Lights ... Camera ... Tax Credits!

Biggs, an associate professor in MSU’s media, journalism and film department and a vice president of the Missouri Film Alliance of Springfield, testified before the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee on Jan. 24 in an effort to thwart the extinction of the state’s filmmaking tax credit program.

“The tax credits are seen as kind of a carrot at the end of a stick to get you to come (shoot a film in Missouri),” Biggs said.

The tax credits, which began in 1997 and are controlled by the Missouri Film Commission and the Missouri Department of Economic Development, were in danger of being cut altogether when Biggs visited Jefferson City.

However, he told senators that the tax credits encourage film production that returns between $2 and $5 to local economies for every $1 spent on filming.

Now the credits have new life and may even receive a higher cap than the $1.5 million in place.

“I think it’s an excellent tax credit,” said Sen. Norma Champion, R-Springfield, who sits on the Missouri Film Commission board. “In itself, it’s a great economic development tool.”

Film games

At the center of Biggs’ argument is the film industry’s perspective of Missouri.

“Film productions aren’t wanting to come here,” Biggs said. “There’s not enough money involved to make it worth their while.”

Other states such as Louisiana and New Mexico are attracting movie producers with caps greater than Missouri’s or with no caps at all. Louisiana increased its annual income from filmmaking from $20 million in 2002 to $335 million in 2004 after expanding cap limitations. Louisiana eliminated its cap altogether a year ago.

About 30 states offer film tax credits, with Missouri ranking in the middle in program size, according to Biggs.

Biggs believes Missouri has enough hotels, quality roadways and varied scenery to be more successful – with the help of a generous tax credit program.

The maximum tax credit allowed for a single film is $1 million. According to Biggs, that’s not enough to attract producers of bigger-budget films.

Springfield experienced the tax-credit benefits firsthand in 2003. The city received a $2 million economic influx when the Sci-Fi Channel was in town to shoot “Larva,” partly filmed in a St. John’s Hospital wing, with the aid of $250,000 in tax credits. The money was spent on hotels and other necessities for the production.

The Sci-Fi Channel was happy enough with its experience that it returned to Missouri – this time in St. Louis – to make 2004’s “Black Hole” with the aid of $350,000 in credits.

California film director Sandy Tung said his $2 million “Saving Shiloh” couldn’t have been filmed in Missouri last year without the aid of $400,000 in tax credits.

“Quite frankly, it was the only reason we ended up in Missouri,” he said. “I had to justify it economically.”

Tax credits also helped bring Miramax Pictures’ “Killshot” – starring Diane Lane and Mickey Rourke – to Cape Girardeau in 2005. “Killshot,” still in production, was one of five films to use the credits in 2005.

From 1999 to 2005, films produced in Missouri have used $5.2 million in state tax credits while spending $27.2 million to film.

Further hindering in-state movie production is the fact that tax credits are only available to out-of-state filmmakers. Those producers end up selling their tax credits to Missouri-based businesses.

“We are losing the economic benefit of our own film production people who have to go out of state to get (a tax credit),” Champion said. “We need to be doing something for the in-state film production, too.”

Ultimately, Biggs said he hopes a bill is introduced in 2007 to expand the tax credit program.

Missouri Filmmaking Tax Credits Put to Use

Films listed by title, location, tax credits issued and budget

2005: “Frost,” Drake, $150,000, n/a; “Movie House,” Kansas City, $400,000, n/a; “Killshot,” Cape Girardeau, $350,000, $1 million; “Saving Shiloh,” Pacific, $400,000, $1 million; “Lenexa 1 Mile,” Kansas City, $200,000, $500,000.

Others of note: “Game of Their Lives,” St. Louis, $500,000, $17.8 million (2003); “Larva,” Springfield/St. Louis, $250,000, $800,000 (2003); “Killer Diller,” Fayette, $400,000, $1 million (2002); and “The Painting,” Kansas City, $500,000, $1 million (2001).

Source: Missouri Film Commission

Show-Me Missouri Film Festival

Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning filmmakers will be in Springfield for the inaugural Show-Me Missouri Film Festival March 2–5.

The Missouri Film Alliance of Springfield is putting on seminars and screenings at five locations – University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, 333 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway; Creamery Arts Center, 411 N. Sherman Parkway; The Moxie, 408 W. Walnut St.; Missouri State University, 901 S. National Ave.; and Drury University, 900 N. Benton Ave.

Byron Smith, who edited the 2005 Golden Globe-winning TV series “Nip/Tuck,” and Joe Bauer, who was part of the visual effects team that won Emmys for two TV episodes of “Star Trek” in 1994 and 1995, will speak at the festival.

Elizabeth Allen, festival committee coordinator, said similar film festivals attract between 2,000 and 8,000 people.

Visit www.missourifilm.org for a schedule of events and business sponsorship information.

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