Austin Bags Top Spot for Moviemaking

Austin was named No. 1 on the "Top Ten U.S. Cities to Live and Make Movies" by MovieMaker magazine.

"Austin is the prime example of a Texas city that has caught onto a deceptively simple tactic not always employed in many other cities or states or within the film industry in general: cooperation,"

says MovieMaker.

Austin has ranked among the top three cities on the list for seven consecutive years. One reason the state earned the top slot was because of its statewide incentive program that provides rebates for filming in Texas. Additionally, the magazine praised the Austin Film Commission's new "Now Playing: Cast and Crew Bonus Features" discount program, which gives film crews discounts at local businesses.

The magazine also said that the Lone Star State's geography, broad industry infrastructure and film-friendliness also made it a desirable film locale.

"Austin is back on top of the MovieMaker rankings - an award that is well deserved. We have long been considered a film friendly city, and the industry here has worked hard to get the word out," says Gary Bond of the Austin Film Commission. "

The support of city government and local professionals including the Austin Film Festival, Austin Film Society, Austin Studios and South by Southwest are crucial to our success as a film hub. Our golden reputation is furthered by the city's progressive culture, hip reputation and the fact that [Robert] Rodriguez and [Richard] Linklater, along with a few other notable celebrities, call Austin home."

In the past year, Austin has hosted the production of dozens of films and television shows, including "Grind House," "Teeth" and "Friday Night Lights."

Source: BizJournal