MONEY MATTERS: Earlier this month, Janis Burklund of the Dallas Film Commission was the guest during the Art&Seek segment of Think TV. She spoke about how the state’s tax incentives are partly to thank for the slew of television productions that have shot in the area over the past several months. But that money doesn’t come without strings attached. The New York Times reports that some states are starting to take a closer look at the type of films that taxpayers are helping foot the bill for. And Texas is one of those states. It’s already been reported that a potential film about the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco won’t receive any money from the state because of alleged inaccuracies. Now, a Robert Rodriguez film called Machete will be getting a close look to make sure it doesn’t violate a rule saying that films earning state funding cannot contain, “inappropriate content or content that portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion.” Stay tuned on that one.

HOW TO GET BIGGER: If you’re a small organization tired of being overshadowed by the big boys, Michael Kaiser says it doesn’t have to be that way. The Kennedy Center president says that all you need is a little planning. In a Huffington Post essay, he writes, “Smaller organizations have a harder time developing the large transformational projects than larger organizations. That is why they tend to remain small. If they take the time to plan large, exciting programs four or five years in advance, they would be far more likely to find the resources they require to mount these programs.” Sounds simple, right? He goes on to note that smaller organizations, “should be making news at least once a quarter” and that they, “must really only influence 100-200 selected people in their communities to have a life-changing effect on the organization.”

A LOOK AHEAD: Theater Jones has been compiling a list of recent 2010-11 season announcements. Collin Theater Center begins its season Oct. 7 with U.S. Drag by playwright and Law & Order writer Gina Gionfriddo. Neil Simon (Barefoot in the Park), Sam Shepard (True West) and Horton Foote (The Trip to Bountiful) highlight Contemporary Theatre of Dallas’ season. And Fort Worth’s Jubilee Theatre will open its season Oct. 8 with Home by Samm-Art Williams.