Actor Matthew McConaughey, who has previously hinted at a possible political run in Texas, has teamed up with fellow Texas film stars to advocate for increased film production incentives in the Lone Star State, a move that is dividing local Republicans.
Newsweek has reached out to Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office for comment via email on Thursday.
Why It Matters
Many states offer film production incentives, including tax credits and grants, to attract productions and boost local economies.
While California, which is home to Hollywood, provides competitive advantages, states such as Georgia, Louisiana, New York, Illinois and Massachusetts, among others, also offer strong incentives. Texas' incentives appear to be less competitive by comparison.
McConaughey, who has floated potential gubernatorial runs in the state but has not formally stated his political affiliation, is pushing a new campaign to lure more film and television projects away from Hollywood and into Texas, in an effort to revitalize the state's entertainment industry and ensure that Texas stories have "a Texas backdrop."
The move has divided Texas Republicans.
What To Know
In a video for his "True to Texas" campaign, McConaughey appears alongside fellow Texan actors Dennis Quaid, Woody Harrelson and Renée Zellweger, as well as Texas enthusiast Billy Bob Thornton, to discuss the potential benefits of establishing a Hollywood-style film industry in Texas.
Reflecting on the industry, McConaughey says, "I want to change the tune," adding that "this industry is like somebody's memory of an industry, and the memory is fading; I'm talking about a whole new hub for film and television, a renaissance, a rebirth."
Harrelson adds that a "small fraction of Texas budget surplus could turn this state into the new Hollywood."
McConaughey, Harrelson and Quaid all repeat various eligible Texas city names for filming, saying that it would bring thousands of jobs and benefit to "real Texas business owners and citizens." McConaughy says "every dollar spent in this incentive puts four dollars back in Texas."
Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) provides qualifying productions to "receive a cash grant based on a percentage of a project's eligible Texas expenditures, including eligible wages paid to Texas residents," noting that it can be up to 22.5 percent. Other incentives include, refunds on the state occupancy tax on hotel rooms occupied for more than 30 consecutive days, fuel tax refunds and sales tax exemptions.
Newsweek reached out to the TMIIIP program for comment via email on Thursday.
McConaughey ends the "True to Texas" campaign video by challenging Texas politicians, saying: "So what do you say Texas legislature, you don't like what Hollywood's been dishing, lets take over the kitchen, yeah."
The initiative has sparked division, with some Republicans praising the effort while others oppose it, arguing it could bring "woke" ideologies to the state, transforming it culturally into another Hollywood.
What People Are Saying
Texas State Representative Andy Hopper, a Republican, wrote in an X, formerly Twitter, post on Thursday: "The success or failure of this venture does not, and should not, depend on government forking over your hard earned money. Hard nope."
Republican Dade Phelan who serves in the Texas House of Representatives, posted in support of McConaughey's initiative, resharing the video on X with the caption: "Let's go. #txlege"
Brian Harrison, a Republican Texas State Representative, posted against the initiative on X on Thursday: "ANTI-DOGE ALERT: The Texas government is proposing to have your property taxes be $500 MILLION higher... so they can give it to liberal Hollywood! I will oppose the liberal 'Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive.' Texans are overtaxed, and Hollywood doesn't need your money!"
Sid Miller, a Republican and Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture, posted on X on Thursday: "Hollywood is dying. Productions can't get out of California fast enough. Texas will benefit without subsidizing the folks that brought us woke, anti-Christian bigotry, socialism, transgenderism, etc."
Josh Basham, who identifies as a President Donald Trump supporter, posted on X on Wednesday: "HELL YES! Film & TV In Texas! No More Hollywood!"
Brady Gray, Republican Parker County Chair, posted on X on Thursday: "I'm all for Texas based content and good stories. [Yellowstone creator] Taylor Sheridan has done a great job with it. But the txlege fawning over liberal democrats begging to bring the culture that helped destroy California to Texas is beyond idiotic. If McConaughey and co want to tell Texas stories, they can use the $millions they've amassed to do it, they don't need the hard earned tax dollars of everyday Texans."
Dallas Texas TV shared McConaughy's video in support on Wednesday with the caption: "This is gonna be good for Texas."
What Happens Next
The Texas Senate budget bill, which was filed earlier this month, includes "$498 million to revamp the Texas Film Incentive, making Texas the movie capital of the world."
It includes both grants for small films and commercials as well as "up to $450 million in new tax credits, including Texas residency requirements for workers."
The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in February, according to the Texas Legislature's online portal.
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