Paramount+
Tarrant County is one of the backdrops to Taylor Sheridan's "Lawmen: Bass Reeves."
The film industry has pumped $655 million into the city's economy over the past eight years, according to a report presented to the City Council on Tuesday.
The economic boost has also resulted in the creation of more than 20,000 jobs, Jessica Christopherson, a member of the Fort Worth Film Commission.
Jessica Christopherson
“Fort Worth has become known as a city that makes things happen for film projects,” Christopherson said. “Film is a very collaborative business and we like to bring the Fort Worth community together as much as possible.”
Tarrant County ranks fourth among the Top 20 counties ranked by the number of projects, according to the Texas Film Commission.
Moreover, in 2023, Fort Worth was named the most film-friendly and proactive city in Texas by global film industry consultant Olsberg SPI.
This surge in film business began in 2015 with the launch of the Fort Worth Film Commission, which is designed to support film production here, as well as look for ways to create opportunities and build relationships. For example, the commission has partnered with Tarrant County College and 101 Studios on a certification program designed to grow the local workforce to become crewmembers on local productions. In addition the jobs come with transferrable skills, advocates say.
Christopherson noted that a wide range of businesses benefit citywide from productions here, including construction, catering, hotel spending, and equipment rental.
Fort Worth's film industry received a boost in last year's Legislative session. Lawmakers authorized $200 million in a state incentive program to boost movie and TV production in Texas. The legislation was a top priority of Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. The incentives, in part, will enable the city to increase marketing efforts to bring not only film and television productions here, but also commercial projects.
Lawmakers in the last regular session also approved a bill by state Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth) that lowers the percentage of Texas residents required to be on certain production crews from 70% to 55%.
Fort Worth also is a state-designated Media Production Development Zone allowing the city to offer state sales tax exemptions to attract major productions.
Some of the more recent productions have been huge tourism draws, including those from Taylor Sheridan, a Texas native and former Fort Worth resident. His blockbuster series “1883” and “Yellowstone,” were partly filmed here. Tarrant County is one of the main backdrops for the current Paramount+ series “Lawmen: Bass Reeves.”
Filming the yet-to-be released series, “Landman,” starring Billy Bob Thornton (who has been seen about town) and Demi Moore, has begun in and around Fort Worth.
Cast and crew stay at 11 Fort Worth hotels, Christopherson said. "Lawmen," according to the report, accounted for more than 20,000 room nights. "1883" was more than 13,000.
Others film projects include “A Ghost Story,” “The Old Man” & The Gun,” “Miss Juneteenth” and "12 Mighty Orphans.”