A
recent article I ran across mentioned that the Mississippi
Film Commission was actively pursuing representatives from
the film industry and offering incentives to encourage them
to make more movies in the Magnolia State. While the article
mentioned some of the unique locations our state has to
offer, it’s been my experience that the most important
part of a film producer’s decision is the sort of
financial incentives a region is willing to provide.
Having worked on films in Mississippi, California, and overseas,
I have witnessed firsthand the enormous economic impact
movie productions have in a community. Hotels, restaurants,
and energy suppliers are the most obvious beneficiaries,
but the circle of benefits extends much further. Often,
local citizens are asked to serve as extras, stand-ins,
or even in acting roles. I was a junior at Ole Miss when
the movie version of John Grisham’s The Chamber began
production in the Delta. My father called and suggested
that I should drive home for the weekend, ending his comments
with the offhand remark that, “Who knows, you may
wind up being asked to be Chris O’Donnell’s
stand-in!” Well, that is exactly what happened, and
I spent several years traveling the world working on movie
sets as a result of that simple suggestion.
Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone is going to
have the good fortune that I did, but having a movie made
locally can help a lot of people. That’s where incentives
come in. A producer wanting to make a film about the rural
South can choose from ten or more states where suitable
locations can be sited, but his choice will likely go to
the state that affords his production company the most economic
incentives. Believe me, there will be some active jockeying
for position around a multi-million-dollar production, and
our state’s success depends on the effectiveness of
our lobbyists, and the levels of economic inducements our
officials are prepared to offer. Mississippi has been fortunate
in the past to win quite a few of these competitions, and
it is my hope that our elected officials will continue to
realize that for every dollar in tax reduction or law enforcement
assistance provided, the production will return ten or more
in new revenue.
So, incentives are a win-win situation. The movie company
gets to make their film at a lower cost and local businesses
get thousands in extra sales. And when a production company
has a positive experience in a state, the producers will
often seek to return when the next film is being planned.
I guess it’s a little bit like a poker game where
Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, and Alabama are all gathered
around the table trying to outmaneuver us and each other
giving up as little as possible. During tough economic times
when we are in need of all the boosts we can find, I just
hope the legislature plays its part in giving Ward Emling
and our state’s film commission gurus the best playing
hand. DBJ
Joe
Meek
DBJ Managing Editor
