Written by new-contact on Mar 18, 2014. Posted in Incentive News

Sequel to hit Mall Cop comedy gets first Nevada filming incentive payment

Sony Pictures’ comedy sequel Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 has become the first movie to win approval for Nevada’s new filming incentive. The original Paul Blart: Mall Cop filmed in Massachusetts and was a huge hit so the sequel could help boost Nevada’s film-friendly credentials.

“The production will receive USD4.3 million in tax credits provided that the filming takes place in Nevada and that production costs are in line with those proposed in the application, along with other qualifying criteria,” said Nevada Film Office Director Eric Preiss.

Nevada’s base 15% transferable filming tax credit was only launched in January this year. In recent years, productions set in Las Vegas have often spent just a few days filming exteriors at the city’s famous landmarks, before doubling other parts of the country that offered better filming incentives. High-profile comedy Last Vegas – starring Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas – was a recent example, filming mostly in Atlanta.

James Caan’s drama series Las Vegas filmed its studio work in California during its five-season run up to 2008 and more recently the short-lived 60s-set TV series Vegas filmed on an expansive period set in Los Angeles.

Reno Tahoe Studios opened in March 2013 in northern Nevada and offers three sound stages, the largest of which is 70,200 square feet.

New Mexico is arguably the main production hub in the American south-west at the moment with its 25% base filming incentive that goes up to 30% for TV series. The state was given a massive profile boost by the international success of crime drama Breaking Bad and will likely host the much-anticipated spinoff series Better Call Saul in the coming months.