California Film Commission

X-Files X-Poses "Film California First" Incentive Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
07/18/2001

Contact: Karen Constine
Contact Phone: (323)860-2960

Popular Fox Network TV show discovers a State

Los Angeles -- Just like the The X-Files prologue says, "The truth is out there," when it comes to finding a way to bring down expensive television production costs. The mystery was solved when The X-Files producer Harry Bring and location manager, Ilt Jones discovered the Film California First Program (FCF) while visiting the website, www.filmcafirst.com. This led to a $60,000-80,000 savings in production costs for filming on public land in California.

"We are happy that a quality program like The X-Files is filmed in California and is taking advantage of the Film California First Program," said Karen Constine, Director of the California Film Commission (CFC).

This new three-year FCF Program administered by the CFC and is the only incentive program of its kind. The Program reimbursed The X-Files for the cost of public labor, excluding local police, and greatly reduced the location site fee, film permit fee and public equipment fee when filming on public property. Producers also received rebates for filming The X-Files season finale on Paramount Ranch, a National Park Service site. Paramount Ranch was also the setting for Little House on the Prairie and Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman.

"The X-Files does a great deal of location work and we had two complete units shooting at the same time last season," said producer Harry Bring. "We will definitely be using the FCF Program for our next season."

Location manager Ilt Jones agreed and said, "The X-Files is a very location intensive show. CHP and park rangers were used in almost every episode and The X-Files incurred a great deal of location and personnel costs. We are very pleased to have been able to take advantage of this Program."

The FCF Program has successfully processed applications submitted through its interactive website with many participating companies receiving reimbursement checks.

"People are still finding out about this excellent program," says Jones. "It was so easy to apply. We just went on-line and drew up the worksheet."

For more information on the FCF Program, visit the website at www.filmcafirst.com. Production companies can obtain and submit reimbursement applications, downloadable information and program guidelines.

Recently, the California Film Commission's Film California First Program implemented a new system called "Documents by Fax" to ensure FCF Program information is also readily available by fax to potential applicants 24 hours a day. Materials are sent automatically by dialing (323) 860-2970 directly from a fax machine.

The California Film Commission is a division of the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency.