Billy Bob Thornton Joins ‘Landman’ Cast in Austin to Accept First Texas Made Award at ATX TV Fest
New honor spotlights Texas-made productions as state launches $1.5B effort to grow its film and television industry
The ATX TV Festival honored Texas film production this year with the inaugural “Texas Made” Award, presented Sunday to the Paramount+ original series “Landman.” The festival, held May 29 to June 2, introduced the award in partnership with Media for Texas, a nonprofit advocating for increased state incentives to bring film production back to the Lone Star State.
The award comes as the Texas Legislature recently passed a $1.5 billion incentive plan that would allocate $300 million every two years over the next decade to support in-state film and television production.
A timely honor
“The timing of the inaugural Texas Made award coming directly after an incredibly monumental legislative session that secured the stability of our Texas film industry is remarkable,” said Chase Musslewhite, cofounder of Media for Texas. “I believe this award sets the tone for what’s to come—more Texas-made TV Shows and movies shot in Texas!”
ATX Festival cofounder Caitlin McFarland said they created the “Texas Made” to keep up the momentum of expanding production incentives within the state and honoring creatives with Texas ties.
“What’s something that’s being made in Texas that is also showcasing Texas in unique ways?” McFarland asked when deliberating over the recipient of the inaugural award. “‘Landman’ just came to mind.”
Bringing Texas stories to screen
Primarily filmed in Fort Worth, Texas, “Landman” was based on the Texas Monthly podcast “Boomtown,” whose creator, Christian Wallace, went on to co-create and produce the hit TV series alongside Taylor Sheridan, creator of “Yellowstone.” The drama series, which broke streaming records for Paramount+, follows oil company crisis manager Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) in the risky West Texas oil rigging industry. Wallace, alongside “Landman” stars Thornton, Jacob Lofland and Michelle Rudolph, sat down to discuss the show and the importance of Texans running Texas-based stories.
“We got a plenty of Texans,” Thornton said. “We don’t have to go to other countries to get people to play cowboys.”
“Landman” exemplifies the kind of filmmaking Media for Texas cofounder Grant Wood hopes will become more prominent as Texas continues to grow as a hub for the media industry.
“(The Texas Made award) represents what Media for Texas is all about. Texas-made movies and shows shot right here, in Texas,” Wood said. “We’re excited to see what other Texas creatives and shows rise to the top in the coming years to capture the Texas Made award at ATX TV Festival.”
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