Which States Are Getting Film-Making Opportunities

Judging by the popularity of the Oscars and other film awards ceremonies there are many people who are definitely interested in film, perhaps just not the whole background of film-making. But if you'll notice usually in the film credits, or sometimes even by outdoor background shots certain states are getting the lion's share of the film business.

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Just a few years ago it used to be that nearly all of the filming was done either in New York City or Los Angeles, California. The joke used to be that the movie industry didn't know there was a United States in between the two. In the 1970s the Mary Tyler Moore show was based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which although it wasn't all film there they were at least acknowledging another area of the country. In the last few years another phenomenon has taken hold, which is the tax credits made available by states to filmmakers.

The last 10 years the State of Louisiana has been a major player in aggressively pursuing this industry through the use of these tax credits, and it is made the Bayou State the nation's top feature film production capital. Georgia is another state that has actively pursued this business. They have become very popular with the residents, but that might be due to a fundamental misunderstanding in what a tax credit really is. It is not something that simply reduces the filmmaker's tax burden, but is an actual giveaway for a film production company to make a film in that state.

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Though it's true that states have always given something to businesses so that they will come in and produce jobs, in this case the jobs are temporary, effectively ending when the film is wrapped. A new subsidy is needed to bring in the next project, which again doesn't last.

It's probably not surprising that these tax credits have become quite controversial in many states. It would seem like Florida would have more going for it with weather, infrastructure already built and other advantages for movie-making, but they have only dabbled in the tax credit game. Florida a few years ago allocated six years of incentives but it was given out very quickly, and now they are lagging behind the more aggressive states. If any state wants to get in on the action they're obviously going to have to put up the money with a questionable return on their investment. It will be interesting what will occur in the movie industry if all states decide to take a pass.

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