NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) – Actor Dennis Quaid and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discussed plans to make Texas a film production hub at a panel during the Lone Star Legislative Summit.
Quaid said Texas could become a film capital.
“We should be able to work right here and really grow an industry,” Quaid said.
Patrick said the effort started with Senate Bill 22, which brings incentives to film creators and producers by offering them more money. The bill allocates $300 million into a Texas moving industry incentive fund every two years until 2035.
“Texas will become the number one faith based, family film capital in the world because of these incentives,” Patrick said.
“People say ‘we don’t want Hollywood to come to Texas.’ We don’t want Hollywood to come to Texas, we don’t like their values, we like Texas values,”
Quaid said other states are taking advantage of changes in Hollywood.
“Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, they all had these film incentives. We used to do a lot of movies in Texas, I’ve worked here a lot. They lost all this business to these places that were incentivizing films,” Quaid said.
Patrick said the plan is already showing results. He cited the show “The Chosen,” which has its primary studio in Midlothian.
“This year in East Texas they will spend 70 million dollars, hire over 1,000 people, and most of that is all the crew — it’s only a few actors,” Patrick said.
Patrick said production companies will look to hire locals for crews, including college graduates from programs at UT and Stephen F. Austin, and will spend money and time in rural areas.
He said the state plans to offer additional incentives.
“A bonus if they shoot in rural Texas, a bonus if they hire veterans,” Patrick said. “And so you’re gonna see production everywhere.”
Patrick said there are already faith-based film creators committed to making their films in Texas.
Copyright 2026 KTRE. All rights reserved.
