Filmmaking incentives losing glamour in cash-strapped states

In a Troy office building where advertising executives once courted Motor City automakers, film production workers discuss which stretch of downtown Detroit would offer the best sense of urban decay. Down the hall, in a warehouse that has been converted to a makeshift studio, dozens of prop builders are fashioning blocks of foam and stacks of plywood to build a set for a rocky mine shaft.

For the next 11 weeks, the cast and crew of "Red Dawn," a remake of the 1980s action thriller that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is scheduled to release next year, will be working in Michigan. The film, starring Chris Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson, is one of dozens of Hollywood productions drawn in part by the state's generous film tax-credit program, which could shave as much as $14 million off the movie's estimated $54-million budget.

Nearly 95 miles to the west in the state capital of Lansing, lawmakers are wrestling with how to bridge a $2.7-billion budget gap -- and whether a state with the highest unemployment rate in the nation can afford to subsidize the movie business. The budget woes have hit cities across the state and have forced the layoffs of thousands of Michigan police officers and firefighters in recent years.

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Time to Celebrate! Entertainment Partners Declares June “Production Incentives Awareness Month”

Burbank, CA – June 2, 2009 Entertainment Partners (EP), a 100% employee-owned company and the leading provider of payroll and production management solutions for the entertainment industry, announced today its June lineup of events and materials to heighten industry awareness of the complex, critical topic of Production Incentives.

“We are proud to view ourselves truly as partners to our clients,” notes EP CEO and President Markham L. Goldstein. “Particularly in this economy, we consider any assistance that we can provide to minimize spending and maximize production opportunities to be part of our commitment to our clients.”

On Sunday, June 7, as part of the Producer’s Guild of America’s inaugural “Produced By” conference, EP is sponsoring “Made in the USA: Navigating Domestic Tax Incentives,” a sold-out panel featuring PGA East Chairman and production finance/risk management specialist John Hadity, EP incentives expert and Vice President Joseph Chianese, and recognized industry leader Mary Ann Hughes, Vice President Film Production Planning, Walt Disney Pictures.

Welcoming California to the production incentives mix, EP will proudly present the California Film Commission’s annual California Locations Reception at The London, West Hollywood, on June 16. “Entertainment Partners has been a loyal supporter of the California Film Commission and worked closely with us for years on the effort to create tax incentives for California. Their expertise in state-wide incentive programs proved to be a valuable resource to us. This year, with their support, we succeeded,” says California Film Commission Executive Director, Amy Lemisch.

Moving to the virtual world, EP will join with the Producer’s Guild of America and 411 Publishing to present a series of “webinars” designed to educate and inform the production community. The first session, “Incentives 101: What Every Producer Needs to Know to Maximize Production Incentives,” will be presented on June 24 at 11:00 am PDT. Free registration is available at www.LA411.com.

Finally, ending the month on a more tangible note, EP will release the latest edition of the complimentary The Essential Guide to U.S. & International Production Incentives. To order The Guide or get the most up-to-date, accurate information, please visit www.productionincentives.com.

“In reality,” Goldstein asserts, “at EP every month is ‘Production Incentives Awareness Month.’ But for those who may not be very familiar with the resources available, June is a great time to become acquainted.”