NEWS
Posted 26 July, 2010 in IL News
Courtesy of the Entertainment Economy Institute:
Chicago Sun Times via The Huffington Post
Fran Speilman
June16, 2010
“Transformers 3″ – the sci-fi action thriller filming in Chicago this summer – will pump $20 million into the local economy and create 200 jobs, including ten internships for inner-city students, Mayor Daley said today.
Joking about landing a walk-on roll, Daley welcomed producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura to Chicago 30 years after the premiere of the landmark film, “The Blues Brothers.”
“Transformers 3″ is scheduled to open in late June or early July of next year. It will film in Chicago from July 10 until Aug. 19.
Then-Mayor Jane M. Byrne, Daley’s political nemesis, took a lot of heat for allowing a car to crash into the Daley Center during the filming of “The Blues Brothers.”
“Transformers 3″ is certain to include even more scenes of death and destruction on the streets of Chicago.
“You’re gonna see a little bit of mayhem. You know, I mean it wouldn’t be ‘Transformers’ without it,” Di Bonaventura said.
Click Here for Full Article: http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/2401062,transformers-local-impact-061610.article
Posted 24 February, 2010 in IL News
MEDILL Reports
Mary Fagel
December 3, 2009
In his second directorial effort, David Schwimmer is filming “Trust,” the true story of a Chicago-area teen raped by an online predator. The family lives in Wilmette. The father works at an advertising agency on Michigan Avenue. His daughter goes to school at New Trier High School in Winnetka.
Yet except for a few exterior shots, the entire film is being shot in Michigan.
Schwimmer chose to use Michigan as a stand-in for the Windy City because of the state’s generous 42 percent refundable tax credit. The incentive allows him to film five more days in Michigan compared with Illinois, Schwimmer said in a press conference on set in Ann Arbor last week.
Full Article: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=151415
Pros pick best places for filmmaking
Industry insiders choose world’s greatest locations
By IAIN BLAIR
‘Wall Street 2′
• Locations photo gallery
Variety recently conducted an online poll among several hundred location managers, unit production managers, cinematographers, directors and assistant directors asking them to rate their favorite locations according to visual appeal, incentives, film-office support, production resources, and ability to substitute for another location.
The top five North American locations and the top five international locations, ranked here by overall excellence, are regions or cities that scored high on most or all of the criteria. Following these top 10 locations is a list of places cited by the polled pros for excelling in specific categories.
TOP 5 NORTH AMERICAN LOCATIONS
#1 California
Los Angeles and environs, San Diego, San Francisco and spots throughout the state
While California reels from the double whammy of a lousy economy and continued runaway production, it’s easy to forget just how much the state has to offer. It still has the deepest talent pool — both in front of and behind the camera — and the largest and most technologically advanced production infrastructure and equipment in the world.
Plus, the state offers varied outdoor locations, including snow-capped mountains, sandy beaches, rolling vineyards and misty forests — not to mention the hilly streets of San Francisco and palm-fringed urban landscape of L.A. The state’s coast has hosted such films as “Sideways” and “Pirates of the Caribbean 3,” its arid stretches have doubled for Iraq and Afghanistan, and at the center of the action is Hollywood, the longtime center of the global entertainment industry, with its backlots and studios.
Now, for the first time, California has taken steps to stem runaway production. The state enacted a 20%-25% tax credit — in a bill signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who made his name in Hollywood — that went into effect July 1.
#2 New York
Manhattan, the rest of New York City plus upstate locations
Filmmakers have flocked to the Big Apple since the early days of cinema, drawn by its restless energy, its world-famous skyscrapers and backdrops that range from the mansions of Fifth Avenue to the gritty back alleys of Hell’s Kitchen. There’s no more authentic place to capture a New York street scene, as Oliver Stone is currently doing in “Wall Street 2,” or to create a mythical New York, as Woody Allen has done.
The city boasts an abundance of skilled crews and major studios like Silvercup, Kaufman-Astoria and Steiner — plus the facilities of the TV networks headquartered there.
Outside the city, filmmakers have long explored locations ranging from Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Catskills and other picturesque regions. Helping the state attract productions: a 30%-35% refundable state tax credit on qualified expenses.
#3 New Mexico
Albuquerque, other cities and remote areas
Known for scenery that ranges from white desert sands to forested mountains, New Mexico also offers a 25% tax rebate on all production costs and local labor payments. This aggressive incentive has spurred a heavy production slate, promoting growth in studio and stage space. This year alone has seen 15 major feature film productions as well as various TV series. The newest facility is the giant Albuquerque Studios complex, joining Albuquerque-based Rio Grande Studios. But while Albuquerque remains the center of gravity, production is also moving to remoter areas like Deming (”Indiana Jones 4″) and Clovis (”Believe in Me”). “Transformers 2″ was filmed at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman AFB adjacent to Alamogordo, with additional locations in Tularosa and the Mescalero Indian Reservation, all in Otero county. The state claims the largest crew base outside the coasts — more than 3,000. A new studio complex is being built in Santa Fe.
#4 Chicago
Prototypical urban America
With its iconic downtown skyline, mix of traditional and radical architecture, historic neighborhoods and modern city life — all fronted by Lake Michigan — the Windy City exerts a powerful pull over filmmakers. Add in the 30% transferable tax credit and it’s clear why the Illinois Film Office has been successful. Since the late ’80s, more than 800 feature films and television projects have made use of local soundstages (the Chicago Production Center, Chicago Studio Center, NBC Studio) and the city’s cinematic locations, including “Public Enemies,” “Traitor,” frequent visitor “ER” and “The Dark Knight.” Chicago, a center of advertising and TV commercial production, also boasts a deep crew base, high-end post facilities and multiple equipment-rental houses.
#5 Louisiana
New Orleans, other cities and parishes
Louisiana isn’t just the boisterous Big Easy, soggy bayous and graceful old plantations draped with Spanish moss. The northeast has pine forests, rolling hills and small towns that can double for many other places. But the state’s main attraction may be its 35% transferable tax credit coupled with large studio and stage facilities. These include Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge, StageWorks in Shreveport and Louisiana Film Studios in Elmwood. Shreveport also boasts the Louisiana Wave Studio, with a 750,000-gallon tank originally built for Disney’s “The Guardian.” New Orleans has bounced back post-Katrina; Tony Scott and Jerry Bruckheimer got the ball rolling by shooting “Deja Vu” there soon after the disaster. Shreveport has positioned itself as a production center (”Mad Money,” “True Blood,” “Premonition”), and local locations doubled for Washington, D.C., in Oliver Stone’s “W.”
TOP 5 INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS
#1 Morocco
Cities and landscapes
A short list of filmmakers who’ve shot in Morocco reads like a Who’s Who of Old Hollywood: Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, John Huston, Henry Hathaway and David Lean. More recently, Morocco was the location for Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ” and “Kundun”; Oliver Stone’s “Alexander”; and Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator,” “Black Hawk Down,” “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Body of Lies.” Other high-profile productions include “Babel,” “Troy,” “The Mummy” franchise and “Prince of Persia,” currently filming. The country’s locations range from Mediterranean coastline to mountains and desert, and uniquely Moroccan skylines in Casablanca, Tangiers, Marrakech, Fez and Rabat.
The country boasts a solid cinema infrastructure. Thanks to their long experience, Morocco’s film companies have developed a full gamut of production services, including location scouting, equipment and office rental, crew hiring, shooting permits, transportation, catering and accommodations. Local crews are often bilingual and accustomed to working with foreign productions, and location fees are low. Film companies also coordinate the use of the Moroccan military for the use of tanks, helicopters and aircraft in battle scenes — assets that might be prohibitively expensive elsewhere.
#2 France
Paris, Provence and the Dordogne region
For an atmosphere of romance, fine cuisine and visual splendors, it’s hard to beat France. The iconic cityscapes of Paris — the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, the Seine — have long provided backdrops for films about love and food (”Julie & Julia” being the latest) as well as actioners (”Rush Hour 3″). And in the south and west, Provence and the Dordogne region offer filmmakers a different kind of beauty, with lavender fields, sleepy villages, ruined castles and the spectacular cliff-hugging roads of the Riviera where James Bond raced his Aston Martin.
France has a network of 40 film commissions, experienced crews, deep infrastructure and a long history of filmmaking expertise and foreign production (”G.I. Joe,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “Ocean’s 12″ to name just a few recent examples). The nation’s new tax rebate, which the French Parliament enacted last December, created a credit for foreign productions shot in France.
#3 Prague
Center of Central European filmmaking
Prague’s long, rich tradition of filmmaking didn’t begin with Milos Forman and Saul Zaentz’s “Amadeus,” but that production helped put the visually beautiful and culturally rich capital of the Czech Republic back on the international stage. Since then, such high-profile films as “Mission: Impossible,” “Casino Royale” and “Hannibal Rising” have taken advantage of the city’s locations and film-friendly atmosphere. Prague also boasts some of the largest stages in Europe in the Barrandov complex; recent productions include a Disney “Narnia” sequel and “The Illusionist.” The latter also used local post/vfx house Universal Production Partners (UPP) for all the effects. Since its establishment in 1994, UPP has worked on shots for Tom Tykwer’s “Perfume” and Ron Underwood’s “The Year Without Santa Claus,” among others.
#4 Spain
Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands
An extensive coastline, desert scenery, high mountains and a culturally rich and diverse architecture have long helped Spain’s cinematic development. The country has doubled for the American West (Sergio Leone’s “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”), the Muslim Middle East and many other world locations. Helped by Spain’s fledgling incentives, Madrid and Barcelona have attracted filmmakers such as Woody Allen and have also grown into major production centers, supported by homegrown talent including Pedro Almodovar. The cities of Zaragoza and Aragon formed the backdrop to Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth,” Malaga is busy with features and commercials, and Alicante now boasts the Ciudad de la Luz studio complex. Spain’s Canary Islands offer the rugged, volcanic locations seen in Stanley Kubrick’s “2001.”
#5 U.K.
London, Edinburgh and elsewhere
The U.K. has a deep pool of acting talent, extensive infrastructure and great crews and facilities — including the Ealing and Pinewood studios — that can handle all levels of production, from the biggest sets of the James Bond and Harry Potter franchises to the smallest indie pics. The U.K. also offers an aggressive rebate program. For films budgeted at less than £20 million ($31.8 million), filmmakers can earn up to a 25% tax credit. Add in the natural beauty of the countryside, a widely spoken world language and the architectural appeal of cultural hot spots such as Bath and Edinburgh — and the advantages become apparent. Contributing to the industry’s health today: a plethora of productions from overseas and the solidly booked post and vfx industry in London’s Soho
HONORABLE MENTIONS, PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Best Visual Appeal
Croatia, Hawaii, Panama
Croatia boasts World Heritage sites (Dubrovnik’s Old City, Split’s Palace of Diocletian), the stunning Dalmatian coastline and Plitvice Lakes National Park with waterfalls and 16 azure lakes. Hawaii is U.S. soil and offers good infrastructure, plus jungle, rain forest, towering cliffs, waterfalls, beaches and sunsets — and beautiful weather. With its relative proximity to the U.S. and more than 30,000 square miles of terrain, Panama presents filmmakers with a variety of locations, including tropical rain forest, Caribbean beaches, volcanic areas, islands and a cosmopolitan skyline.
Best Incentives
Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina
Michigan grabbed the tax-break spotlight with its pumped-up package of a refundable, assignable credit that ranges from 30% to a whopping 42% of a production’s eligible expenses. And the required minimum in-state spend is only $50,000. Georgia offers a transferable tax credit of 20%, with a possible further 10% if a state promo logo is included in the finished production. Minimum spend is $500,000. North Carolina recently upped its incentive to the level of a 25% tax credit on a minimum $250,000 in-state spend.
Best Film-Office Support
Connecticut, Utah, Vancouver
Connecticut’s film office offers an online production guide, location gallery and information on local crews, casting and infrastructure. It also serves as a clearinghouse for tax-break information and production services. Vancouver long ago earned the title “Hollywood North,” and the British Columbia Film Commission recently celebrated its 30th anniversary of helping productions such as “Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian” and “Watchmen” find locations, crews and post facilities. The Utah Film Commission helps filmmakers deal with permitting, local government agencies and locations that range from “John Ford country” backdrops to alpine meadows and woodlands.
Best Production Resources
Sydney, Montreal, Toronto
Sydney’s Fox Studios Australia is a major world destination for film and TV production, and the city has experienced crews and deep infrastructure. Montreal offers expert vfx work, spurred by tax breaks. High-profile films including “The Golden Compass” and “Indiana Jones 4″ might shoot elsewhere but still use Montreal’s talent pool for effects. Toronto, long home to a strong film and TV production community, is known for facilities, crews and a range of post, animation and vfx services. The first phase of its ambitious FilmPort studio complex opened last year.
Best Doubles for Other Locations
Buenos Aires, Iceland, Arizona
With its handsome, Eurocentric architecture and ambiance, Buenos Aires has long been known as “The Paris of South America” and can also double for London, Berlin, Rome — even Mumbai (taxis and the train station are virtually identical). Iceland is home to spectacular, almost otherworldly locations that are surprisingly versatile, which is why Clint Eastwood used it to double for the South Pacific’s Iwo Jima in “Flags of Our Fathers.” It’s not just Arizona’s famous canyons, deserts and lakes that can twin for foreign lands: Although set in the Middle East, Universal’s “The Kingdom” was primarily filmed in the Phoenix area.
Posted 29 March, 2009 in IL News
MICHIGAN has sent out the first two rebate checks for 2008 productions. A total of $48 million in rebates will be paid for 2008. Legislation has been introduced that would reduce the 40%-42% credit to 35%, with a ceiling of $50 million per year. Commercials, currently excluded from the program, would become eligible. There does not seem to be much support for this legislation. (reported by The Incentives Office)
Posted 29 March, 2009 in IL News
ILLINOIS reports forty applications, twelve for feature films or episodic television, since the tax credit was increased to 30% last year. There is no yearly ceiling on the credit, but only state residents and vendors qualify, with a ceiling of $100,000 per hire.
Posted 10 January, 2009 in IL News
On December 15, 2008, Illinois enacted an amendment to the Film Production Services Tax Credit Act of 2008. Specifically, the new legislation provides that for an accredited production commencing on or after January 1, 2009, the amount of the credit is 30% (instead of 20% for the previous years) of the Illinois production spending for the taxable year, plus 15% of the Illinois labor expenditures generated by the employment of residents from geographic areas of high poverty or high unemployment. The new law also repeals the section that provides for the sunset on January 1, 2009.
Posted 10 June, 2008 in IL News
The Illinois Film Office is proud to announce that
Governor Blagojevich has signed the
Illinois Film Tax Credit into law.
Please visit the Illinois Film Office on the web at www.illinoisfilm.biz
or call 312 814-3600 for more details.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACTS:
May 27, 2008 Abby Ottenhoff 312/814.3158
Rebecca Rausch 217/782.7355
David Rudduck 312/814.3158
Ashley Cross (DCEO) 312/814.8193
Marcelyn Love (DCEO) 217/558.1542
GOV. BLAGOJEVICH SIGNS FILM TAX CREDIT
LEGISLATION
Illinois film industry reached an all-time record of nearly $155
million in 2007, 80 percent increase over 2006
CHICAGO – Building on his commitment to help the Illinois film industry continue to
achieve record success, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed House Bill 2482,
legislation that renews the Illinois Film Tax Credit. The Governor was joined at the
signing by Harold Ramis, life-long Chicago actor, writer, producer and director first
made famous by his role as Dr. Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters
II (1989), and by up and coming producer John W. Bosher who is finishing up work on
the movie “Chicago Overcoat,� which was filmed entirely in Chicago. Also joining the
Governor was the star of “Chicago Overcoat� and former “Sopranos� actor, Frank
Vincent.
“The Film Tax Credit put Illinois back on the film industry’s map and helped Illinois
achieve record revenues of $155 million for 2007. I am pleased to bring together two
generations of local filmmakers for this event today to highlight Illinois’ deep talent pool.
By renewing this tax credit, we’re holding on to our competitive position and ensuring
that filmmakers will continue coming here to make their movies. I want to thank the
members of the General Assembly who worked hard to pass this legislation,� said Gov.
Blagojevich.
The Illinois Film Tax Credit brings revenue and jobs to the state by offering a 20 percent
tax credit to filmmakers for money spent for Illinois goods and services including wages
paid to Illinois residents. The bill passed convincingly in both chambers. HB 2482 was
sponsored by Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) in the Senate and Reps. Ken Dunkin (DChicago)
and Angelo Saviano (R-River Grove) in the House.
In 2000, Illinois began suffering a mass exodus of the film industry as other states began
enacting film incentives. By 2003, the Illinois film industry had fallen to an all-time low
of $23 million. In response, Gov. Blagojevich enacted the Illinois Film Tax Credit. Since
its passage, the film industry has rebounded dramatically. The film industry reached an
all-time record of nearly $155 million in 2007. This represents the single best year in the
state’s history – and an 80 percent increase over 2006.
“The Film Tax Credit is critical to ensuring that Illinois remains a top filming location. I
applaud Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois Film Office for their work to make Illinois
competitive within the film industry,� said Harold Ramis. “As a life-long Chicagoan, I
love that I can film movies like The Ice Harvest in Illinois, bringing jobs and revenue to
our great state.�
“The Film Tax Credit has helped us through many stages of the production process,�
said “Overcoat� Producer John W. Bosher. “Some filmmakers may not realize that this
legislation not only defrays on-site production and editing costs, but also gives us the
ability to assuage investor concerns by providing a guaranteed 15 to 20% return on their
investment. Essentially, this tax credit has made Illinois the most economically
advantageous option for every aspect of our film including post-production.�
The film industry has a sizable impact on the Illinois economy and brings thousands of
jobs to the state each year. In 2007, Illinois film productions made more than 26,500 hires
in Illinois – a 110 percent increase over 2006. A number of films and television shows
were produced in Illinois in 2007 including: “The Dark Knight� (Batman); “Wanted,�
starring Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman; “Fred Claus,� with Vince Vaughn; “Meet
the Browns,� starring Angela Bassett; “ER� (TV show), and “My Boys� (TV show).
“We had a record year in the Illinois film industry in 2007 with nearly $155 million in
profits and over 26,000 job hires. This was possible in large part because of the film tax
credit, and I’m proud to have helped sponsor this bill to maintain that momentum. With
over 40 states providing film incentives, it’s important that Illinois offer an incentive to
remain competitive,� Sen. Hendon said.
“Incentives like the film tax credit go a long way in helping Illinois to maintain an edge
and keep us competitive against other major film production areas. It’s great that we can
utilize these incentives to achieve something even greater – putting more people to work
and bringing in greater revenues across the state,� said Rep. Dunkin.
“Having productions film in the state not only provides an opportunity for us to showcase
what Illinois has to offer, but also brings in much needed revenue and helps provide
employment for thousands of people. If you compare revenues from 2007 to 2003, the
year before the FTC was enacted, it is evident the tremendous impact the credit has had
on the state economy. We look forward to continuing that growth in 2008,� Rep. Saviano
said.
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the
most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a
one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has
divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and
expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is
about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable,
more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of
the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving
infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully
partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois
reach its economic potential.
“We are always seeking innovative ways to promote Illinois as a place to do business.
And while we have had record success, we must do what’s necessary to maintain Illinois’
competitiveness and provide companies with the resources they need to be profitable.
Being able to offer incentives like the film tax credit is critical to that effort. We are
pleased that the General Assembly passed this legislation and look forward to another
successful year in 2008,� DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.
###
Julie Morgan
Public Relations/Special Events
Illinois Film Office
312-814-3204
Posted 29 March, 2008 in IL News
No status change – Still in the Senate, Legislation returns to session on April 1. They are hoping to get the senate vote that day and wrap it up by April 4, 2008
The IFO advises that although the Illinois Film Tax Credit has not yet
been renewed, Governor Blagojevich remains committed to the credit and
we have every confidence that the credit will be extended as soon as the
state’s budget issues are resolved. However, we want to let you know that
the current tax credit expires December 31, 2007.
IMPORTANTNOTICE: If you have a project that you are
considering bringing to Illinois, you must submit an application
(found atwww.illinoisfilm.biz) by December31 ,2007.st Per State
of Illinois rules and regulations, applicants have two years from the
date of application to complete the statutory requirements and receive
the tax credit. As details of a project are often in flux, an application
filed by December 31 , 2007 can be amended after that date provided
that the amendments relate to original project content.st
|
