By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator
Dallas, TX – This is a difficult time for the arts community in Dallas, culminated yesterday by the announcement that the Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Film Commission is closing its doors. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Middays.
After 15 years, numerous commercials, dozens of TV movies and TV series, not to mention 12 high-profile feature films, the City of Dallas gave notice on Friday that they will no longer be contributing to the DFW Film Commission. More than 20 other member cities also contribute, but the $45,000 that Fort Worth voted to give the Commission has never been released.
Now, no doubt about it, Film Commissions all over the country are being hurt. But Texas has a real advantage. We're a right-to-work state. Where runaway costs are being blamed for many filmmakers going up to Canada or overseas, we could have a competitive edge. Austin is obviously aware of this. That city's Film Commission budget is $800,000. That's not for Texas, just Austin. The DFW budget would have totaled $275,0000.
Film commissioner Roger Burke and his small staff brought real business to Dallas. During his tenure since the agency opened in 1987, productions spent almost $900 million, up to 85% of that in Dallas.
The last film shot here spent $15 million in North Texas. That includes housing at six area hotels, salaries for local crew, props and set dressing, lumber, and local cast and extras. Can you imagine North Texas if all those people had to leave the area to find a city that supports their craft? Now is not the time to alienate this group. If North Texas is looking to attract new business, it can't do so without a diverse community. Maybe the city might come to their senses before its budget vote on September 30th. Without the commission, there is no chance for North Texas to benefit from another "Walker: Texas Ranger" or "Barney and Friends." For KERA Marketplace Middays, I'm Maxine Shapiro.
Marketplace Midday Reports air on KERA 90.1 Monday - Friday at 1:04 p.m. To contact Maxine Shapiro, please send emails to mshapiro@kera.org.