Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) - Reality Television Projects

The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) - Reality Television Projects, is administered by the Texas Film Commission within the Office of the Governor and is designed to encourage film, television, and related media production within the state of Texas. The program provides financial incentives to qualifying productions that meet specific in-state spending, residency, and production thresholds. Its overarching goal is to stimulate economic development, create jobs for Texas residents, and promote Texas as a destination for film and media production. To qualify for the program, applicants must demonstrate a minimum of 250000 dollars in eligible Texas spending, ensure that at least 60 percent of the production occurs within the state, and confirm that at least 35 percent of paid cast and crew are Texas residents. The program places strong emphasis on economic impact, evaluating applications based on financial viability, infrastructure utilization, job creation potential, and the project's ability to promote tourism and positively represent Texas. Eligible expenditures include wages and per diems paid to Texas residents for work performed in the state, as well as associated payroll taxes and benefits. Additional allowable costs include payments to Texas-based vendors for goods and services directly tied to production, vehicle rentals within Texas, airfare on Texas-based airlines, and legal or music-related services performed by Texas residents. However, expenditures such as payments to non-residents, marketing and distribution costs, and purchases unrelated to production are explicitly excluded from reimbursement. The application process requires submission of an Incentive Inquiry Form followed by a complete application package submitted electronically. This package includes a qualifying application form, an itemized budget detailing Texas-based expenditures, and a content document such as a script or treatment. Applications must be submitted no earlier than 180 days and no later than five business days before the start of principal photography. Projects that have already begun production are not eligible to apply. Following submission, applicants must confirm the start of production within five business days of the first day of principal photography. During production, the Texas Film Commission may conduct periodic reviews to verify compliance with spending, residency, and location requirements. After production concludes, applicants must submit detailed documentation within 60 days to verify expenditures, including payroll records, vendor payments, residency forms, and production reports. The review and payment process involves verification by the Texas Film Commission followed by compliance review by the Governor's Office Division of Compliance and Monitoring. Payments are only issued after all obligations to the state have been fulfilled and the final review is approved. While no fixed recurring deadline is specified, the program operates on a rolling basis tied to production schedules, making timing dependent on each project's start date. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact the incentive team via email or phone.

Ensure all residency documentation is complete and accurate as missing forms invalidate eligibility; submit application well before production start to avoid disqualification; focus on demonstrating strong economic impact and Texas-based spending