THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE FILM OFFICE. PLEASE VERIFY ALL INFORMATION WITH THE FILM OFFICE DIRECTLY.
1. Does your state offer tax incentives? Yes! Please see our link for details: http://www.wvfilm.com/incentives.htm
For a summary, see: LINK TO EP’S SUMMARY OF WV INCENTIVE
2. Are there sales tax discounts?
Yes. Qualified in-state purchases and rentals of tangible personal property directly used in production, and in-state purchases of services directly used in production, are exempt from the 6% Consumers Sales and Service Tax.
3. Are there hotel tax discounts?
Yes. Exemption from the 6% Consumers Sales and Service Tax and exemption from the Local Hotel/Motel Tax (% varies per region) on lodging stays in excess of thirty (30) consecutive days per person at the same facility.
4. Are there any state or local fees offered at no charge?
a. Police/Fire?Cost recovery for use of police/fire is standard statewide, although some areas provide such services complimentary depending on the needs of a production.
b. Permits? There are no permit fees for permit applications on state-owned property. On federal property (nationwide), there are location fees, permit fees, and cost recovery charges, when applicable.
c. Use of state or locations at no charge/reduced cost? Most state-owned property is fee-free, but a usage fee associated with cost recovery may occur in certain circumstances (projects evaluated on case-by-case basis).
5. Is your state a “right to work state”? No.
6. Crew base?
Non-union crew base is relatively small (a few dozen). Most union crew IATSE members are stagehands, but many also have a mix of film and television experience. Teamsters is prevalent throughout the state. Most crew and production companies are listed in the state’s Production Services Directory (available in print and on website).
7. Do you have sound stages? Not traditional soundstages, but there are many alternatives.
a. Alternatives to sound stages (warehouses, etc)? Dozens of warehouses that could be used for temporary soundstages throughout the state.
b. Proximity to city center. Throughout the state; many within city centers and some on outskirts of city centers..
8. Do you have equipment houses in your state? Not traditional rental facilities, but several of the large production companies have grip trucks and camera packages available for rent.
a. Please specify grip/electric/camera/vehicles, etc. 5 Grip Trucks of various sizes; 4 Camera Support of various types/sizes
b. Where are they located? Charleston, Morgantown, Martinsburg
c. If not in your state, closest facilities? Additional facilities close to borders: Baltimore MD, Washington DC, Pittsburgh PA, Cincinnati & Columbus OH, Richmond VA, Charlotte & Wilmington NC, Louisville KY
9. Do you have film and/or sound labs in your state? No.
a. If not in your state, closest facilities? Baltimore MD, New York NY, Pittsburgh PA, Arlington VA, Atlanta GA
10. Specify your weather patterns.
West Virginia enjoys four distinct seasons. Depending on where you shoot, the seasons can differ dramatically. In the low-lying areas and valleys, including the western regions of the state and the Eastern Panhandle, winters are quite mild and summers warm. In the central, more mountainous areas of the state (particularly, the Potomac Highlands), winters are much colder, with greater amounts of snow, and summers are pleasant and mild. The statewide average high temperature in July is in the high 70s, while in January, temps in the mid-30s are average. Precipitation across the state averages 40 to 60 inches per year, and snowfall averages 20 to 25 inches per year in most of the state, except for the Potomac Highlands region, which receives significantly greater amounts.
11. What are the child labor laws in your area?
Although not a requirement of law, employers may require proof of age for persons 16-17 years of age (work hours unrestricted; may not drive motor vehicles as principal part of employment or for delivery purposes; work limited to age appropriate non-hazardous occupations). Work Permits are required for persons 14-15 years of age (various restrictions associated with work hours; restricted to non-hazardous occupations). For persons 13 years of age or younger, no permits are required for actors or performers in motion pictures, theatrical, radio, or television productions. For details, contact the West Virginia Division of Labor, Wage and Hour section at 304-558-7890 or download the child labor statute at www.labor.state.wv.us/images/forms/wage/LAWCHILD.PDF.
12. Please list the productions which have shot in your state within the last 2 years.
Dozens of productions, large and small (film, TV, national commercials, music videos, national feature advertising, etc.) have shot in West Virginia, of which a brief list is provided below:
Warner Bros., “We Are Marshall” (studio feature) (April 2006 & Sept 2006)
NBC’s Sci-Fi Channel, The Mothman (cable) (August 2006)
National Geographic, “Is It Real” (cable) (August 2006)
Discovery Kids, “Mystery Hunters” (cable) (August 2006)
Anonymous Content (interactive web short films for Phillip Morris) (July 2006)
The History Channel, “The States” (July 2006)
Cheap Thrills Media, “Brothers of the Badge” (indie feature) (June 2006)
Possum Films, “Sixteen to Life” (indie feature) (June 2006)
Pilgrim Film & TV, “Ghost Hunters” (cable) (June 2006)
Pewter Productions, “Matewan Revisited” (indie documentary) (April 2006)
Home & Garden TV, “ReZoned” (cable) (Feb 2006)
Fairfax County Films, “Mount Vernon Museum Project” (Feb 2006)
Edward Jones Investments (feature advertising) (Nov 2005)
Creepy Canada TV (Sept 2005)
Country Music Television, “Home Blitz” (cable) (Sept 2005)
Honda Motorcycle (feature advertising) (August 2005)
Sony Corp., Vaio (feature advertising) (August 2005)
Big Idea, Animal Spots, PA credit union (regional commercial) (August 2005)
Hidden Door Productions, “Solar Energy” (indie documentary) (July 2005)
Comcast, Bennett-Watt Productions, “Discoveries . . . America” (promo DVD) (June 2005)
Magnolia Pictures & 2929 Entertainment, “Bubble” (indie feature) (April 2005)
Office Kei, “Pee Wee Gaskins” (indie documentary) (March 2005)
Rubicon Productions (indie feature) (March 2005)
ABC Good Morning America, “Glassmaking” (Jan 2005)
Toyota Mfg. (national commercial) (November 2004)
FX Networks, “30 Days” (cable) (August 2004)
13. Please add any additional information, or a statement from your office here.
MORE INCENTIVES # 1: River On DemandTM is a complimentary service service made possible by the drawdown of Summersville Lake by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the flow of the Gauley River can be modulated to suit productions during November (on occasion, during other times as well).
West Virginia may be best known for its hospitality, beauty, and mountains, but there are dozens of quaint and historic towns, small metro areas, coal mining towns, railroad towns, and unique architectural structures just waiting to have their theatrical debut. And West Virginia is more accessible than most people think. The Northern Panhandle region is within 35-50 minute of Pittsburgh International Airport, and portions of the Eastern Panhandle are within 50-70 minutes of D.C.’s Dulles International Airport and Baltimore’s BMI Airport. The state’s eight commercial airports combine to provide non-stop service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Houston, Myrtle Beach, New York City (LaGuardia), Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington DC (Dulles and Reagan).
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