...and why we can't afford to stay there.
Austin regularly sits atop the gamut of "best of" lists—and all for good reason. Surprisingly, there is one very important list where the state of Texas sits squarely at the bottom. The worst part is the ranking is directly contrary to Austin's most recent list topper.

The film industry magazine MovieMaker looked at various factors that are conducive to a strong filmmaking community and location, and deemed Austin #1 in the country. Having had Austin near the top for the past five years, it is clear that Hollywood knows about Austin. The problem is, while Austin became the most desirable location for making movies, fewer large productions are actually happening here than ever before.

A primer on famous movies filmed around town (and a new drinking game to boot).

Let's face it, watching stuff get shot is cool. Easy Tex, we're not talking about bullets; we're talking about images. Whether exposed to celluloid or captured by a silicon chip, whenever someone is shooting something in town, it draws a crowd. Most people are amazed to see how the filmmaking  process works. All those lights, RVs, tents, and people spending hours shooting a scene that may cut down to just a few minutes in the finished film. Many other curious folks just like star gazing, or at least speculating as to who may be on set. Commercials and TV series' are often big productions as well. Many commercials even have larger budgets than a lot of the films being made.  Regardless of whether it's an indie short film with a nano-budget, destined for the film festival circuit, or a superstar blockbuster...it's always a thrill to see your hometown on the screen.

Now here's an idea for a drinking game. Read over this list of films made right here in Austin, rent them, watch them, and then try to name all the places you recognize. Whenever someone names one correctly, everyone else takes a drink. (Make mine a soda, please.)