Written by new-contact on Mar 6, 2014. Posted in Incentive News

Producers of Nashville TV drama request continued filming incentive support

Producers of the TV drama Nashville are asking for continued filming incentive support to enable the show to remain in its namesake city in Tennessee, should the show get a third series. Nashville follows the dramas of an ageing country music star and her clashes with a rising starlet.

Nashville has filmed in Nashville throughout its run and was paid around USD13 million in filming incentive support to shoot in the city for its second series. Producers want a similar payment for a third series, reports the Tennessean. The production spent around USD70 million locally from a total season budget of USD106 million.

Tennessee offers a 25% filming incentive but has not yet finalised the budget for the next fiscal year. Authorities are keen to ensure that Nashville remains a local shoot.

“As we look ahead to season three, we are hopeful that the state and city will continue the partnership with us and support the show,” said John Valentine, Senior Vice President of Television Strategy and Operations at production company Lionsgate, in comments to the outlet.

“Nashville has been a proven asset for both the state and city and has helped to show the world why Nashville is the ‘It’ city.”

As we look ahead to season three, we are hopeful that the state and city will continue the partnership with us and support the show.

John Valentine, Lionsgate

The filming incentive situation in Nashville is similar to that of Maryland, where authorities are under pressure to increase their film fund to secure the third season of the Netflix political drama House of Cards. Production executive Charlie Goldstein in fact appealed directly to the Governor of Maryland, warning that his team will “break down our stage, sets and offices and set up in another state” if more support is not forthcoming.

High-end TV has become big business both within the US and internationally, so competition is fierce to attract shows that will commit to multiple seasons and spend millions locally.