THE PROMOTER
BRIAN GANNON
Why Austin: Brian Gannon moved
to Austin 10
years ago with a keen
desire to work in the flm industry. He
cut his teeth as a production intern,
working on movies like Friday the 13th,
and was immediately struck by the
easy camaraderie found among Texas
crews. (Austin has 700 union crew
members and probably 1,400 who are
nonunion.) Gannon joined the Austin
Convention & Visitors Bureau as its
flm and marketing manager, and this
summer was tapped to be the next di-
rector of the Austin Film Commission,
replacing Gary Bond, who over his 30-
year career assisted with many movies
produced locally, including Dazed and
Confused and Spy Kids.
New Role:
Gannon will continue
Bond's mission of promoting Austin's
flm industry to the world, wooing
productions with the city's wealth of
local talent and diversity of location.
"Every movie that comes to town puts
money into the local economy, from
putting local technicians to work to
hotel rooms to renting cars to lumber to
construct sets," he says. Gannon adds
that in the past 22 months more than
$170 million was spent here on flm
projects, including movies, TV shows,
and commercials.
The Great Challenge: The hurdle
that Gannon—and the flm community
at large—faces is reduced incentives af-
ter lawmakers slashed $63 million from
the Texas Moving Image Industry In-
centive program in May. "Productions
go to where they can get the best deal
back from state funding," he explains.
He promises to work hard on behalf of
local flmmakers, while also persuad-
ing executives on both coasts to come
enjoy some fne Austin hospitality.
Wool sweater, Theory ($265). Neiman Marcus,
The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com.
Long sleeve polo, Ermenegildo Zegna ($575).
Neiman Marcus, see above; zegna.com
in his wor ds: "We're
still in a good spot.
There are a lot of places
having [incentives]
cutbacks far worse than
we are in Texas."
AUSTINWAY.com 97
