Thanks for inviting me, Gene!

Letter From Newton's Frank Liebl on Film's Impact!

The following was an e-mail I received today, exactly what I was hoping for.... be sure to send YOURS!!!! Thank you to Frank Liebl for sending this!

Gene,

Here’s some information that I gathered from my files pertaining to the film that was shot mostly in Newton.

Underground Films shot a movie in Newton in August of 2009. They filmed about 4 weeks and actually were in town 2 to 3 weeks prior to that getting things set-up and arranged. Our office assisted them in many ways:

· We helped them find lodging (both apartments and motels)
· They catered about 70 meals 2 times daily to the site.
· We arranged for them to rent a facility for most of the shoot, (They were so impressed with site they were talking about possibly shooting another film here.)
· We put them in touch with businesses that provided some of the following services:
1. Security
2. Phone/internet service
3. Air Quality Testing
4. Power Washer service
5. Rental Cars
6. Dumpsters
7. Portable Air Conditioning
8. Seamstress
9. Cleaning Services
10. Bookkeeping
11. Not to mention the cast and crew also spent money at Restaurants, night clubs, hardware stores, supermarkets, gas stations, lumber yards, rental equipment places, auto parts stores, Goodwill and Salvation Army Thrift stores.
12. They also interviewed and hired some local and area people to fill positions such as:
a. Prop master
b. Prop assistant
c. Set decorator
d. Swing gang
e. On-set dresser
f. Set construction
g. Art PA

· They also cast a lot of local people as extras in some scenes for the movie.

Even though we don’t have a figure on how much money was spent in the 4 to 6 weeks they were in Newton, you can see by the services they needed it was significant. We found it to be a positive experience.

We even had a couple of calls from University of Iowa graduates, one who is currently working in Hollywood wanting to know if the film industry was going to “take off” in Iowa, because he would like to move back to Iowa and continue working in the field.

Hope this information helps.



Frank Liebl
Executive Director
Newton Development Corporation

Hello Everyone,

I just sent out letters to the chambers of commerce in towns/cities I could think of that had movies shot in their communities, asking them to send me accounts of how movies being shot in their towns positively impacted them. If you have accounts or know someone who would write, please help by sending those accounts to my blog, Iowa Film Insider (http://iowafilminsider.blogspot.com/), or my facebook group, I.A.C.T., or even directly to me via email and I will copy and paste into the blog...

My aim is to keep the blog and facebook group alive from now until the next iowa legislature convenes again in January. This spring and summer I plan to work with Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr., and other legislators and colleagues on redesigning a new Iowa film bill, one that Mr. Dotzler and others promise will NOT have a suspension feature, thus erasing the present three year suspension.

Thanks!!!

gino

Nicolas Bertelsen Shares Movie Tax Credit Info

Nick Bertelsen is in film school in California I believe. He used to work at Cinequipt movie equipment rental in Des Moines and I used to rent crap from him. Thanks, Nick, for sending the below. Please stay in touch!! Hopefully, the right people will read this attachment. Heck, maybe even Senator Herman C. Quirmbach will even read it! (pictured: me wonderin' if Senator Quirmbach will read this).
Basic Overview of
U.S. and International Production Incentives *

* These materials have been prepared by Entertainment Partners for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax advice or relied on for specific projects. The materials were updated as of December 29, 2009. Though every effort has been made to remain current, laws and incentives change and therefore this information may have been revised. Please contact your legal or tax advisors to confirm any laws or effect of incentives on your project. For updates and more information, please visit our website at www.epincentivesolutions.com.
Joe Chianese Kathleen Kane
Vice President Sr. Account Executive Business Development and Production Planning Business Development and Production Planning
jchianese@entertainmentpartners.com kkane@entertainmentpartners.com
Marco Cordova Director Business Development and Production Planning mcordova@entertainmentpartners.com
www.entertainmentpartners.com www.epincentivesolutions.com
U.S. DOMESTIC
U.S. FEDERAL *
Type of Incentive: Immediate deduction 
Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 100% of the production cost (up to $15,000,000 or $20,000,000) 
Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Deduction applies to the first $15,000,000 of 
production costs ($20,000,000 if incurred in designated low-income areas) 
Project Criteria: ≥ 75% of total “compensation” (does not include participations and residuals) must be for 
services performed in the U.S. 
Sunset/Review: December 31, 2009

* An extenders bill has been passed by the House, including IRC section 181. Due to time constraints, the Senate is not expected to pass it until next year, on a retroactive basis.
ALABAMA Type of Incentive: Refundable income tax credit Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 25% of qualified spend (excluding payroll to residents) and 35% of all payroll to residents Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Annual funding caps, including incentives granted for sales, use, and lodging taxes: $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2011 and subsequent years Project Criteria: For qualified state-certified productions (excluding productions limited to only soundtrack projects): minimum spend = $500,000 and maximum spend = $10,000,000; qualified soundtrack projects: minimum spend = $50,000 and maximum spend = $300,000 Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
ALASKA Type of Incentive: Transferable tax credit (with 3-year carry forward) Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 30% of qualifying production local spend, plus 10% for wages paid to Alaska residents, plus 2% for expenditures in a rural area, plus 2% for expenditures between October 1 and March 30 Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Aggregate tax credits ≤ $100,000,000 Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $100,000 in consecutive 24-month period Sunset/Review: The earlier of exhaustion of the cap or July 1, 2013; reports to the legislature are required within 30 days after the start of each regular session Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: N/A (state does not impose sales & use tax)
ARIZONA * Type of Incentive: Transferable production and infrastructure income tax credits (with 5-year carry forward) Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 20% of qualifying production local spend between $250,000 and $1,000,000; 30% of qualifying production local spend > $1,000,000; 15% of base investment in eligible infrastructure projects Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $8,000,000 per project in 2009, and $9,000,000 per project in 2010; $60,000,000 total funding ($43,256,104 remaining as of May 22, 2009) for 2009, and $70,000,000 total funding for 2010, 5% of the total is reserved for use with respect to commercial advertisement and music video production Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $250,000 in 24 months; 50% of full-time employees = residents in 2009 to 2010 Sunset/Review: December 31, 2010 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
* HB 2611 and HB 2472 were held in committee and held awaiting committee of whole as of December 17, 2009.
Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information.
ARKANSAS Type of Incentive: Rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 15% of qualifying local spend; plus 10% of below-the-line payroll paid to full-time Arkansas residents Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Salaries > $500,000 are excluded; there are no project caps; funding shall consist of revenues as authorized by law; applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis Project Criteria: Minimum local spend ≥$50,000 within 6 months. Payments must be made from an Arkansas financial institution. Sunset/Review: June 30, 2019 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
CALIFORNIA * Type of Incentive: Non-refundable, non-transferable (except for “independent films” or transfers to affiliates) income tax credit (with 5-year carry forward), or sales and use tax credit (with 5-year carry forward); income tax credits cannot be applied until 2011 Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 20% of qualifying local spend in the case of qualifying features, MOWs, miniseries, and new television series for basic cable; 25% of qualifying local spend for qualifying “relocating” television series and “independent films” Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: No compensation caps; feature film budget cap of $75,000,000; “independent film” budget cap of $10,000,000; $100,000,000 funding per fiscal year from 2009/2010 to 2013/2014; ≤ $10,000,000 a year set aside for “independent films”; annual allotment on first-come, first-served basis, and may use 1 subsequent year’s funding Project Criteria: ≥ 75% of the production days or total production budget within the state; minimum budget of $1,000,000 for a feature film, an independent film, and a new television series; minimum budget of $500,000 for MOWs and miniseries; “independent films” qualify if produced by a company that is not publicly traded or owned > 25% by publicly traded companies Sunset/Review: June 30, 2014 Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes
* Principal photography of the qualified motion picture commences after the date on which the application is approved by the California Film Commission, but no later than 180 days after the date of that approval.
San Francisco, CA Type of Incentive: Film and Television rebate program Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 100% of "qualified production cost" (100% of City costs and the 1.5% payroll tax) Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $600,000 project cap; $1,800,000 in funding committed over three year period beginning July 1, 2009; the Board of Supervisors has authorized $400,000 for the 2009-2010 fiscal year; once the $400,000 is depleted, the Board can authorize additional amounts Project Criteria: A "qualified low-budget film production" (budget ≤ $3,000,000) must spend ≥ 55% of total principal photography days exclusively in the City; a "qualified film production" (budget > $3,000,000) must spend ≥ 65% of total principal photography days exclusively in the City. The production office must be located in the City and County of S.F.; the qualified production must enter into an agreement with the City that demonstrates good faith efforts to participate in the City's First Source Hiring program. Sunset/Review: June 30, 2012 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
Santa Clarita, CA Type of Incentive: Subsidy of permit fees for locally based and recurring productions Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): Waiver/subsidy of MOST Film Office permitting and use
Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information.
fees for locally based productions; refund/waiver/subsidy of basic permit processing fees for recurring productions Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $150,000 (all incentives combined) for fiscal year 2009 Project Criteria: Locally based productions must meet the following criteria: (1) have ≥ $1,000,000 per feature film, episodic television episode and per television pilots, movies, and mini-series, (2) principal photography in Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) ≥ 65%, and (3) crew must be ≥ 15% SCV residents; recurring productions either (1) pulls six local permit fees within fiscal year 2009, or (2) production is based at a sound stage or movie ranch within SCV ≥ four consecutive weeks Sunset/Review: June 30, 2010 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
COLORADO Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 10% of qualifying local spend Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $3,000,000 cap on compensation; 2009-2010 fiscal year funding is set at $600,000 by the General Assembly, less $480,011. Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $100,000 for qualified local companies, $1,000,000 for out of state companies; ≥ 75% of below-the-line budget = qualified local spend; ≥ 75% payroll = qualified local payroll Sunset/Review: July 1, 2017 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
CONNECTICUT Type of Incentive: Transferable production expense credit; transferable infrastructure project credit; transferable digital animation production company credit (3 transfers allowed with 3-year carry forward from year incurred) Benefit: (if eligibility requirements are met): 30% of production expenses with phase out of those incurred outside the state and used within (January 1, 2009 = 50% exclusion, January 1, 2010 = 100% exclusion); 10% to 20% of qualifying infrastructure investments; 30% of qualifying digital animation production costs, including optioning or purchase of IP rights if such expenses are <> $50,000 per year (an interactive website must spend > $500,000 per year); for state-certified infrastructure projects costing > $15,000 and < $150,000, the credit is 10% of the investment; if the cost is ≥ $150,000 but < $1,000,000, the credit is 15% of the investment; and for projects costing ≥ $1,000,000, the credit is 20%; for tax years beginning January 1, 2010, a 10% credit is available for minimum qualifying local spend of $100,000 to $500,000; a credit of 15% is available for spend of $501,000 to $1,000,0000; and a 30% credit is available for a qualifying local spend in excess of $1,000,000 for the film and digital animation credits; film projects must meet a 50% local principal photography requirement or 50% of post-production costs. Sunset/Review: None; review annually for "Workforce Competitiveness" status report; sections 12-217jj, kk and ll are amended, subject to annual review Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information. DELAWARE Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: N/A (State does not impose sales & use tax) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Type of Incentive: Rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): Effective October 15, 2009, and subject to available funding, the incentive is increased to 42% of qualifying direct production expenditures subject to DC tax or 21% of those that are not subject to DC tax; 30% of the qualified personnel expenditures; 50% of qualified job training expenditures and 25% of the base infrastructure investment Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Funding is determined on a case-by-case basis Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $250,000 Sunset/Review: Annual review on or before December 31 of each year, for the fiscal year concluding September 30 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No (however, grant program may apply) FLORIDA Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 15% of qualifying local spend (10% for digital media projects); 5% bonus if 75% of production days in Florida between June 1st and November 30th (digital media and independent filmmaker projects are not eligible for the 5% bonus); additional 2% family-friendly bonus with strict definitions Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Cap on residents’ compensation of $400,000 for the general production and independent Florida filmmaker queues, and $200,000 for the digital media queue; $10,800,000 (for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009) annual fund with 85% appropriated to general projects, 10% appropriated to independent Florida filmmaker projects, and 5% appropriated to digital media projects; first-come, first-served on a fiscal-year basis; productions can cross fiscal years Project Criteria: ≥ 50% of cast (including extras) and below-the-line crew must be residents or eligible students; minimum local spend = $625,000 for general production projects. Independent Florida Filmmaker projects minimum local spend = $100,000 and maximum spend = $625,000 and must employ Florida worker in six key positions. Digital Media projects minimum local spend = $300,000. Sunset/Review: October 1st Annual Report; unexpended balance of appropriated funds reverts after June 30, 2009 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes GEORGIA Type of Incentive: Transferable tax credit (1 transfer to 1 or more transferees with 5-year carry forward) Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 20% of the “base investment” in the state, plus 10% if the qualified production activities include a “qualified Georgia promotion” Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: There is a $500,000 per person per project cap on W-2 salaries, but no cap on compensation paid to loan-outs or subject to 1099 reporting; no project or funding caps Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $500,000 Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes HAWAII Type of Incentive: Refundable income tax credit Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 15% of qualifying spend in Hawaiian counties with a population ≥ 700,000 (currently only Honolulu county) and 20% of qualifying spend in Hawaiian counties with a population < spend =" $200,000" spend =" $200,000;"> $50,000 for productions <> $100,000 for productions ≥ 30 minutes Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
INDIANA Type of Incentive: Refundable tax credit Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): Up to 15% of qualified production expenditures for productions based upon agreement executed with Film Indiana and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: No per project cap; $2,500,000 funding per year.
Project Criteria: Theatrical and television projects must incur or make qualified production expenditures ≥ $100,000; digital media productions, audio recording or music video, radio or television advertising, and training, external marketing or communications media productions must incur or make qualified production expenditures ≥ $50,000 Sunset/Review: December 31, 2011 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
IOWA * Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
* The incentives program has been temporarily suspended.
KANSAS * Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
* The film production credit for tax years 2009 and 2010 has been suspended.
Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information.
KENTUCKY Type of Incentive: Refundable credit payable on/after July 1, 2010 Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 20% of (1) qualifying expenditures, (2) qualifying payroll paid to below-the-line crew, and (3) qualifying payroll paid to "above-the-line crew" Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $100,000 per person cap on above-the-line "crew" (actors, directors, producers, writers) Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $500,000 for a "motion picture production," $200,000 for a commercial, and $50,000 for a documentary. Sunset/Review: December 31, 2014 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
LOUISIANA Type of Incentive: Partially refundable, fully transferable motion picture production tax credits; as a last resort, the credits can be transferred to the state of Louisiana for 85% of face value on projects certified on/after July 1, 2009 Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 30% of qualifying local spend including the payroll for residents and non-residents, and 5% of resident payroll ≤ $1,000,000 Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $1,000,000 per person cap on 5% resident payroll credit; no project or funding caps Project Criteria: Minimum local spend > $300,000 Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
Jefferson Parish, LA Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 3% of lodging, payroll for residents, and all other local spend Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $100,000 per project cap for new productions by a production company that has not previously received Jefferson Parish incentives; $115,000 per project cap for subsequent productions (must bring project within 12 months of prior project); $10,000 increase to per project cap for productions having a production office and leasing a soundstage in Jefferson Parish; annual program funding varies Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $150,000; must either (1) have local production office or (2) utilize soundstage or alternative filming facility located in Jefferson Parish Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
Shreveport, LA Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): Sales taxes paid on lodging, lease, rental and other local production expenditures Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $150,000 cap on new productions; $165,000 cap on subsequent productions within 12 mos.; $10,000 cap increase if a Caddo Parish-based post production company is used. Project Criteria: Minimum qualifying local spend = $300,000; must either (1) have its production office within Caddo Parish or (2) utilize a soundstage within the Parish Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information.
MAINE * Type of Incentive: Wage rebate (and non-refundable tax credit for investment in certified media productions) Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 10% on non-residents; 12% on residents Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Wages are capped at $1,000,000 per person; no project or funding caps Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $250,000 in 12 consecutive months Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
* LD 1449/HP 1005 which proposed to expand the incentive, will be carried over to any special or regular session of the 124th legislative session.
MARYLAND Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 25% of qualifying local spend Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: No per project cap; $1,000,000 program budget for 2009-2010 fiscal year beginning July 1st Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $500,000; > 50% of production must be local Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
MASSACHUSETTS Type of Incentive: Partially refundable, transferable tax credit; 5-year carry forward from year incurred (NOTE: Taxpayer may elect to receive a 90% refund of the credit to the extent credits are first applied to taxes) Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 25% of payroll in the state (excluding persons paid ≥ $1,000,000); no 50% test (see below) for payroll credit; 25% of local spend (including salaries ≥ $1,000,000) if either: (i) > 50% of total production expenses are incurred within the state, or (ii) ≥ 50% of principal photography days are within the state Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: No caps Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $50,000 Sunset/Review: December 31, 2022 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
MICHIGAN * Type of Incentive: Refundable and transferable business tax credit (or non-refundable, non-transferable income tax credit); non-refundable, transferable infrastructure investment tax credit (and non-refundable, non-transferable qualified job training expenditure credit for resident below-the-line crew with a 10-year carry forward) Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 42% of qualifying direct production expenditures in “core communities” or 40% of direct production expenditures in other locations; 30% of qualified personnel expenditures, i.e. nonresident below-the-line crew (or 50% qualified job training expenditure credit for resident below-the-line crew); 25% infrastructure investment tax credit Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $2,000,000 cap per person for compensation for personal services for direct production and qualifying personnel expenditures; $20,000,000 annual cap for infrastructure investments Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $50,000 for direct production and qualifying personnel credit; $250,000 for infrastructure investment tax credit Sunset/Review: Annual report required for the direct production and qualifying personnel credits; September 30, 2015 for the infrastructure investment credit Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No Loan Program Available: Yes
* Numerous bills have been introduced to modify the existing film incentives. Click here to search for bills.
Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information.
MINNESOTA Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 15% to 20% of qualifying local spend Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $1,250,000 appropriation to film production jobs program during fiscal year 2010 Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $5,000,000 within a 12-month period for the 20% credit; local principal photography ≥ 60% for feature films; minimum local spend ≥ 60% of total budget for TV series, internet programs, documentaries, music videos, and TV commercials; total production budget ≥ $200,000 for internet programs, documentaries, and TV commercials (no budget requirements if the commercial project has a national distribution) and ≥ $50,000 for music videos Sunset/Review: Until all funds are expended Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes, for commercial productions
MISSISSIPPI Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 20% of the qualifying local spend; 20% of payroll paid to nonresidents and 25% of payroll paid to residents Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Up to $1,000,000 on individual resident and nonresident payroll qualifies for the rebate; $8,000,000 rebate cap per project; $20,000,000 fiscal year cap (as of February 15, 2009, $18,000,000 - $19,000,000 of funding remains during current fiscal year) Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $20,000 in base investment and/or payroll Sunset/Review: No sunset date for the main rebate; the non-resident payroll rebate expires on June 30, 2012 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
MISSOURI* Type of Incentive: Transferable tax credit; 5-year carry forward from year incurred Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 35% of qualifying local spend, excluding compensation > $1,000,000 paid to any person Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $4,500,000 annual funding Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $50,000 if <> 30 minutes in length Sunset/Review: November 28, 2013 (unless reauthorized) Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
* HB 767, to increase the annual funding to $10,000,000, has not progressed since April 28, 2009.
MONTANA Type of Incentive: Refundable tax credit Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 14% of residents’ wages; 9% of qualifying local spend; new requirement that eligible expenditures must be paid in full before credit is claimed Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Per person cap of first $50,000 on resident wages; no project or annual caps Project Criteria: No minimum spend; certification Sunset/Review: December 31, 2014 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: N/A (State does not impose sales & use tax)
NEBRASKA Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
NEVADA Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information.
NEW HAMPSHIRE Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: N/A (state does not impose sales & use tax except for rooms and meals)
NEW JERSEY * Type of Incentive: Transferable tax credit Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 20% of qualifying local spend and qualified digital media production spend Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Cannot reduce tax liability by > 50%; $10,000,000 per year Project Criteria: ≥ 60% of total spend (excluding post-production) must be local; local digital media content production expenses must be ≥ 2,000,000 Sunset/Review: June 30, 2015 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes Loan Program Available: Yes
* A4160 and S3002 include the following proposed changes: make the credit refundable, increase the credit to 40% on qualified film production expenses (it remains 20% for digital media production expenses) with an additional 2% credit for purchases in or services provided by a resident of an Urban Enterprise Zone, reduce the local expenditure requirement to 50%, increase the annual cap on film production credits to $50,000,000.
NEW MEXICO Type of Incentive: Refundable tax credit * Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 25% of qualifying local spend Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: There is a $5,000,000 cap per project on the credit for all “performing artists’ ” compensation (i.e., amounts paid to performing artists in excess of $20,000,000 will be not be eligible for the credit); there are no other project or funding caps Project Criteria: None Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes Loan Program Available: Yes
* Productions may benefit from either the gross receipts tax deduction/sales tax exemption or the 25% refundable tax credit, but not from both.
NEW YORK * Type of Incentive: Refundable film production tax credit; there is also an investment tax credit for qualified film production facilities Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 30% of qualifying production local spend; 4% to 5% of the eligible investment credit base Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $75,000,000 in 2009, $85,000,000 in 2010, $90,000,000 in 2011 and 2012, $110,000,000 in 2013; annual allotment on first-come, first-served basis (if exhausted, carries over to next year’s allotment); additional funding of $350,000,000 was authorized in April
Project Criteria: Qualified production costs at a qualified film production facility must be ≥ 75% of such costs within and outside NY (requires at least 1 day at a qualified facility on a set); if production costs at a qualified facility are < $3,000,000, then shooting days in NY outside qualified production facility must be ≥ 75% of shooting days within and outside NY. The investment tax credit is available for tangible property containing at least 1 sound stage ≥ 7,000 SF, which is principally used as a qualified film production facility and the taxpayer provides ≥ 3 qualified services, including but not limited to studio lighting grid, lighting and grip equipment, multi-line phone service, broadband information technology access, industrial scale electrical capacity, food services, security services, and heating, ventilation and A/C Sunset/Review: December 31, 2013 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information. Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes * There are 3 bills pending to modify the state film production credit: A05784 establishing a post-production credit, A08144 including writer salaries and fees within eligible production costs, and A09060 removing the cap on the aggregate amount of tax credits allowed. New York, NY * Type of Incentive: Refundable tax credit (to the extent not used to offset taxes, the refund will be paid in 2 equal payments in the current and following tax years) Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 5% of qualifying local spend, and outdoor media valued at 1% Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $30,000,000 annual cap on first-come, first-served basis (if exhausted, carries over to next year’s allotment) Project Criteria: Qualified production costs at a qualified film production facility must be ≥ 75% of such costs within and outside NYC; if qualified production costs are < $3,000,000, then shooting days in NYC outside qualified production facility must be ≥ 75% of shooting days within and outside NYC.; location costs and post-production costs qualify if ≥ $3,000,000 is spent in a qualified facility Sunset/Review: December 31, 2011 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes * There are 3 bills pending to modify the city film production credit: A00229 increasing the credit to 15%, A08761 to reduce the rate of the credit, phase out TV series, and impose a cap, and A08805 establishing an incentive for qualified independent film production companies, authorizing additional credits. NORTH CAROLINA Type of Incentive: Refundable tax credits Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 15% of qualifying local spend (NC income tax credits are subject to NC tax; therefore, net film credit is 13.97% after tax); beginning January 1, 2010, an "alternative" refundable credit has been added at the rate of 25%, subject to sales and use tax adjustments and the state income tax Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Cap of $1,000,000 on compensation; $7,500,000 per feature film; no other caps Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $250,000 Sunset/Review: December 31, 2013 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes NORTH DAKOTA Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No OHIO Type of Incentive: Refundable tax credit Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 25% of qualifying local spend excluding resident cast and crew; 35% of resident cast and crew Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Per project cap of $5,000,000; $30,000,000 funding for the fiscal biennium July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2011; $20,000,000 for subsequent biennia (not more than $10,000,000 may be allowed in the first year) Project Criteria: Minimum qualified local spend must > $300,000 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
OKLAHOMA Type of Incentive: Cash rebate; non-refundable, non-transferable income tax credits for construction of Oklahoma (OK) film/music facilities and for investment in OK film/music projects *
Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information.
Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 35% Film Enhancement Rebate, BONUS: 2% for OK music/recording; 10% to 25% credit for construction of OK film/music facilities; 25% credit for investment in film/music project Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $5,000,000 per year Project Criteria: Minimum budget for film must be ≥ $50,000 and local spend must be ≥ $25,000; minimum budget for Oklahoma music/recording bonus must be ≥ $20,000; minimum spend for 10% credit on music/film facility construction = $350,000 for film construction, $100,000 for music construction; 25% credit on projects over $1,000,000 Sunset/Review: December 31, 2014 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes (the sales tax exemption cannot be used in conjunction with the 35% to 37% rebate)
* Rebates are not payable until July 1, 2010, in the order they are approved; payments of approved claims in excess of the annual funding will roll over to the following year. The sales tax exemption cannot be used in conjunction with the cash rebate.
OREGON Type of Incentive: Cash rebates consisting of the Oregon Production Investment Fund (OPIF), the "local filmmaker" or indigenous OPIF, and the Greenlight Oregon Labor Rebate (GOLR) Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): Up to 16.2% of wages paid (residents and non-residents and exclude entire compensation if Oregon compensation > $1,000,000 for each individual); 20% of qualifying local goods/services (other than wages); rules to implement the reimbursement and other criteria for the "local filmmaker"; OPIF will be available prior to the effective date of January 1, 2010 Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: No per project cap; $7,500,000 annual funding cap for the OPIF effective 10/1/09 (10% labor and 20% local goods/services rebate); no annual funding cap for 6.2% GOLR Project Criteria: Minimum local spend for OPIF = $750,000; local spend for the "local filmmaker" OPIF is ≥ $75,000, but < $750,000; minimum local spend for GOLR = $1,000,000 Sunset/Review: December 31, 2011 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: N/A (State does not impose sales & use tax) PENNSYLVANIA Type of Incentive: Transferable tax credit (with a 3-year carry forward for the original recipient only); an assignee may not use the credit to reduce its tax liability by > 50% Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): The credit is 25% of qualifying local spend Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: There is a $15,000,000 per project cap on aggregate compensation paid to performing artists, and an annual funding cap of $75,000,000 Project Criteria: Minimum local spend ≥ 60% of the budget Sunset/Review: None; a report on the effectiveness of both incentives is due September 1st of each year Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
PUERTO RICO Type of Incentive: Transferable film and infrastructure tax credits Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 40% of qualifying local spend; for infrastructure projects, the lesser of 40% of the cash investment or 20% of the budget Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: 50% of the cash invested as equity in the film project; $15,000,000 per year (project cap can be raised on a per project basis) Project Criteria: ≥ 50% of principal photography must be local OR local spend ≥ $1,000,000; minimum budget for short-subject films = $100,000, for series = $1,000,000; for infrastructure projects, budgets > $5,000,000 qualifying spend or investment ≥ 25% of existing FMV Sunset/Review: December 31, 2019 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information.
RHODE ISLAND Type of Incentive: Transferable tax credit Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 25% of qualifying spend Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: No per project cap; annual cap of $15,000,000 Project Criteria: > 51% of principal photography days must be local; minimum budget = $300,000 Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No
SOUTH CAROLINA Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 20% of all wages subject to withholding paid to actors (including stunt performers), SC residents and anyone working on a TV series (excluding persons paid ≥ $1,000,000); 10% wage rebate for non-resident crew up (working on projects other than a TV series) to $3,500 per person; 30% of qualifying local spend (paid to eligible SC suppliers) Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: No project caps; annual funding of $10,000,000 for wage rebate and 26% of admissions tax collected for previous year for the supplier rebate, approximately $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 (as of May 28, 2009, supplier funds are still available thru June 30, 2009 and will be carried over if unused; both wage and supplier funds will be re-filled on July 1, 2009, bringing the total for both to $19,500,000) Project Criteria: Minimum local spend ≥ $1,000,000 during tax year Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
SOUTH DAKOTA Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
TENNESSEE Type of Incentive: Grant and refundable credit Benefit: (if eligibility requirements are met): 17% of qualifying local spend (from Film Commission) and an additional 15% refund for qualifying local headquarters (from Department of Revenue) Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: All personnel salaries and fees capped at $250,000 for the film and television production incentive; funded by gifts, grants, donations and appropriations by the General Assembly, with approximately $9,300,000 available on September 8, 2009 Project Criteria: Minimum local spend within 12 months of Certificate of Conditional Eligibility = $500,000 if headquartered outside the state, and $150,000 if within; declaration of residence required for qualifying TN payroll (the Commission has discretion to deviate from these requirements when a production is determined to have a beneficial impact on the State); $1,000,000 local spend to qualify for the headquarters rebate from the Department of Revenue Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
TEXAS Type of Incentive: Grant Benefit: (if eligibility requirements are met) 5% to 15% of qualifying local spend or 8% to 25% of wages paid to Texas residents; if ≥ 25% of filming days are in “underutilized areas,” the grant is increased by 2.5%for the local spend option or 4.25% if the wage option is selected; the incentive is tiered based on local spend (5% incentive for reality and talk shows; 70% resident cast requirement is N/A) Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: No caps; compensation in excess of $1,000,000 is excluded; $7,500,000 in funding remains for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2009 Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $250,000 for film or television program, or $100,000 for a commercial, series of commercials, educational and instructional videos and digital interactive media
Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information.
productions; ≥ 70% of cast and crew must be residents (unless it is determined that there are insufficient residents to fill the positions); ≥ 60% of the moving image must be filmed locally Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
UTAH Type of Incentive: Refundable tax credit and cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 20% of the “dollars left in the state” Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Tax credit offered without a per project cap; funding for the tax credit is capped at $7,793,700 for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 fiscal years; annual funding for the cash rebate is capped at $2,206,300 (as of March 30, 2009, approximately $900,000 in funding remains for the 2008-2009 fiscal year) Project Criteria: Minimum local spend of $1,000,000 Sunset/Review: Review on or before October 1, 2014, and every 5 years thereafter Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
VERMONT Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
VIRGINIA Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): Discretionary cash rebate Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Based on funding appropriated by General Assembly; $200,000 available as of July 1, 2009, plus any monies collected through the Digital Media Fee (hotel/motel movie rental fee) going forward Project Criteria: Performance-based incentive that provides cash rebate at the Governor’s discretion, taking into consideration length of filming, job creation, trainees hired, goods and services purchased Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
WASHINGTON Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 30% of qualifying local spend Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: $3,500,000 per year annual funding Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $500,000 for feature films, $300,000 for television productions, $150,000 for commercials Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
WEST VIRGINIA Type of Incentive: Transferable tax credit (with 2-year carry forward) Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 27% of qualifying local spend and an additional 4% if 10 or more residents employed full time, for a maximum of 31% Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: No per project cap; $10,000,000 annual funding Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $25,000 Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
Please visit www.epincentivesolutions.com for more comprehensive and updated information.
WISCONSIN Type of Incentive: Refundable tax credit Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 25% of salaries and wages paid to residents making ≤ $250,000; 25% of qualifying local spend; 15% of amounts to establish or operate a film production company in the state Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: Funding is set at $500,000 for the 2009-2010 fiscal year Project Criteria: Minimum local spend > $50,000 for aggregate salary and wages within 12 months of the start of principal photography; ≥ 35% of the total budget must be spent in the state Sunset/Review: None Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: No Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: Yes
WYOMING Type of Incentive: Cash rebate Benefit (if eligibility requirements are met): 12% to 15% of qualifying local spend Compensation and Project Caps/Funding Per Year: No per project cap; $900,000 funding appropriated as of June 12, 2009 Project Criteria: Minimum local spend = $200,000 Sunset/Review: Annual report June 30, 2011 Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief Available: Yes Sales Tax Relief for Productions Available: No

Clandestine Movie Committee

The Iowa legislature is going to be done tomorrow, and it will be all the way until next January that we can return to the Iowa capitol again, unless it's to work with Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr., on his work group to redesign the Iowa film tax incentive bill. Meanwhile, I will write, I will call, I will try and try again.. to keep the ball a rollin'.

Today I met with John Busbee at a coffee shop. Jay Villwock, his wife, Helena, and my dear pal, Dave Thrasher were there for the film program discussion, too. The observer in the picture is Deano Williams, actor.

The Power of Prayer

I pray that next January we'll have a new Iowa film tax incentive bill in place without a suspension, and I believe this will happen.

My Trusted Capitol Guide, Jay Villwock

Jay led me through the Iowa legislative process and knows just about every single legislator under the gold dome.

I Cry At Movies and State Capitols

Strange that I would have a melancholic feeling about Jay's and my final visit to the Iowa legislative session. We were acting as lobbyists for the Iowa film industry, but we didn't get paid. We made our weekly visits over the past three months out of our passionate desire to do our utmost to save the film tax incentive program. I remember clearly as we made our first long icy walk up those many steps to the beautiful capitol building that the film program may very well be killed. I remember that our goal was to prevent that, but deep down I kept that fear alive for the first several weeks.

That fear gradually left me as Jay and I gained momentum by personally speaking with many of the Iowa legislators and attending several key committee meetings. When that fear left, we tried to chisel away at the suspension, but in the end the suspension grew into three years, but with good reason to hope that the suspension would be entirely removed by a bill replacement, a bill crafted by Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr., and supported by Senator Jack Hatch, Joe Seng, Larry Nobles, Brad Zaun and many more.

In other words, Jay and I had a big emotional investment in our three months of going to the building with the gold dome. We both had the pleasure and good fortune to have acted in several films and we made so many great friends along the way. We were part of the film family in Iowa and now we were suffering from the family being forcibly broken-up by a big man who will likely not return to his job next year.

With this as the backdrop, here is the account of our visit today.

While waiting for our lilp-smackingly-delicious breakfast of two eggs over medium with marble rye toast, we chatted with Representative Ako Abudl-Samad, who said he thought Iowa's time for movie-making was now. He talked with a smile as he recounted his own role as an extra in "The Experiment", a feature movie filmed in Des Moines last year. Ako loved being a part of that movie and he urged us to call on him if we would ever need his help. I am now one of Ako's biggest fans.

We found Craig Patterson, the Iowa Motion Picture Association lobbyist. He said sharing stories from Iowans who worked in films is important for legislators and the general public to hear. Which reminds me to ask you the reader to please write to my blog, Iowa Film Insider, with your own accounts of how movie-making affected your own lives.

Jay and I thanked Representative Eric Helland for his support, for working with us and hearing us out on the film tax credit work. He encouraged us continue with our efforts.

We also thanked Representative Paul Shomshor, who said he'd work on the film program at next year's session which will begin next January.

Cyndi Pederson, Director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, took time to speak with us. Cyndi's an easy lady to speak with, and said Senators Hogg and Dotzler want to move the Iowa Film Office within her department perhaps next year. She knows what draws and keeps young people in Iowa, and that the creative arts ties directly to healthy mental and emotional health. I can attest to that as when I taught watercolor classes in adult education in Des Moines and suburbs many years ago I saw the immediate positive effects making art had with all of my adult students.

We met with veterinarian and senator, Joe Seng, who said Senator Bolkcom was involved in shooting down Seng's effort to create forty jobs for his home district by denying tax credits. He said tax credits were being shot down with no apparent regard for the number of jobs they help create.

So, that's it. We left and as we walked down the hill we saw the commanding view of Iowa's capitol city. We have high hopes but we also know we must stay on top of things and see this thing through to the very end, when the suspension will end and when movie-making will resume here.

Write to me, folks. You can write to me at my e-mail if you want: gino@quickdrawcartoons.com. You can write to I.A.C.T. on Facebook. You can write to my blog, Iowa Film Insider. I need your stories. I need your help. We will all benefit if our stories are seen between now and next January.

with Jay Villwock today, gino

Producer Kip Konwiser Betrayed

Today's article in The Des Moines Register by Lee Rood indicates that Los Angeles producer Kip Konwiser was betrayed by the Iowa Department of Economic Development, who assured him that details of his budget for "Blackbeard" would remain confidential, and who now want those details to be made public.

Mr. Konwiser was grilled over the increases he made to his budget, although these increases were made so many more Iowans would be hired for the project.

I'm ashamed and embarrassed. If you agree, write a letter to the editor at The Des Moines Register, letters@dmreg.com ...

Hello, World!

Hello, world... hope you don't judge Iowa actors, crew, and producers, and also the out-of-state film-makers, by what so few did wrong. Compared to other state scandals, the film "scandal" looks so insignificant.

There still aren't any big cases that have surfaced and the governor's panel to study all of this didn't even have answers when quizzed by legislators at a meeting I attended some weeks ago. Mr. Oshlo, the head of that panel, just didn't have ANY specifics and left most senators as uninformed and confused as they were before he spoke.

Before the freeze, and when I was out there in the below-zero weather doing an acting gig in a feature here in this state, waiting and waiting for my scenes, I saw the crew who had to STAY outside in that awful cold, sucking it up and enjoying the camaraderie of their film family. They worked their frozen asses off and still managed to keep their smiles. These film family members are so wonderful, so hard-working, that it honestly gives me a sinking feeling in my ample tummy to think they're all suffering now from no income.

So, focus on the true reason things went wrong: the Iowa Department of Economic Development for understaffing the Iowa Film Office and not using ample oversight, and the Iowa Attorney General's office for keeping us in the dark and for delaying everything until the legislative session ended with a THREE YEAR FILM SUSPENSION.

Like one senator said in my presence at a ways and means committee meeting, the Iowa film program is the official "whipping boy" for the state. Another senator said, "The state has really let you people down."

We were squashed by a big man with more than enough weight to smash us good, real good. But we will NOT die... we're still alive. We survived the horrors of Senator Quirmbach's loud opposition to our creative lives. I saw him in a senate debate as he shouted and waved his finger to emphasize his views! But we made it through that and we'll be back.

Judge us and you'll conclude that Iowans are among the best people in the world. We're giving, caring, hardworking, generous, and sensitive. Heck, look at ME.. can't you tell how sensitive I am????

So, keep watching us, world. We're just spending a little longer time between takes.

gino d. blatherer

Tomorrow is it. Then the work group for a new bill begins!!

Tomorrow, Jay Villwock and I will make our last trip to the Iowa Capitol for the current Iowa legislative session. We'll connect with legislators, especially film-friendly ones, and thank them for their efforts for our film program suggestions. Following the close of this session, we'll stay active, and participate in the work group with Senator Dotzler to redesign the film program bill to replace the one now in effect, the one with the three year suspension!

This is important: send YOUR accounts of how film-making in Iowa impacted you. I want to share these accounts so there will be wide awareness of what we're all going through... thanks!!! gino

one of the last visits to the Iowa Capitol this session...

if I made some errors, enjoy! I didn't proof the below, but it should be good no matter what.

Jay Villwock, my personal Iowa Capitol Guide, and David Thrasher, my friend who gives and gives generously, joined me in one of our last visits to the Iowa Capitol today.

It never seems to take long to find someone to talk with when under the gold dome. We chatted with Dick Thornton, lobbyist for the Motion Picture Association of America. We all agreed that our present governor (name withheld out of principle) will probably not be re-elected and that former Iowa governor, Terry Branstad will likely be elected yet again. Dick said Mr. Branstad is a friend of film-makers.

We also had a conversation with IMPA lobbyist, Craig Patterson, who said the suspension time for the film program - now at three years- doesn't matter because the new Dotzler-designed film bill would strike the suspension feature, although the new bill could become effective as late as 1 July 2011, the traditional date of when new laws become effective. It could happen sooner though, because legislators have the power to decide on the date for laws to begin.

Tammy Shutters, of the IMPA, and Becky Gruening, of the Greater Des Moines Visitors and Convention Bureau, stopped to say nobody seems to know why the suspension was lengthened from two to three years.

When we spotted pro-film Senator Joe Seng, he shook his head and said the message a three year suspension sends isn't good. And Representative Eric Helland told us that the House "was rolled". He thought there would've been a fight over the tax credit bill, but there was none, and the tax savings from all of the rolling back of tax credits is very small.

We called Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr. out of the senate chamber and he said he wouldn't fight the suspension changes because," it doesn't matter if the suspension is three years or ten years -we're going to get right on it" when he forms a work group to redesign the film bill. He said his work group would convene in Des Moines and that he'd contact me and others for participation.

Republican Dave Roederer met us as we were descending the beautiful wide steps on our way out. He agreed with Dick Thornton, that our likely next governor will be film-friendly. What a hugely-welcomed relief that will be.

Please go to my blog at http://iowafilminsider.blogspot.com/ and give me your thoughts, your stories about how film-making has impacted you. If you know of a town or a business that greatly benefitted from movie-making, or suffered when the freeze began, please share your accounts on the blog so others can see.

gino, today with jay villwock and dave thrasher

projects that may return...

Thanks to Frank Killen for sharing this: he spoke with folks at "Blackbeard", and they said they'd return real soon. Frank is still awaitng a response from "Scribble". He also spoke with Larry Webster, ("Algona"), who told Frank he was returning in June.

The Birth of a Blabber Page!

After posting articles related to the Iowa film program during the current Iowa legislative session, which is expected to end this week, I am now turning to sharing information regarding Iowa films on this blog.

Today I will go to the Iowa Capitol and find out more about the prospects of a work group promised by Iowa Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr., and more about the messin' 'round with the film bill passed through the senate and then got an ADDITIONAL YEAR added for the suspension.

I invite YOUR input, so if you were positively impacted by movie-making here in Iowa, be it as an actor, crew member, on a business person on Mainstreet Iowa, please write and post your comments. The more I hear the better I can speak for all of us.