Editor's note: This story is part of an ongoing series for Arts Access examining the health and well-being of our North Texas arts economy.
They call it the
Sheridan, who grew up in North Texas, has become one of the most successful TV show creators in history, having a hand in writing, directing and/or producing 鈥淵ellowstone,鈥� 鈥�1883,鈥� 鈥�1923,鈥� 鈥淢ayor of Kingstown鈥� and 鈥淭ulsa King.鈥� Coming up: 鈥�,鈥� about the legendary Black federal officer, and about the fabled Texas ranch, which he owns.
Sheridan鈥檚 shows have elevated Paramount鈥檚 . And he鈥檚 shot some of these in Texas, either in Fort Worth or on his ranch. He鈥檚 also given significant roles to Native American actors, roles where they aren鈥檛 simply part of the scenery.
What鈥檚 not as well known is that Sheridan put his Sheridan effect to use in Austin. He helped lobby for a major boost for Texas film incentives.
"There's no secret Taylor came down several times," said . Sheridan "met with members of the House, he also met with the lieutenant governor, and that's a major factor."
Goldman, a Republican from Fort Worth, was one of the leaders of the successful effort to increase incentives. In the end, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick even declaring that "my goal is for Taylor to move all of his TV and movie production[s] to Texas."
If you鈥檙e out to sway lawmakers about incentives, it certainly helps when your shows are tremendously popular. Many of Sheridan鈥檚 are also Westerns (or "neo-Westerns"), which probably doesn't hurt in Texas, either. They're focused primarily on the troubles facing white ranchers and settlers.
In fact, they've often been labeled
But Sheridan's pushed back against that label. In , he's cited how he's foregrounded Native Americans and Native issues.
Sheridan told "": 鈥淭hey refer to it [the series, 鈥淵ellowstone鈥漖 as 鈥榯he conservative show鈥� or 鈥榯he Republican show鈥� or 鈥榯he red-state 鈥淕ame of Thrones.鈥� And I just sit back laughing. I鈥檓 like, 鈥楻eally?鈥� The show鈥檚 talking about the displacement of Native Americans and the way Native American women were treated and about corporate greed and the gentrification of the West, and land-grabbing. That鈥檚 a red-state show?鈥�
"I think the Taylor Sheridan effect is pretty awesome, especially bringing that kind of industry to Texas," said with a laugh. "Y'know, Texas, they like their cowboys and Indians."
from Midlothian. He appears in Sheridan's series, "1883."
Sheridan鈥檚 鈥渢elling stories that have never been told like that before," Gauna said. 鈥淚t's very meaningful to our history" 鈥� a history, he added, "that continues to be erased."
Sheridan has gone beyond hiring Native actors or depicting the historical slaughter of Natives. He鈥檚 hired consultants, to oversee details about tribal traditions and dress.
"When it came to the handprints on horses, what Native Americans would or wouldn't have their face painted," Gauna said, "the way that Taylor's actually given us the opportunity to say what we would or wouldn't do -- yeah, I think he's doing it right by that."
Sheridan's remarks about Native Americans and the way his films treat them have incited some pushback. In a lengthy portrait in he claimed his film "Wind River" influenced the passage of the , which to protect Native American women.
The publication posted a follow-up note from . She argued that long-term Native efforts got that bill passed, not Sheridan's movie. His remarks also triggered a
Steven Denson is He said it's smart for Texas to diversify its economy through increased media production. Especially now, when the industry is spreading out to find the biggest incentives, the right locations and workforce.
And with that diversification, Denson said, we're seeing more diversified stories.
"I have鈥痵een personally the positive impact of filmmaking in Indian Country," he said, "both from the standpoint of economics, when people are actually going to the locations they're talking about in filming. And I've seen improved self-esteem of Native people when they're being asked, 'How do you want to be portrayed?'"
Obviously, it's not just Sheridan's TV shows that have led to this. Denson cited the series, which was shot in Oklahoma. Also, Native-produced films like currently on Netflix.
And this fall will see the Martin Scorsese film, The Apple TV production is based on about a series of killings of Native Americans over oil rights in the 1920s. The film used locations and actors in Oklahoma, in the Osage Nation.
When Sheridan was filming 鈥�1883鈥� in Texas, there were so many Natives on set, Gauna said, it felt like a tribal community.
"It's powerful seeing the camaraderie," he said. "I tell ya, it's just nice to have some representation."
And to have that on-screen representation increase.
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