Episode 206: Texas On Film
Texas as seen in film, past and present, starts a discussion on legislation providing incentives for film production in our state. How does Texas look on film? And what are the chances for the film industry's bills? (airing week of March 11th)
Panelists:
- Bob Hudgins, Director of the Texas Film Commission
- Mike Ward, Austin American-Statesman
- Harvey Kronberg, Quorum Report
Bob Hudgins joined the Texas Film Commission as director since December 2005. Previously, Hudgins was Deputy Director of the Illinois Film Office for eight years, where he developed and co-drafted the film production incentive program that increased Illinois’ production by 200% over its first year. Projects that he helped bring to Illinois include ROAD TO PERDITION, SPIDERMAN 2, BATMAN BEGINS and the Fox TV series PRISON BREAK. From 1985 to 1998, he was a freelance location manager on films including FIELD OF DREAMS, MICHAEL (filmed in central Texas), WAYNE’S WORLD, RUDY, and GROUNDHOG DAY. As the director of the Texas Film Commission, Bob is using his years of experience and his extensive network of industry contacts to increase film and television production in all parts of Texas. Over Bob’s first year in Texas, projects shot here included Season Two of PRISON BREAK, Season One of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, Paul Thomas Anderson’s THERE WILL BE BLOOD, and Kimberley Peirce’s STOP-LOSS.
Mike WardMike Ward is a journalism graduate of Oklahoma State University and has worked for newspapers in Georgia, Oklahoma and Florida, before coming to the Austin American-Statesman in 1989. At the Statesman, Ward, 52, has covered issues ranging from human services and legislative ethics to prison healthcare and environmental contamination at an East Austin gasoline tank farm. He is currently assigned to the State Desk, covering legislative affairs and criminal justice and writes special projects. He has served as president of three professional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists, served as SPJ's Texas Sunshine chair for five years and has been a member of SPJ's national ethics and FOI committees. He is also a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors and the Society of Criminal Justice Writers. Ward is the author of two books — “The Capitol of Texas: A Legend Is Reborn,” published in 1995 to chronicle the restoration of the Victorian statehouse, and Waterloo to Silicon Hills: The Stories of Austin, a 2003 book about Austin's history. Ward is married with two children.
Harvey Kronberg is the Editor of the Quorum Report, the Newsletter of Political Texas since 1989. Quorum Report is a non-partisan online publication covering state politics and government from an insider's perspective. The site can be found at www.quorumreport.com. Harvey is also a political analyst for News 8 Austin. In February 2005, Texas Monthly declared him one of the 25 most powerful individuals in Texas politics. Harvey is a graduate of the University of Texas with an honors degree in Plan II and History.
Research Links:
- “Governor wants more Hollywood to Texas,” by Mike Ward, Austin American-Statesman, January 30, 2007.
- “Coalition aims to lure film productions back to Texas,” by Jennifer Bordelon, News 8
- “Austin officials try to keep ‘Friday Night Lights’ show in Texas,”
- “Can Austin stop 'Friday Night' blitz?” by Diane Holloway, Austin American-Statesman, February 18, 2007.
- Financial incentives in Texas, Texas Film Commission website.
- Legislative agenda from the Texas Motion Picture Alliance, www.txpma.org, March 5, 2007.
- “In search of Melton Barker and the Kidnappers Foil,” by Dwight Swanson and Caroline Frick, www.meltonbarker.org.
- “TAMI’s favorite ‘Lost’ Texas filmmaker: Melton Barker,”
from the Texas Archive of the Moving Image website, www.texasarchive.org.
