Shoot Your Shot
San Antonio revealed as a top city for filmmaking in close-up study
![San Antonio River Walk](https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/media-library/san-antonio-river-walk.jpg?id=55983710&width=2000&height=1500&quality=65&coordinates=636%2C-5%2C658%2C5)
In the realm of film, San Antonio doesn't just makes friends — it keeps them. For the seventh year in a row, the city has been recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker.” It also moved up in the rankings from No. 24 to 20.
The list selected 25 big cities in the United States and Canada. Metrics in the report were gathered through "surveys, production spending, tax incentives, additional research and personal visits whenever possible," according to a press release. Similar studies often compare metrics in a chart, but this list digs into each city's strengths in a custom write-up.
One of the first things San Antonio's section mentions is rebates. Through the the Supplemental San Antonio Film Incentive Program, the city will reimburse 7.5 percent of a project's expenses up to $250,000 if it meets criteria in filming nearby, hiring locals, and other considerations. These can be applied to feature films, shorts, TV shows, music videos, and more. Along with a state rebate, that could add up to a rebate of up to 30 percent.
Of course, San Antonio almost aways gets bonus points for its lower cost of living, and this was no exception. The report also praised the Hill Country's natural beauty, its ranches, and the mix of rural and urban architecture nearby.
Other factors included:
- free permits at more than 250 city-owned properties
- excellent work by local crews, attributed to a large Latino population
- "iconic locales like the River Walk, Historic Market Square and La Villita Historic Arts Village"
"We always tell filmmakers that the best city for them is one where they'll be happiest in all aspects of life — while having enough collaborators and resources around to make their dream projects,” said MovieMaker Magazine editor Tim Molloy in a press release from San Antonio's Department of Arts and Culture. “San Antonio is an excellent option in this regard. It's affordable, friendly, professional and offers a mix of some locations that could pass for anywhere, and other locations that you can't find anywhere else on the planet.”
San Antonio and Austin were among five Texas cities on the list, which also included Houston, Fort Worth, and El Paso.
The city's press release also included a list of local productions from the past year. A portion of them are listed here:
- 1923
- Leguizamo Does America
- Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
- Triple D Nation
- Family Recipe w/ Gordon Ramsay
- Confessions of a Female Gamer
- Commercials for Kia, GMC, Church’s Chicken, Whataburger, the San Antonio Spurs, and more