Weekend Film Incentive News Wrap-Up

It’s the weekend, which means it’s time for our regular 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…

Everyone’s attention was focused on the nation’s capitol as 2012 wound to a close and Congress debated solutions to the “fiscal cliff.”  One provision to come out of the final negotiation was the extension of a federal film incentive in place since 2004.

California is still struggling to combatwhat it terms “runaway production” – productions opting to shoot in locations outside the Golden State.  Though production overall in Los Angeles was up in 2012, competition from other states offering film incentives is still high.  Palm Springs, to the south of Los Angeles, has just launched its own city film incentive program in an effort to lure productions back to the area.

Arizona has languished without a film incentivesince the state legislature allowed the Grand Canyon State’s program to expire in 2010.  Efforts to re-instate the incentive program over the past two hears haven’t borne fruit, but Tucson Senator Al Melvin is ready to bring another bill before the legislature in 2013.

North Carolina’s film and TV industry has been booming in recent years, and many state officials want to keep it that way.  Though the Tar Heel State’s film incentive isn’t set to expire until 2015, an effort is already underway to extend the program – or perhaps make it permanent.