With the mad success of “Monster,” an independent film shot here in Florida (as if you hadn’t heard), you’d think that productions would be flying into The Sunshine State by the dozens.

Evidently not.

During a recent panel discussion at the Florida Film Festival, director Patty Jenkins could not praise Florida’s cast and crew enough. Camera Operator and Additional Director of Photography Stephen Campbell was noted as an incredible DP, and Steadicam Operator Grayson Austin was said by Jenkins to be “probably the best Steadicam operator in the world.” She also said that as far as actors, she found here exactly who she needed after an exhaustive and fruitless search of Los Angeles. Though the production had the funds to fly actors in for the shoot, Kimberly Mullen Casting sent her incredible talent from right here in Florida. She said of the cast and crew here, she was “blown away.”

So what gives?

Producer Clark Peterson made no bones about it. Aside from the good people and beauty of Florida, movies are not just art, they’re business.

“When it comes down to it, it all comes down to dollars and cents.”

Or should that be “dollars and sense?” It works both ways, so pick your pony.

Regardless, he went on to say that he had a very hard time convincing the investors to shoot the film in Florida, even though the events actually took place in here. Other locations suggested were Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, and even Canada.

Why, pray tell?

Incentives.

If a production company can save thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on a production, why would they not?

Peterson encouraged the crowd to take action and try to persuade the government to get some film incentives going. Supposedly our government is pro-film and wants movies to shoot here, but even the grandest intentions still do not beat out the tiniest actions.

So my first task, as I saw it, was to check out some of the other states, and see what they are doing to encourage production within their states. Below are Louisiana, Arizona, and New Mexico. To compare the US to Canada probably is not realistic. There are different laws and rules and such, but if other states are doing things within realistic parameters, aside from the risk of being called copycatters, why can’t we?

So here goes:
Louisiana (www.lafilm.org) has begun an aggressive pursuit of the film market. With a Sales Use and Tax Exclusion, an Employee Tax Credit, and an Investor Tax Credit, they are drawing production like Mardi Gras draws college students. The 10 % employee tax credit encourages the hiring of locals rather than flying them in, and the investor tax credit of 10% (for productions $300 000 to 1 million) or 20% (for productions over $1 million) encourages companies to form and grow within the state. To my friends who have been constantly working up there, thought I appreciate the sentiment, I have enough souvenir Louisiana license plates with my name on them.

Arizona (http://www.commerce.state.az.us/film/incentives.asp) also has seen a surge in production since the inception of their incentives. With a 50% sales tax rebate and a use fuel tax exemption, motion pictures, television shows and commercial productions can all see a benefit with productions valued at over $250 000 for commercial, and $1 million for motion picture.

Arizona also exempts hotel tax for stays over 30 days for productions, and probably most important of all, they have a guaranteed loan program.

This program is the ear perker for independents, who always seem to have a problem finding some money to make movies with.

They also provide on their site an interesting section called “E-Film Permitting” which enables productions to obtain fee-free permits online before they even enter the state. This saves not only a ton of back and forth travel time, but a lot of hassle and paperwork to boot.

New Mexico (http://www.nmsitesearch.com/incentives/incentives_1_20.htm) has three incentives; the Film Production Tax Credit, Filmmakers Gross Receipts Tax Deduction, and the Film Production Tax Credit. The first is a credit of up to 15% of all total production costs incurred in New Mexico. Thereby if a movie is shot in New Mexico but post production is done somewhere else, there will be less of a credit. This makes New Mexico’s editing suites (of which a great portion of time is spent in by filmmakers) seem much more attractive. The Gross Receipts Tax Deduction comes in the form of a 6% savings certificate, which can be and is used at the point of sale. From set construction and equipment to wardrobe and makeup, this immediate discount can add up to a healthy savings for production companies, as well as a great benefit to a wide variety of businesses in New Mexico that may not have otherwise had the sales. The last is the Film Production Tax Credit. This gets a little lengthy, but the details are for great benefit to New Mexico’s residents including stipulations that the majority of the crew must be New Mexico residents and the production has to be filmed wholly or substantially in New Mexico. Up to $7.5 million can be invested in a New Mexico film project, as decided by the State Investment Council. Now before you go running out there asking for money with your great script idea, know that you have to have distribution secured in advance with a reputable distribution company. That is much easier said than done. However, for the people who actually do have the ties, the incentive is nothing short of incredible.

Now we come to our beloved Florida (http://www.filminflorida.com/wh/news/news-150.asp). At first, I thought I was reading a joke. The first question in the FAQ page of the Film in Florida website states:

“Q - Does Florida have an Entertainment Industry Financial Incentive?
A - Yes, but currently it is not funded. Governor Bush has recommended $3 million dollars in the state’s 2004-2005 budget to fund the Entertainment Financial Incentive. It is now up to Florida’s Legislators to come to an agreement with the Governor’s recommendation.”

Ok, before we jump the gun and yell at the Legislators, let’s read on. After all, how long can it take them to come to a decision?

“Q - On what date will the Governor sign the budget?
A - The Legislature must come to agreement on the state’s budget before the Governor can sign the bill that makes it law. This can happen anytime between March 2 and June 30th, although it can take longer.”

I’m not making this stuff up. You can then be directed to another site, the Florida Senate site, which details the incentive in question.

That site link is: http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=CH0288/Sec1254.HTM

And the incentive is…:
“A reimbursement of up to 15 percent of its qualifying expenditures in this state on that motion picture, made-for-television movie with a running time of 90 minutes or more, commercial, music video, industrial film, educational film, television series pilot, or television episode that demonstrates a minimum of $850,000 in total qualified expenditures.”

Though first introduced on 9/26/03, as of 03/03/04, it is not yet passed, but is in the Appropriations Subcommittee…whatever the heck that means. If you can make sense of it, the timeline is here: http://www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=0156

The real kicker is the time that productions would qualify…

“Q - If the program is funded, when will the funds become available?
A - If your project has been certified, in writing, by the Office of Film & Entertainment, qualified expenditures may be made beginning July 1, 2004 and must stop by June 30, 2005. No expenditures made before or after these dates will be eligible for reimbursement.”

Apparently, though it’s taken five and a half months so far and is not passed yet, though it could be approved to be made a law by June 30th (but remember, it “could take longer”), producers would then have an ENTIRE DAY to decide to shoot here based on the incentive, somehow get approved and certified in writing by the Office of Film and Entertainment, then begin production. BUT they cannot take longer than one year from that day before doing all that plus beginning the process of approving a location with the producers and investors, scheduling, transporting whoever needs to be transported, location scouting, finding lodging, getting all the required permits, and actually shooting something here in Florida. Well, they CAN, but they won’t be eligible for the reimbursement.

The only current incentive I could find was here: http://www.filminflorida.com/ifi/incentives.asp
“Effective January 1, 2001, any qualified production company engaged in Florida in the production of motion pictures, made for television motion pictures, television series, commercial advertising, music videos or sound recordings may be eligible for a sales and use tax on the purchase or lease of certain items used exclusively as an integral part of the production activities in Florida.

In order to be exempt from Florida's sales tax at the point of sale, the production company must apply for a certificate of exemption to be presented to a registered Florida sales and use tax dealer when making purchases and rentals of qualified production equipment.”

So to get your 6%, you have to go to “a registered Florida sales and use tax dealer.” What if his or her prices are 10% higher than someone who is not registered? Exactly who is registered, and do they have an online catalogue so that a company can check their prices? These questions are not answered on the site, unfortunately.

It seems that Florida’s companies are trying to do their part, as you can see here: http://www.filminflorida.com/ifi/dd_other.asp

On the listing of “other incentives,” companies are offering services or discounts to film cast and crew. Hot Bunz tanning salon offers free tans, Film professionals can get 10% off books and magazines, Lion County Safari will give filmmakers 20% off of the general admission price for them and up to four guests, and Knollwood Groves will give them a free ½ hour tram ride through the orange groves.

Though I’m sure they are all well meant, I can’t see how a free tan or a half hour tram ride would be the deciding factor in filming here versus any other state.

In the section “other links and hotlines” made available to potential cast and crew members, there is a link for Orlando, http://www.film-orlando.org/wtnew/fa_crrnt.htm, but it doesn’t work.

Ironic, considering most likely, neither will Florida’s cast and crew.

So what to do?

Well, judging by the fact that other states are offering tangible incentives, it seems logical that it is possible and a financially worthwhile investment for any state. There are lots of actors and crew members here. There are lots of hotel, restaurant, and catering businesses here. There are lots of people here.

Recently, it was discovered that there was a surplus of funds over there in Tallahassee to be divvied up throughout the state. Whatever are they to do with all that money? Chances are, they will do what they feel is both best for the state, and most desired by the people.

People, it’s time to speak up.

If you are an actor and want to act, a crew member and want to…er…crew, a business owner and want more business, PLEASE go to your post office and pick up a postcard. Heck, pick up a four pack and convince three of your friends to send one in, too.

Write on the postcard:

Dear Mr. Bush:
I am writing this postcard to show my full support for a film and entertainment industry incentive program. I want to see more motion picture production in Florida, as it is of proven financial benefit, and we have the resources to accommodate a much greater amount of production.

Arizona, New Mexico, and Louisiana are three states aggressively pursuing production mainly through employee, investor, and equipment tax credits and it seems to be working. I’d like for you to add Florida to that list.

Thank you,
(your signature, printed name, and full address, otherwise he’ll think I sent them all).

If we want the state to invest in film, the least we can do is invest five minutes and twenty-two cents into a postcard. I am not delusional and realize that it will take a lot more than that, but the saying goes that you have to start somewhere, and I am not smart or crafty enough to think of anything else.

Send your postcard to:

Governor Jeb Bush
PL 05 The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Or if you’re REALLY that lazy, you can email him at: jeb.bush@myflorida.com

My soapbox is now falling apart as I’ve been jumping up and down on it for the duration of this article, so I will step down. I thank you in advance for sending off your email, or postcard, or both, and look forward to the droves.

Appreciatively,
Katharine Leis
“The Independent Filmmaker”
yakh26@msn.com