‘Film Texas!’ Newsletter | December, 1972
In celebration of the Texas Film Commission's 50th Anniversary, we went to the archives to see how our history has been shaped by the initiatives, programs and productions from the past 50 years. View more from the archives here. #TFC50
December, 1972 | As the Texas Film Commission began to establish itself and the production community presence, the office recognized two goals: to attract media production from outside the state to Texas locations, and to encourage the growth of the indigenous Texas production industry. Thus, the need for a comprehensive industry resource book was necessary.
...it has been clear from the outset that more hard information is needed about the Texas industry. That information must be readily accessible and totally reliable. It should be presented in a fashion that encourages Texas "packaging"... if presented in the right manner, that information can suggest using Texans from start to finish in all phases of production. Such a grid of information can also be used to increase communication between members of our own industry in Texas.
This was the very beginning of the Texas Production Manual. With help and input from the crew and vendors of the media production community, the Texas Film Commission published the annual Texas Production Manual as a tactile resource for filmmakers. The early days of the manual included:
- Detailed listings of Texas-based crew members organized by region and skill-sets. As is the case today, listings included credits and contact information.
- Detailed listings of Texas industry vendors including equipment rental houses and more, reducing the need to import vendors from other states and impact the revenues of local businesses in Texas.
- Geographical information including locations, agricultural seasons and weather.
- Local community contact information for productions to easily work with local liaisons.
As the Texas film industry evolved with technological advancements, the Texas Production Manual transitioned in 2008 to a digital format, becoming the Texas Production Directory. Today, the directory includes the Texas resources of the expanded media production industries: film, television, commercial, animation, visual effects, video games and extended reality.