One of the movie posters for ‘Pearl Harbor’ starring Ben Afflack, Kate Beckinsale and Josh Harnett. The movie was filmed in Corpus Christi aboard the USS Lexington, which served as both a U.S. and Japanese aircraft carrier. Courtesy photo
Corpus Christi is now certified as a Film Friendly City by the Texas Film Commission, one of 100 other Film Friendly-certified cities in the Lone Star State. Officials at the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau recently announced the certification, which went into effect last year. The actual certificate was received last week.
Certification means the city has sent representatives to a training workshop, submitted photos of potential filming locations for the Texas Film Commission database and established filming guidelines approved by the commission.
As one of the officially certified Film Friendly Cities, Corpus Christi will be able to communicate more easily with film producers interested in using Corpus Christi as a backdrop. It will also be able to track the economic impact of film-related events in the city. Training and marketing guidance will be available on an ongoing basis.
Corpus Christi has several films on its growing résumè. “Pearl Harbor” starring Ben Affleck was filmed on the USS Lexington in 2000. The Disney Touchstone Pictures production also starred Alec Baldwin, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Josh Hartnett. It was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Michael Bay.
According to city leaders, movie production brought in about $2 million in hotel fees and equipment rentals along with publicity.
Other major movies filmed included “The Open Road” at Whataburger Field in 2009 and starring Justin Timberlake and Jeff Bridges; “The Legend of Billie Jean” starring Helen Slater and Christian Slater in 1985; and, of course, “Selena” in 1997 with Jennifer Lopez.
Big Hollywood movies are not the only film productions that have found the perfect setting in Corpus Christi. Short films, commercials and even video game scenes are filmed on location in the city. Several production companies call Corpus Christi home.
State Rep. Todd Hunter recently put together and hosted Power On, a one-day conference on the music industry in Corpus Christi. The goal was to establish a South Texas Music Trail with Corpus Christi as a major stop along the road.
One of the many featured entertainers was “El Dusty” Oliveira, whose music video “Cumbia Anthem” was nominated for a Latin Grammy this year. He didn’t win, but the totally home-based music video production received national and international recognition because of the nomination.
Keeping Corpus Christi on the tourism and entertainment map will be a top priority during the 85th Texas Legislative session, which convenes in Austin on Jan. 10, 2017.
“My biggest goal is to make sure the Coastal Bend — the Corpus Christi and Port Aransas region — is on the map,” Hunter said. “I want to put us on the radar as a place to come to not only for Texans but nationally and internationally as well.”
For more on the interview with Hunter, watch for the January issue of Corpus Christi Business News.
