The third coast: Runaway production and the Texas film industry, 1970–2001
Abstract
American industry, on the whole, has been on the move since the early twentieth century in search of "better deals", most often in search of cheaper labor. These industrial migrations have had an enormous effect on many things: the strength and viability of unions, worker solidarity and competition, individual states' economies, inter- and intra-state competition. This study adds to the general scholarship on this subject by investigating the migration of film production out of Southern California to the "hinterlands" of the United States, more specifically, the state of Texas. The study strives to focus on the actions and reactions of government and film industry workers in the state of Texas in order to present a case study of industrial change and the effects those changes have at the ground level. With the breakdown of the studio system and factory-style production, filmmakers took to the road in increasing numbers during the last three decades of the twentieth century. This study examines the reasons why film producers left Southern California; what made Texas an attractive alternative production site; the steps taken by the state government and the people to attract and promote film production; the effects a growing film industry had on Texas and its people; and what happened when producers moved on.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Gabin, Purdue University.
Subject Area
American history|Film studies
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