How "Landman" has been a boon to TCU
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This "Landman" scene set on the TCU campus couldn't be more TCU. Photo: Emerson Miller/Paramount+
Rich people, oil money and college freshmen — what could possibly go wrong?
- Taylor Sheridan's "Landman" has given Texas Christian University free publicity by using the school as a backdrop for the chaos and conflict of its second season.
Why it matters: Sheridan, a Fort Worth native, has sparked a film production boon in the city, bringing the glitz of Hollywood to Cowtown.
- And Texas is poised for a filmmaking renaissance after the Legislature infused $1.5 billion into the state's film incentive program.
The intrigue: The Paramount show employed hundreds of TCU students, including football players and members of the spirit team, as extras for the show's second season, per university officials.
- Students pursuing careers in film and television production got to shadow the crew in areas such as sound, camerawork and wardrobes. Some students were hired as production assistants.
What they're saying: "For students who want to stay here [in Texas], it's been a boon because now the productions are here. They don't have to travel all the way to New York or LA for those kinds of opportunities," TCU associate professor Kimberly A. Owczarski tells Axios.
How it works: Productions typically pay TCU to film on campus, though university officials declined to share how much money they received for "Landman."
- TCU returned the favor by giving Sheridan an honorary degree last year and establishing a new land management course inspired by his shows.
Threat level: "There's some risk" when a business or organization agrees to be featured in a show as large as "Landman," Merianne Roth, TCU's vice chancellor for marketing and communication, tells Axios.
- "We don't control the content. However, we do control the student experience. …This kind of cultural relevance can't be bought," Roth says.
What we're watching: "Landman" is set to get a third season. Another Sheridan show, "Lioness," is also filming in North Texas.