The Essential Guide to U.S. & International Production Incentives, 2009, 2nd Edition, edited by Joseph Chianese, Marco Cordova, and Barbara Rosenfeld, is now available. Contact our group to order your copy at no charge. The 2nd Edition features a new programming matrix (for U.S. and Canada only) to help distinguish what types of projects qualify for each jurisdiction offering a film incentive.
Monthly Production Incentives Email Updates Archive of previous newsletters is now available. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.
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Recent Updates, as of November 3, 2009, have been posted to the website.
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EP Incentive Solutions and New Website Introducing EP Incentive Solutions, our comprehensive suite of service offerings covering all aspects of the production incentives arena. The expert service you have come to depend upon from the EP team has now been taken one step further with the release of a totally revamped website. Visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for the most up-to-date incentives information, including a new extensive glossary covering types of incentives, eligibility criteria, benefit limits and other key issues to consider. Even more exciting is our brand new incentives comparison tool. Directly from our website you may now select up to three U.S. or international jurisdictions and with the click of a button compare the type of incentives, benefits, caps, eligibility criteria, sunset dates, application considerations, loan-out company considerations, and crew base considerations offered to U.S. producers.You can also compare qualified expenditures in general and qualified compensation for U.S. film incentives.Lastly, compare what type of nontraditional programming qualifies for each U.S. jurisdiction offering an incentive. EPPS Preferred Vendor List Preferred vendor lists are now available for EPPS Purchasing, Inc., which provides production equipment and supplies, at competitive rates, in certain states to help maximize your production incentives. Please contact Marco Cordova at 818.955.6278 regarding our EPPS Purchasing, Inc., services. Want to be a preferred EPPS Purchasing, Inc., vendor? Please contact Mary Ann McBride at 412.956.7325 for more information. EP Incentive Solutions Please contact EP's production incentives specialists by email or by phone at 818.955.6216 if you have any questions regarding your next production. We can help you budget your next production and find the most beneficial incentives at no charge. We also provide fee-based services for production incentives administration, finance facilitation, corporate-structure planning, and agreed-upon consulting projects. Visit our Services section for more information and contact information for our EP Incentive Solutions specialists.
U.S. Updates For more information on incentives in each state, visit the U.S. Overview on our website and click on the state of interest.
CALIFORNIA - Los Angeles The City Council adopted recommendations from Councilman Richard Alarcon's proposed package of incentives to reduce the costs of filming in Los Angeles (see File No. 08-1783, ABC news article, LA Times news article). FLORIDA A representative of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission is hoping to see legislation introduced to convert the film and digital-media incentives to tax credits, so as to compete more effectively with other states (see news article). HAWAII Tax Information Release 2009-05 contains revised proposed administrative rules that will be submitted to the Governor for approval and formal adoption. These rules contain a safe harbor for production companies utilizing loan-out companies, as well as requirements for independent certification of production costs and on-set/on-location access. The latter two requirements are voluntary pending adoption of formal rules. (The release is available on the Film Office website.)
IOWA Governor Culver issued a statement regarding the preliminary review of the tax credit program completed by Clifton Gunderson LLP. Attorney General Tom Miller issued a statement regarding the current criminal investigation and his Office's intention to recover "tax credits or funds obtained illegally or not in compliance with the Film Office statute." In the meantime, Culver appointed Fred Hubbell as Interim Director of Economic Development with directions not to proceed with the program until the legislation ensures an effective investment for the state's economic development and "real" job creation for Iowans, with proper controls and oversight. KENTUCKY Governor Beshear announced the appointment of Nina Clooney to chair the Kentucky Film Commission (see news article). LOUISIANA - Baton Rouge The Baton Rouge Film Commission is willing to provide cash incentives on a case-by-case basis to compete with other parishes in attracting major film projects with the potential to train needed crew (see news article). MASSACHUSETTS An ad hoc revenue subcommittee is analyzing the state's many tax credits, exemptions and incentives in preparation for another round of budget cuts. While there is strong support for the film incentive, critics are pushing a bill to revive a cap on credits of $7 million per picture. (See news article.) MICHIGAN Governor Granholm signed the budget bill (SB 245) without any changes to the film incentive. Another bill, passed by the Senate and sent to the House Taxation Committee (SB 838), would reduce the direct production expenditure credit to 39% in core communities (37% elsewhere), and cap compensation at $1 million (including compensation paid to producers). Amongst other changes, the bill would increase the infrastructure credit to 32% and impose an annual cap on the credit for qualified commercials at $15 million. MINNESOTA The Iron Range Resources Board approved a $150,000 grant to the Minnesota Film and TV Board to be used as a rebate for local expenditures if "The Convincer" is filmed in the area. (See news article.) MISSOURI Film Commissioner Jerry Jones is seeking support to increase the film incentive program benefits amidst competing budgetary demands. (See news article.) NEW MEXICO The state has implemented a reporting requirement for the film tax credit program, and the Film Office will now be required to obtain and submit production expenditure information on an aggregate basis (to protect proprietary information). A specialized unit in the Taxation and Revenue Department has been established to review and process film credit submissions, to be supervised by MaryAnn Fernandez. (See press release and news article.) NEW YORK - New York The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) has proposed to charge $3,200 for the ability to film or photograph in its buildings. In addition, DCAS has proposed a requirement that filming permits be obtained 7-days in advance. (See news article.) NEW YORK - Buffalo The Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corp. approved an incentive valued at $30,000 in "modest accommodations" for preproduction for a new film to be shot in the area (see news article). NORTH CAROLINA Entertainment Partners worked with the Film Office and Department of Revenue to design sample calculations of the new 25% "alternative credit." PENNSYLVANIA A new budget agreement has been signed by the Governor, which caps the film production tax credit annual funding at $42,000,000 for the 2009-2010 fiscal year and at $60,000,000 for the 2010-2011 fiscal year (see news article).
Entertainment Partners has purchased Workers' Compensation policies from local brokers throughout the United States to help maximize your production incentives! Listed below are those production incentives states where EP currently has a local policy.
More policies to be announced soon!
Entertainment Partners has an office in each of the following states to help maximize your production incentives (more to open soon!):
* EP and EPPS Purchasing, Inc., have a full-time Account Representative in Georgia to help maximize your production incentives benefits. Please contact Karen Sortor at 678.690.8469 for more information regarding our services in Georgia.
** EP and EPPS Purchasing, Inc. have full-time employees working in our Jefferson Parish office to help maximize your production incentives. Please contact Ryan Broussard at 504.296.2502 for more information regarding our services in Louisiana.
*** EP and EPPS Purchasing, Inc. have an office at The Ford Building in Detroit to help maximize your production incentives. Please contact Blane Hailemichael at 313.573.0018 for more information regarding our services in Michigan. **** EP and EPPS Purchasing, Inc., have an office at Albuquerque Studios. EP provides super loan-out services in New Mexico to help maximize your production incentives. For more information contact the EP Production Incentives Group.
***** EP and EPPS Purchasing, Inc., have a full-time Account Representative in Pennsylvania to help maximize your production incentive benefits. Please contact Mary Ann McBride at 412.956.7325 for more information regarding our services in Pennsylvania.
411 Publishing Webinar Series "Spotlight on Georgia, Michigan, and New Mexico" November 18, 2009, at 11:00 am (Pacific) Joseph Chianese will moderate this webinar presented by 411 Publishing and Variety.com in partnership with the Producers Guild of America. Representatives from Georgia, Michigan, and New Mexico will give an overview on what type of production incentives they have to offer, as well as commentary on their locations and infrastructure which will help producers meet their budgets and create the best looking film possible from a location stand-point.
Please visit the Happenings section of our website for updates.