Saturday Film Incentive News Wrap-Up

It’s Saturday, which means it’s time for our weekly look at some of the news about film incentive programs around the country. Now, you know the focus of this site is Oregon’s film and TV industry, and its effect on the state’s economy. It’s important to keep an eye on trends nationwide, though. The film and TV industry is an interdependent organism; what happens around the country affects Oregon’s industry, and what happens in Oregon affects the rest of the country as well.

While each state’s incentive program is different, it’s important to see the “big picture” by keeping an eye on the choices other states have made – to learn from their successes and their mistakes.

So With That…

As Washington comes to grips with the loss of its film incentive program during the last legislative session, many film and TV workers contend that their industry won’t be largely affected due to the lower budgets they work with, and the state’s proximity to more film-friendly locations such as Oregon and British Columbia.

New York is celebrating a record 23 television series shooting in the Big Apple this year, making the $5 billion one of the most energetic parts of the city’s economy. The city is very happy to point out that it’s beginning to rival Los Angeles for production activity.

Jackson, Mississippi is enjoying a tourism boom due, in large part, to the success of the feature film The Help which was shot in Greenwood, Clarksdale and Jackson.  The Dreamworks film was made with the aid of the Magnolia State’s 25% film incentive program, and is bringing hundreds of visitors to sites featured in the film.

And finally, outside US Borders, the Dominican Republic is making a move inside US Borders – the island nation is moving its California consulate to Glendale in an effort to build stronger relations with film studios.