Arlington, Texas has launched a film commission to support the growth of the film industry in the city. The commission will provide permitting support, location scouting, and other services to film, television, and digital media productions.

Local Filmmakers Optimistic

Local filmmakers, such as Martin Lisius, are optimistic about the opportunities that the film commission will bring. Lisius has produced short films, business promos, and weather footage in Arlington for roughly 40 years and believes that the commission will help to attract more large-scale film projects to the city.

The film commission is a partnership between the city, the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Arlington Economic Development Corp. It will manage all commercial filming applications for city-owned and -operated spaces and connect productions to other local public and private facilities.

Industry Impact

The film industry has had a significant impact on the local economy, with a $655 million impact on Fort Worth from 2016 to 2023, according to a staff report. The commission hopes to attract more film projects to Arlington, which will create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

Andy Wallace, owner of Wallace Media, sees opportunity for city filmmakers to grow their visibility by renting gear to out-of-state crews. He believes that the commission will help to make Arlington a more attractive location for film productions.

The city is also open to connecting with local businesses on ways to grow its industry reach. Jeremy Thomas, a city spokesperson, said that the city wants to hear from the creative community and understand their needs to be able to grow the film commission.

Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.