Written by new-contact on Jan 6, 2012. Posted in Incentive News

Washington State calls for renewed funding to boost location filming

Washington Filmworks is asking for USD3.5 million to help attract filming projects to Washington State during the next legislative term. The state ended its 30% cash rebate filming incentive last year and Washington Filmworks has since been operating unfunded.

MyNorthwest.com reports that state figures show Washington made nearly USD140 million between 2007 and 2011 from filming projects, with incentive pay-outs over the period coming to just USD20 million. Filmworks argues that failing to supply the funding will cost the state more in the long-term through lost business.

You know, if you can go to Portland [Oregon], they look a lot like Seattle and if they're going to give you a million dollars to go shoot there and we're going to give you nothing, how do you not go to Portland?

Amy Lillard, Washington Filmworks

Amy Lillard is Executive Director of Washington Filmworks and spoke to the outlet: “You know, if you can go to Portland [Oregon], they look a lot like Seattle and if they're going to give you a million dollars to go shoot there and we're going to give you nothing, how do you not go to Portland?"

Oregon, Washington’s southern neighbour, has a 20% cash filming rebate and ending up hosting much of the Twilight franchise, despite the story being based in Forks, Washington. Incentive programmes are being scaled back across much of the US. Michigan reduced its annual film fund to USD25 million last year, effectively taking it out of contention for major studio productions.