When a filmmaker came to Quitman roughly five years ago, the city created the film liaison position to coordinate the location for filming.

The makers of the movie Jerico came to Quitman in about 2013 to film at Governor Jim Hogg City Park. Jerico was released in 2016 and tells the story of best friends on a journey to fulfill their dreams while facing the restrictions of Jim Crow laws, according to IMDB.

The city created the volunteer job around that time to facilitate the arrangements and find the appropriate setting for the film, Quitman Mayor David Dobbs said.

Pam Riley held the position until she passed away recently. The city council appointed Quitman Chamber of Commerce Director Lauren Wilcox for the job during its Aug. 16 meeting.

Wilcox said she’s looking forward to being able to use both of her roles to bring more awareness to Quitman. She also runs her own photography business, which she believes will assist her as film liaison to a degree.

Quitman has been declared a film friendly city by the state of Texas. Dobbs said the city benefits as films can put heads in beds at local motels and filmmakers eat at our restaurants.

Wilcox hopes to expand the film work in the city.

“I would like to reach out to people wanting to film rather than only them coming to me,” Wilcox said.

Dobbs said the liaison is normally meant to set up for big films, but it doesn’t mean the city couldn’t use it for other projects. The city could work with WCIC in the future for film of county scenery.

He added that the filmmakers receive no incentives for filming in Quitman.

The ordinance states that there is no time limit for the film liaison.