Posted 11 October, 2006 in SC News
By Robert W. Dalton
South Carolina’s plan to attract more filmmakers to the state has been sosuccessful that it’s now driving away business — costing Spartanburg’s DuncanPark another day in the sunshine.
Producers of the film “The Third Miracle” had planned to use the old ballpark forsome of its scenes. But they pulled the plug last week, saying that so manyprojects are under way in South Carolina that they can’t find local crews and itwould be too expensive to bring in workers from California.
The film, about the 1957 Little League World Series champions from Monterrey, Mexico, now will be shot in Mexico and Texas.
Maxann Crotts-Harvey, president of Missing Link Productions in Rock Hill, assisted in casting extras for the movie. She said this is the first time in her 21years in the industry that she has heard of a film leaving the state because it couldnot find workers.
“It’s a good news, bad news situation because there is so much going on,” shesaid. “But we’re real sad that this movie is not happening. A lot of people werereal excited.”
Crotts-Harvey said that incentives packages approved by the state Legislature thepast two years have made the state more attractive to the motion pictureindustry.
The state offers a 20 percent rebate on wages and a 30 percent rebate on supplypurchases for companies that spend at least $1 million filming here. Additionally,productions that spend at least $250,000 are exempt from sales andaccommodations taxes and can use state property at no cost.
State Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, spearheaded the legislation that hasbrought the film companies rolling into South Carolina. He said his goal is tokeep them here for the long run.
“The incentives have been successful in attracting industry here,” Ritchie saidduring a telephone interview from Columbia. “To sustain the industry so that wecan help with its labor needs, we need to continue to invest in South Carolinacolleges and universities that train technical and entertainment professionals.”
As he spoke, Ritchie walked past a busy film set near the Statehouse grounds.
“It’s kind of neat to watch them work,” he said.
Jeff Monks, the state film commissioner, said five projects now are under way inthe state and one just wrapped up. The state has received so much attention, hesaid, that in August the film commission stopped taking applications for new projects.
“We’re taking a managed look at it,” Monks said. “We’re looking to have aconsistent production presence throughout the fiscal year that gives SouthCarolinians the best opportunity to work on these productions.”
The application process will reopen later this month for productions that will filmnext year, Monks said.
Spartanburg City Manager Mark Scott said he’s disappointed that “The ThirdMiracle” won’t film here. The city did pick up $15,000 for its trouble, and itwould have gained another $10,000 had filming taken place.
“I never thought it was much of a moneymaker,” Scott said. “But it was a goodway to showcase Duncan Park.”
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