If asked to name America’s most popular pastimes, most people would probably put baseball near the top of the list, especially since the current season is just getting underway. It’s definitely one of my favorites. I love just about anything associated with the game.
One pastime that might be overlooked, however, and one that is certainly popular, is watching movies. While a large number of people enjoy this form of leisure activity on their television sets or computer screens, sometimes referred to by experts as “cocooning,” about a third of American adults view at least one movie on the big screens monthly. Over eight million see up to four movies a month. Movie going is also very popular in India, Sweden, and Mexico, where more than a quarter of the population over 18 average at least one movie every four to five weeks.
Box office receipts in the US last year totaled some $9.5 billion with 1.57 billion tickets sold. About 8.6 billion tickets were purchased worldwide. Average price in the US was $6.03. This cost, though reflecting a 45.7% increase over the past decade, is still considered a bargain when compared to the price of tickets for professional athletic events, Broadway shows, or special musical concerts.
Although the number of people going to movies in the US last year was 4% less than 2002, it was still the second highest admissions year since 1957. The mega-screen complexes, which present a wide variety of choices, were keys to patrons’ high interest. The 6,060 movie sites across the country as of the end of 2003 provided audiences with choices on 35,774 different screens.
Since the birth of the Texas Film Commission in 1971, Texas has been intricately involved in the making of movies. In some circles, the Lone Star State is called the “third coast” behind only the California and New York filmmaking locations. A couple of other states—Illinois and Florida—sometimes challenge that idea, but credibility was given to the Texas claim a few years ago when films made wholly or partially in the state won seven of the top eight Oscars.
Movie makers have been coming to Texas since 1910 when French film producer Gaston Mélies moved from Brooklyn to set up the Star Film Ranch near San Antonio. Today, there are 16 permanent sets located across the state, and scores of production companies, soundstages, and studio complexes. (Austin has nearly 80 of these entities.)
In addition to the permanent sites, which principally feature western themes, locations in Texas have substituted for sites identified as various US states along with countries such as neighboring Mexico and faraway places like Morocco and Afghanistan.
Last year, 43 feature films and television shows were made in Texas, providing $229.1 million to the state economy. With commercial, corporate, and sports productions added, the economic benefit of the film industry to the state in 2003 was nearly $330 million. During the past decade, over 500 of these kinds of entertainment and educational shows were produced in Texas, adding some $2.83 billion to the state economy.
In addition to the funds contributed by the movie companies each year, millions of additional dollars are spent by the thousands of individuals who participate in the more than two dozen local and international film and television festivals held annually across Texas. These events are located in the state’s major population centers of Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, as well as Beaumont, College Station, Galveston, and Texarkana.
Texas does not finance the making of movies, but production companies are exempt from state and local sales taxes on much of what they rent or purchase. Those units that remain in the state for more than a month can also receive various tax refunds.
Such benefits are certainly of value and keep filmmakers returning to the Lone Star State. Equally important, however, are the experienced film crews, equipment vendors, and support services available within the state. About three-fourths of the personnel used by major film productions are employed locally, an incentive that very few states can match.
The popularity of movies and corresponding box office revenues are projected to continue their record-breaking pace. Over the past three decades, the US population has increased approximately 43% while theater admissions have climbed 71%. Watching movies is definitely high on the list of American pastimes.