California is taking steps to extend its film and TV location filming incentives, which would make USD100 million available annually through to fiscal year 2020. In the autumn of 2011 the programme was extended only to July 2013, a timeframe that was too short to appeal to many TV shows.
Maryland’s filming industries are concerned about a delay in plans to extend and improve the state’s filming incentive. The state’s budget is in disarray and local filming professionals are worried delays in updating the incentive will threaten the industry’s future.
Two separate US feature projects are scouting Alaskan filming locations and could be a real boost for the US state if they decide to film there. Hunter Killer is a submarine thriller budgeted at up to USD100 million, while a smaller USD10 million project is also considering the 49th state.
Plans are underway to develop a dedicated film commission in Barbados, along with location filming incentives. Ideas are due to be discussed today (13th April 2012) at the CaribbeanTales Symposium that will take place at the Island Inn Resort in Barbados.
The head of Pittsburgh facility 31st Street Studios has praised the Governor of Pennsylvania for supporting the state location filming incentive through to 2013. Christopher Breakwell runs the studio facility, which offers nearly a dozen sound stages, the largest of which is nearly 62,000 square feet.
Malaysia’s KRU Studios near Kuala Lumpur sees an opportunity to expand its operations once Malaysia launches a formal filming incentive, which is expected in 2012. The studio specialises in TV but has plans to expand.
Ireland will be reviewing its location filming tax relief programmes in the wake of the UK’s plans to launch its own TV incentives. Ireland has become a TV production hub in recent years and its filming industries want to keep it that way.
Authorities in Washington State in the north-west US have re-launched the location filming incentive that was officially cancelled only a few months ago. The state seems to have conceded that a programme is needed to help its filming industry, although the scheme itself remains very small-scale.