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MovieMaker magazine has announced the 25 Best U.S. Cities To Ride It Out As An Independent Moviemaker this year. Chicago was named No. 1 (beating out last year’s winner, Austin). Why the Windy City? “Thanks to the very generous 30% tax credit it offers moviemakers and the mix of mega-budget Hollywood fare like The Dark Knight and Michael Mann’s upcoming Public Enemies and more modest independent features. “In the nine years we’ve been compiling the list, Chicago has always been the ‘movie city that could,’” says MovieMaker magazine editor Jennifer Wood. “Ironically, it is Rod Blagojevich who Chicagoans have to thank for the top spot on this year’s rankings, as it was the former governor who signed the state’s very generous tax credit into law in 2008.” Factors such as employment opportunities, cost of living, quality of life, job growth, median home prices and crime rates were judged as well as production days, size of talent pool, local film schools, green efforts, and — of course —financial incentives for moviemakers. Some surprises not yet on the radar of many moviemakers included Des Moines and Boise. The full list is here.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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i happened to walk outside my Chicago apartment building this morning right into a large film crew… as a former resident of Hollywood, i find it funny that i see more productions being shot here than while i was in CA… and lets face it, Chicago rocks.
Was Los Angeles deliberately excluded because it’s already the “movie capitol” or did it just fail to make the cut?
Because if it failed to make the cut, that’s a serious burn for the city.
NY has a tax credit of 35%
30% state tax and 5% NYC tax.
I’ve dreamt of moving to L.A. to pursue my film career, but sometimes I wonder if I should try another “production state.” Florida isn’t doing so hot, but then again, the housing market really hit us hard in 2007.
mpstrex
Why is Blago’s involvement ironic?
Hollywood needs to film in Denver. I was hoping after the DNC they would come back to make movies.
Interesting thing about the IL tax incentive and Blago it took our local reps forever to get Blago to stand up for it in the state house a few years back….makes you wonder the amount of cash he was holding out for.
Chicago is great except for one thing. The city is helpful and the locations are great. Plenty of school and actor talent. Rental houses will barter and take cash to lower rate. As an example, I have a lot of friends in LA now and you can’t get certain talents, like steadcam operators, to work below a certain rate due to LA being a film town.
Only problem with Chitown is people leave because they can’t break through without the decision makers and film financier in town.
rus in chicago wrote:
“…I have a lot of friends in LA now and you can’t get certain talents, like steadcam operators, to work below a certain rate…”
I know what you mean. I hate it when people think that they should make a decent living and put food on their table just because they can do their job. Screw ‘em.
They’re almost as bad as those producers who raise money for their film, get everyone to cut their rates and then pocket the difference – while conning state and local governments out of subsidies.
You gotta love this business.
We are getting two new studios with about 10+ stages outside Boston.
LA failed to make the cut. It was mentioned in back issues as a great indie site.
Why is Hollywood concerned about tax breaks that other states are giving if they make their movies there? I would think that the good people in the business would think it patriotic to produce films in California at the higher tax rate as a way of doing their part to help the economy turn around. When did producers, and all the others associated with making movies (stars, directors, showrunners, etc.) get concerned about higher taxes? Especially if you consider the support they gave to the new president who thinks this is a good thing?