The Silver Screen in Texas

Did you realize that not only is Mueller a walkable, community-oriented central Austin neighborhood, but it is also adjacent to Austin Studios? While you’re shopping at H-E-B or strolling through the neighborhood, you may not realize you’re within walking distance of one of Texas’ most significant film production hubs. Mueller is unique in many ways, and its proximity to a thriving studio lot is yet another example of the creativity rooted in this community.

I recently met with Martin C. Jones, AFS Head of Austin Studios, and Communications Manager Will Stefanski for a tour. For more than two decades, they explained, Austin Studios has been at the center of Central Texas’ film and television industry.

Setting the Stage

What was once the decommissioned Robert Mueller Municipal Airport has been transformed into 20 full acres of space with seven production stages. Today, it stands as one of the city’s most powerful economic and cultural engines.

The idea began in 2000, when Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater asked then-Mayor Kirk Watson what the city planned to do with the old airport property. That conversation helped lead to the creation of Austin Studios, a move that solidified Austin’s reputation as a serious production hub. Since filming began there, the lot has hosted major productions including “Boyhood,” “Spy Kids,” “Miss Congeniality,” and “Friday Night Lights.”

Austin Studios now generates 50 to 60% of the Austin Film Society’s (AFS) annual revenue, making it central to sustaining the nonprofit’s broader mission. Its economic footprint reaches far beyond the organization itself. Approximately 1,250 productions have filmed at the studios, creating more than 4,600 jobs and generating an estimated $2.9 billion in regional economic impact.

An average show employs about 300 crew members, ranging from electricians, carpenters, camera operators, costume designers, production assistants, and many others. During our visit, I watched a set designer meticulously construct a basement scene from scratch, a reminder that entire worlds are built inside these sound stages. Each project brings meaningful workforce engagement and local spending to Austin.

“At peak capacity, the lot housed 17 companies employing 600 full-time workers,” Jones said. “Rooster Teeth, a long-term tenant in Stage 4, alone employed 400 people at its height.” These figures reflect an ecosystem that supports both temporary production crews and permanent creative businesses.

Austin Studios operates under a unique public-private partnership. The lease with the City of Austin is just $100 per year. In exchange, AFS assumes responsibility for all upkeep and improvements to the property, a structure AFS leadership has described as “lessening the burden of government.” The arrangement allows the city to maintain a major creative asset without operational costs, while AFS reinvests directly into infrastructure and industry growth.

A Legacy of Film

Austin’s film legacy stretches back decades. The city has served as the backdrop for cult classics like “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” “Dazed and Confused,” and “Office Space,” as well as acclaimed films such as “The Tree of Life,” “True Grit,” and “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” More recent productions include “1923,” “Bad Thoughts,” “The Leftovers,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” and the four-season run of “Walker,” starring Texas native Jared Padalecki.

The industry’s strength has earned national recognition. Austin has been named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “Best Places to Live & Work as a Moviemaker” every year since the list launched in 2001, a 26-year streak that culminated in a #5 ranking in 2026. That consistency reflects the city’s combination of infrastructure, creative culture, and skilled workforce.

Beyond hosting productions, AFS is investing in the next generation of industry professionals through its Creative Careers program. Designed to open doors for Austinites pursuing film and television work, the program offers three pathways: a hands-on internship track for 18- to 24-year-olds; an immersive on-the-job technical training program; and continuing education courses that provide equipment certifications. “These initiatives help ensure that the industry’s economic impact translates into sustainable career opportunities for local residents.

With productions continually reaching out to film in Austin and the infrastructure to support them, Austin Studios remains a cornerstone of the city’s creative economy.

So, the next time you’re walking near Jesse Andrews Park, where the beloved Ocho sculpture stands, remember that just a block away, actors, designers, and production crews are building stories that will reach audiences around the world, all from right here in Mueller.

Carmen Gray has lived in Austin since 1992. She is a retired teacher, published author, and freelance writer.