AUSTIN, Texas — A Paramount+ show plans to film in Austin this summer – and the production is expected to bring big bucks to the city's economy.
According to KVUE's media partners at the Austin American-Statesman, the city of Austin estimates production of season two of "1923" will pump more than $51 million into the local economy.
"1923" is a prequel of the popular Western drama "Yellowstone," starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. While season one was filmed in Montana, season two filming will take place across Texas. Austin will serve as the base of operations, with ATX Studios hosting the production offices and sound stage. Production is planned for July through September.
Besides a scenic backdrop, the production company behind "1923" could also get some benefits for filming in Austin. The city is considering an incentive for King Street Productions Inc. in exchange for the company hiring local workers. The city council is set to vote on the incentive Thursday.
According to city documents, King Street Productions is estimated to pay approximately $15 million in local wages. The incentive under consideration is for a 0.5% return on those local wages page, estimated to be approximately $75,000. The documents show the total payment amount wouldn't exceed $82,500.
How do these incentives work?
The Statesman reports the incentive the council will vote on is a result of the Creative Content Incentive Program, which was established 10 years ago. Since then, some productions have utilized the incentive program, including several seasons of The CW's "Walker" and the video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered."
To qualify for the program, a company must pay union wages or, if union wages aren't applicable, at least the city's minimum wage of $20.80.
Projects must also be approved by the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program, which also provides wage-based incentives for productions that hire Texans. Additionally, the city of Austin asks production companies to attend a session with the city's small and minority business resource team.
"In the end credits, we want to see a little credit to the city of Austin as well," Haileigh Meyers, a program manager for the the Economic Development Department, told the Statesman.
Film production in Central Texas
Central Texas is no stranger to film and television production. Numerous films have been shot in Austin and the surrounding area – from "Dazed & Confused" to "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" – and in recent years, Netflix has also filmed seasons of several reality shows in the Capital City, including "Queer Eye" and "Twentysomethings."
Back in March, KVUE spoke with Alton Butler, the owner and CEO of Line 204, a production rental company in Los Angeles. He hopes to bring big productions to Bastrop with 204 Texas, a 600-acre piece of property that will house eight studios.
"I absolutely, 100% see a Hollywood future in Austin,” Butler said.
And it isn't only Austin and Bastrop. Last November, plans moved forward to build an 800,000-square-foot film studio in San Marcos. Hill Country Studios is set to include 12 sound stages, four workshops and office space.
Meanwhile, back in 2022, Max shot parts of its series "Love and Death" in Williamson County.
