Film/TV Tax Incentive Roundup

The legislative session wrapped up in Maryland on April 13, and while there was no film incentive bill this year, film industry advocates, including SAG-AFTRA members and staff, spent March 15 visiting lawmakers in Annapolis to keep the film industry alive in their hearts and minds. The governor’s budget included $11.5 million for the Film Production Activity Tax Credit and the good news is that the budget for our program was passed. The not-so-good news is that this amount will likely only be enough for House of Cards, so we need to do better to attract additional production. The Maryland Film Industry Coalition works with lawmakers all year long in this regard and plans to author and lobby for new legislation next session.

Thanks to Local President Lance Lewman, Local Board members Towanda Underdue and Jack Jenkins, and members-at-large Kim Mallory, Bernie Cavanaugh and Maxwell Mines for their significant contribution to our efforts in Annapolis.

Virginia’s General Assembly session ended on March 11 and the effort there, spearheaded by the Virginia Production Alliance and the Virginia Film Office, was successful. After surviving the budget amendment process, the various film and TV funding vehicles ended up with roughly $22 million over the two-year budget. Again, much of this is dedicated to TURN and Mercy Street, which was renewed for a second season, but in this climate, the infusion of an additional $4.2 million in grant funding over the biennium is a remarkable victory.

Virginia Production Alliance Chair of Legislative Activity Terry Stroud is urging VPA members and all Virginians to contact their lawmakers and thank them for their support. 

“The fact that we received this increase is a direct result of their belief in our industry,” he said. “They need to hear from you in the near future.” Further, Stroud asked friends of the industry to “continue to support the VPA and the legislative work we do every year on your behalf. Tell your friends that this work impacts our entire industry's well-being and vibrancy.”

Well done!

In North Carolina, the $30 million-per-year grant program seems to be attracting the attention of producers lately as, at the time of publication, several productions are filming in the state, including a basic cable series shooting entirely in Wilmington; a network series shooting in Charlotte; a theatrical motion picture based in Raleigh, North Carolina; and a network TV remake of Dirty Dancing calling Asheville, North Carolina, home.

West Virginia’s program is currently capped at $5 million per year but boasts a low “minimum spend” of $25,000 in order to qualify and up to 31 percent in transferable tax credits. Sad news on the West Virginia front: The state has voted to adopt a so-called “right-to-work” statute to be effective July 1 of this year.    

D.C.’s program is also generous in terms of the credit percentage rate but suffers from low funding. The legislation sets an annual cap of $4 million dollars.

Please heed calls to action as often as possible; this is your industry!

From left, SAG-AFTRA member Kim Mallory, WMA Local Associate Executive Director Jane Love, WMA Local Board member Jack Jenkins, WMA Local Business Representative Ryan Hastings and SAG-AFTRA member Bernie Cavanaugh visit lawmakers at the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis on March 15. Photo: David O’Ferrall