The exciting and magical film industry can seem far away, with most people associating it with Hollywood and New York City, but the Arkansas Film Commission works diligently to bring productions to the state, as the Arkansas film industry provides jobs and opportunities for locals in many ways. The most common ways to work with a film or series are as talent, either as an acting extra or featured cast member, or as part of the production crew. The Natural State has a wealth of talented individuals who work year-round in Grip & Electric, Production Design, Art Department, Transportation, Locations, Sound Design, and many more production service areas. Arkansas aims to be one of the best states for the film industry, with targeted film incentives and a top-notch crew workforce that is continually growing and expanding.

Aside from being in the cast or crew, there are many other opportunities to bring new money to businesses and vendors such as housing the actors and crew, providing meals and sundry items, hardware and other general supplies. Most productions bring in anywhere from a dozen to 100 or more people from out of state, sometimes for a few weeks but sometimes for many months. That’s a lot of time — and money — to be spent in Arkansas.

The HBO series “True Detective” is slated to start shooting its third season in Northwest Arkansas early spring 2018. For months, they’ve been in pre-production, scouting locations, working with the Arkansas Film Commission to find providers for particular filming locations, hair and makeup artists, art department crew, transportation services, and making sure the local communities are prepared to support a production of this magnitude. Money has already been spent to secure vendors, sites and find the right scenery for the storyline. The money spent in the area will be many millions after it’s all said and done.

Not only will it be filmed in Northwest Arkansas, the setting will be the magnificent backdrop of the Ozarks. The aesthetic beauty of Arkansas will be on display, thanks to the show’s creator and director Nic Pizzolatto, a graduate of the University of Arkansas Master of Fine Arts program. The fictional series will follow Arkansas State Police Detective Wayne Hays, played by Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, as he tries to solve a macabre crime that plays out in three separate time periods. Carmen Ejogo will play Amelia Reardon, a schoolteacher with a connection to two missing children in 1980. Just recently, HBO announced the addition of Stephen Dorff to the cast as another ASP detective and Scoot McNairy, who will play Tom, a father with connections to state police.

Earlier this year, Galaxy Furniture in North Little Rock posted on its Facebook page that its entire top-floor inventory of period furniture, glassware, toys and knick-knacks were purchased by the production. This is certain to lend an authenticity to the series, which will span three decades in the story line.

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission will share information about available jobs for cast and crew as the production presents those opportunities, with information about the initial casting call here. The production is the largest ever in the state, and there will likely be more film production crews coming to the state once this series is completed. The beauty of the state and ease of doing business in Arkansas makes it an easy choice.

For more information about the HBO series, visit HBO.com.

For more information, contact: Christopher Crane Film Commissioner Arkansas EconomicDevelopment Commission Little Rock, Arkansas Email