Texas is doubling down on its bid to become a filmmaking powerhouse, one small town at a time.
Governor Greg Abbott has announced a Film Friendly Texas Workshop to be held in Odessa next fall, aimed at helping communities across the Lone Star State pursue job creation and economic growth through film industry certification. The workshop, scheduled for October 16, 2025, represents the state’s ongoing effort to position Texas as a premier destination for media production.
Building Texas’ Film Industry From the Ground Up
“Texas’ growing media production industry supports local jobs and creates revenue in communities across our great state,” Abbott said in a statement. “The Texas Film Commission works with our community partners to market their unique skills, attract new investments in media production, and create high-paying jobs for Texans.”
The Odessa workshop will run from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM at the Holiday Inn Odessa, with registration and refreshments beginning at 8:00 AM. It’s being cohosted by the Texas Film Commission and Discover Odessa, offering professional development and information sessions designed to guide communities through the certification process.
Why does a small-town certification program matter in an industry dominated by coastal production hubs? The initiative has already shown significant traction since its 2007 launch, with more than 200 communities across Texas earning the Film Friendly designation — each one positioning itself to capture a slice of the increasingly decentralized entertainment production landscape.
Who Should Attend
The workshop isn’t aimed at aspiring filmmakers or actors. Instead, it targets community leaders who will serve as designated film liaisons — specifically those employed by city or county governments, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, or local economic development corporations. These individuals would be responsible for facilitating media production inquiries in their communities.
One critical session, “How to Become a Film Friendly Texas Certified Community,” is actually a required step for communities seeking official certification, according to program guidelines.
The Texas Film Commission itself has been operating for more than five decades within the Governor’s Economic Development & Tourism Office. Beyond traditional film and television, the commission has expanded its scope to include animation, visual effects, video games, and extended reality production — reflecting the evolving nature of entertainment media.
“I invite all Texas communities to attend this workshop to leverage the advantages of being certified as a Film Friendly Texas Community,” Abbott emphasized in his announcement.
For a state that has often watched production companies choose other filming locations despite its diverse landscapes and infrastructure, the Film Friendly Texas program represents a strategic effort to change the narrative — and perhaps, eventually, to see more productions set in Texas actually filmed in Texas.
