Act Now to Get Involved with Texas
Film and Television Production Incentive Legislation!

AFTRA's involvement in Texas' legislative push intensifies as we prepare for a new legislative session in January 2007. A new organization, tentatively called the Texas Motion Picture Alliance, is forming to "speak with one voice" at the Texas Legislature in matters pertaining to production of films, commercials, industrials, animation, audio, and digital. The aim is to increase and expand incentives in Texas to keep Texans working. The TMPA is comprised of unions, support organizations, film commissions, and production companies. 
 
The new Texas Film Commissioner, Bob Hudgins (newly arrived from Illinois), is hosting a series of regional meetings to lay out the vision for the organization and to expedite its formation. The TMPA will have approximately 15 members elected from eight regions, but one of those seats is specifically set aside for a representative from the acting community. That does not preclude other actors from getting elected from their respective regions, but it does guarantee our voice will be heard on the board.
 
"Why performers?," Hudgins was recently asked. "Sheer numbers," he answered. "They represent a lot more people." Two other seats are guaranteed: a crew representative and a film commission representative.
 
Regional meetings are currently occurring around the state to inform the industry and to elect representatives to the board. The first meeting of TMPA is scheduled to take place in Austin: 
                                                                  
                                                                  June 16, 2006
                                                               1:00pm - 5:00pm
                                                            The Capitol Building
                                                              Capitol Auditorium
                                                               1100 San Jacinto
                                                                Austin, TX 78707

                           Contact your local Film Commissioner for information. 

Click here to visit the Texas Motion Picture Alliance website to locate contact information for your local Film Commission.
 
A package of incentives and an organized push can make Texas very competitive, very quickly.
Get involved. Your livelihood depends on it!