Filming in California
"Film California First" Keeps it in California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
02/28/2003
Contact: Michael Kelly
Contact Phone: 323.860.2960 x 136
Program designed to combat "runaway" production exceeds expectations; allocates all funds
Hollywood -- The California Film Commission (CFC) reported today that, due to overwhelming response by the state's production community, Film California First (FCF) has allocated all its funds - $7.9 million - for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003.
Initiated by Governor Gray Davis in 2001, FCF has exceeded expectations, reimbursing more than 2,800 productions more than $16 million as of January 30, 2003. This has helped keep many productions from leaving the state.
"The cost savings provided by the program allowed us to stay in California and shoot this project close to home. In addition, it provided enough additional cash flow to help defray costs for patrol, police and park staff," stated Lowell Blank, producer of "Holes." The soon-to-be released feature film "Holes" shot for 70-days and generated approximately $3.2 million in disposable income to the greater Ridgecrest area, according to the Ridgecrest Regional Film Commission. The production received an $89,000 Film California First reimbursement.
"This program has been embraced by the filmmaking community, working for both the industry and California's economy," said CFC Director Karen Constine. "I'm proud that Film California First has retained and attracted jobs for Californians in one of our core industries."
The governor has proposed that $8.2 million be allocated in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2003, and ends June 30, 2004, for this important program.
FCF is a state program that fights runaway production by rebating qualified filmmakers for filming on California's public lands. The number of applications to the program has increased more than 150 percent from last year.
More than 130,000 below-the-line jobs have been positively impacted by FCF over the last two years. "Below-the-line" generally refers to cast and crew. Currently more than $5 million in FCF reimbursements are in the process of being disbursed to California filmmakers.
"Clearly this program has been a vital resource for the California film industry," said Joe Aredas, international representative of the West Coast for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. "We want to encourage filming in California and Film California First has given filmmakers the means to do it."
"We want to film in California," said Michael Walbrecht, vice president at Warner Bros., "and Film California First has allowed us to get more out of our budgets and save on below-the-line costs."
In accordance with the first-come, first-served policy stated in the FCF guidelines, no additional or new applications can be processed at this time.
For specific questions on any submitted or incomplete FCF application, please visit www.filmcafirst.com and click on the "What's New" section.
The program's success has been steady, helping to boost shooting days on California State property in 2002 by 33 percent over 2001, and "for profit" filming (e.g., features, television, commercials, music videos) by 51 percent during the same period. Initial data for 2002 shows that recipients of FCF rebates spent $1.95 billion to $3.1 billion in productions, the bulk of which went back into California's economy.
"Film California First was a critical factor in helping us maximize our production dollars in California on The Good Girl. With this innovative program we were able to enhance our budget which is crucial in the life of any independent film," said Debbie Reissman, director of production for Myriad Pictures. The Good Girl received nearly $18,000 from FCF.
The CFC will convene a Film California First industry roundtable to further the program's goals and solicit input from the creative community. For example, the CFC plans to develop tracking systems and publish fund status information on either a monthly or bi-monthly basis and make it available to the industry. The CFC will seek input from the industry on how to transmit this information.
The California Film Commission is a division of the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency and works to enhance California's position as the premiere location for all motion picture and television production. The CFC serves as a "one-stop shop" for filmmakers, providing free permits and charging no location fees for filming on state-owned properties. The CFC also works closely with 55 FLICS (Film Liaisons In California, Statewide) to retain and attract filming in the Golden State. For more information about the California Film Commission and its programs, please visit www.film.ca.gov.