Movie industry in Ohio is rolling: editorial
Tinsel Town is trickling into Ohio, thanks to the Motion Picture Tax Credit that Gov. Ted Strickland finally signed into law in July 2009.
The legislation created a long-overdue economic incentive to woo penny-pinching producers, create jobs and pump money into a moribund economy. With the stroke of a pen -- after relentless pressure from the House, the Senate, Ivan Schwarz, executive director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, and this editorial page -- Strickland opened the door to a $60 billion industry.
In the last 10 months, five flicks have been filmed in Northeast Ohio. Four more have been approved for the tax credit, which enables eligible projects with budgets of more than $300,000 to be reimbursed for 25 percent of what they spend in the state, up to a maximum of $5 million per picture.
The Ohio Department of Development estimates these nine movies will pay $9.46 million in wages to more than 3,700 locals, and another $24.3 million to area businesses.
The emergence of the movie industry in Ohio is creating a demand for new skills among Ohioans. The Cuyahoga Community College Metropolitan campus will host a day long "boot camp" for aspiring production assistants on Saturday, Oct. 16. And the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, in conjunction with the local bar association, will host an all-day seminar Oct. 22 for lawyers and film industry professionals to learn about film law.
"I want to have a sustainable industry here," explained Schwarz, who is all about job creation -- not just for actors and caterers, but also accountants and attorneys.
The state allotted $10 million in tax credits for 2010. The 2011 fiscal year, which began in July, doubles that amount. And that has attracted bigger budget movies. "Last year, the range was half a million to $2 million," Schwarz noted. "This year, it's a million and a half to, hopefully, $20 million."
Hollywood in the heartland is a plot well worth developing, and those who have played important roles in making it happen deserve a great deal of credit. And those who were asking "what's my motivation" should understand now.
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