Below is a video of the PaFIA (Pennsylvania Film Industry Assocation) event I attended the other night regarding the support of tax credits for the film industry here in PA. It is very informative and helpful in understanding the issues.(For active discussion, click HERE for their Facebook page.)

The PaFIA is a new association aimed at educating people interested in growing the film industry in PA and lobbying for tax credits which are a relatively recent installation in our state that ballooned to 75 million in 2008 and were cut back to 42 million in 2009-2010 and will increase to 60 million in 2011. The tax credit program has made PA one of the top five states to create films since it is much more economical to come here to film.

I love having a strong local film industry because I have enjoyed being an extra in some of the big movies that have come to town and I also agree with giving incentives to economic growth – as long as it doesn't cripple other industries to do so. The way I see it, if the business can easily go somewhere else, why not give it a reason to stay? The unfortunate thing is that I would assume any given film is reliant on the creative whims of a director who needs the freedom to move where the content will look the best. That being said, an area equipped with the right tools can help anyone make any movie given current technology.

SO, who makes money on film production locally on a regular basis – when it is strong? I am taking a gander here: food services, car mechanics for speciality scenes, casting companies, acting schools, background actors who work other jobs but can fill in when needed, storage facilities, designers, make-up artists, hair stylists, moving trucks, etc.

I will be honest that I am still thinking through all of this – and asking everyone I think might know something about it. I am not for higher taxes or big government and I am for economic growth. BUT, our PA state government is currently cutting incentives – thus reducing the film making and growth. If you don't help an industry create a foundation (for example, by supporting efforts like a film studio that can create permanent jobs), can it grow or will it grow on it's own? hmmm. ..

What can I do about it – as an interested third party and writer? Do I want to do anything about it? That's what I am trying to learn as I ask my state reps, this association, and really anyone else. I teach and some of my students want to go into film. If I learn the issues, it gives me more to offer those just entering the field who have big dreams.

When I was at CPAC, I also asked Andrew Breitbart of Big Hollywood about state tax credits. He said it was killing Hollywood. Good or Bad?

I asked State Rep Tim Hennessey about his vote on this when I saw him this last Friday night. He says it was a tough year last year. The state had to look at what benefited the whole state not just a particular region like Philly where a lot of the filming has taken place and that he did agree with the credits when they had the money to offer them but last year they were cutting everything.

At XPAC, I asked Stephen Baldwin about tax credits (since he is in film and lives in NJ). He said, "There's film in PA?"

Yesterday at an open call for The Last Airbender, I talked to first assistant director John Rusk. I asked him about highlighting people who the industry did help in unexpected ways. He mentioned several ideas – including a blacksmith they regularly use (even though that particular guy was in Delaware). He also mentioned that without incentives, they had to move production to Toronto last year on movie they were making in the Fall. The incentives enable them to leverage financing and on a huge movie, that matters even more.

I am still asking because I like to look at the whole picture and see it from all angles. Mentally, I struggle with supporting an industry that more than half the time does not reflect my conservative values but I do believe it can be used for positive purposes and that is more likely to happen if the tools are here for those willing & able to use them.

Needless to say, this conversation will continue as I research it and learn more about it.

CNN article States use tax incentives to draw filmwork from Hollywood

PaFIA Speech 3/1/2010 from Jonathan Rocks on Vimeo.