Why are you trying to get people to register their properties and businesses as filming locations?”

The short answer is to attract media production producers to use San Marcos and Hays County as destinations for their video and filming projects.

Why do we want that? I think the better question is: Why would we not?

The film and television industry is like any business. They make products by utilizing materials, services, personnel and creative talent to produce a product that they can sell for a profit. Most businesses, unfortunately, have varying degrees of impact on their communities in which they exist. On the negative, there’s exploitation of surrounding natural recourses and creating waste and pollution. On the positive, there are great benefits including utilizing local businesses for recourses, materials and services as well as providing employment for citizens. These days communities are trying to find a balance between the downside and the benefits any industry potentially brings to a community.

Film and television production is unique in its almost total lack of negative impact on a community. Most of these “floating factories” come to a place, spend the money needed to produce their product, hire local labor and talent and when finished, leave with nary a physical footprint behind. This is a clean, nonpolluting business that rotates in and out of an area leaving only their money behind. What community would not like a deal like that? And as we attract more business to our area, local support services (catering, lodging, restaurants, retail) grow, adding workers and building their business. And new businesses will arise for the specialized needs of the film industry such as camera and equipment rentals, studio spaces, transportation services and scenery and set construction giving permanent employment for local residents.

And one of the first steps to realize these goals is to attract the attention of filmmakers from around the state and the country. That’s why we are challenging the people of San Marcos and Hays County to register their properties and businesses as filming locations. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow!

Email or call us now to help us get started realizing this goal for our community.

50 Locations in 50 Days Challenge for SMTX and Hays Co.

Email: 50loc50days@gmail.com

Call: 512-557-5837

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Polk is a 23 year veteran of the Hollywood Film and Television industry, a 37-year member of the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television, Radio and Film Artists (SAG-AFTRA). He is a 14 year Assistant Professor of Media Production at the University of Houston’s Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, a volunteer for the Texas Film Commission and proponent of the Texas Film Friendly program, and a supporter of the Texas Film and Television Industry. Polk graduated with an undergraduate degree from the Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas State (SWTSU) and a Master’s degree from Department of Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas.