From ReelChicago.Com..thanks, John Busbee!

Film Wisconsin
Filmmakers tax credit to be restored?
Gov.-elect Walker offers legislature a positive plan


Dave Fantle: Film Wisconsin board chair

Dave Fantle is optimistic about changes for Wisconsin’s chances of having the state’s severely curtailed filmmakers tax credits restored in the legislative session that begins in January.

Republican Governor-elect Scott Walker said during the election that he favored raising the $500,000 cap that Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle had imposed on the tax credit last year.

“Film Wisconsin is obviously encouraged by his response,” says Fantle, board chair of the embattled de facto Film Wisconsin.

“We look forward to working with Walker’s staff and key lawmakers to restore the film, television and video gaming tax credits so we can create jobs and bring greater economic impact to Wisconsin.

“It’s a little too early to say much as the key legislative players have just been named. We have a lot of friends in both parties who want to restore the credits.”

After Wisconsin’s film commission was dissolved in 2005, industry advocates launched the public/private partnership Film Wisconsin to advocate for an incentive. In 2006, the legislature passed a highly competitive 25% production credit and 15% infrastructure credit.

In the credits’ first year in effect, 2008, Wisconsin attracted eight major features, including portions of Michael Mann’s blockbuster Johnny Depp-starring John Dillinger biopic “Public Enemies,” plus 16 TV series and three national commercials.

“Public Enemies” reportedly received $4.6 million in credits against just $5 million in spending, meaning Wisconsin taxpayers effectively covered 92% of the film’s in-state production costs.

In response to outcry over the payout, Wisconsin lawmakers proposed a $1.5 million annual cap on credits. In June 2009, Doyle used his veto authority to reduce the cap to $500,000. Production has dropped off precipitously since then.

During the just-concluded election, VISIT Milwaukee, the city’s convention and tourism bureau where Fantle is VP for PR, issued a questionnaire to gubernatorial candidates, to which Walker responded in part:

Gov. Elect Scott Walker

“Governor Doyle did not give the program a fair chance to take hold. Reasonable and sustainable incentives that give an emphasis in putting Wisconsin people to work and growing this industry for the state should receive serious consideration.”

Walker continued: “As Governor I will encourage members of the legislature to take a close look at the current program, and recommend any revisions to the current law that could do the following:

* Put an emphasis on creating Wisconsin jobs and infrastructure investment.
* Provide an attractive return on investment for the taxpayers.
* Remove the $500,000 program limit and recommend an amount that would make Wisconsin competitive.
* Require a comprehensive program evaluation after each fiscal year.
* Investigate the role the Department of Tourism should again play in marketing the state for film and television and partnering with local convention & visitors bureaus in this effort.”

Now Fantle and Film Wisconsin supporters are waiting to see if their optimism is justified. —Ed M. Koziarski

Ed M. Koziarski is co-director of the feature film “The First Breath of Tengan Rei”. Email: Ed M. Koziarski