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Top 10 Cities to be a Moviemaker: 2012
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6. Boston, MA
“Boston is, and always has been, a particularly strong independent film town,” remarks Lisa W. Strout, director of the Massachusetts Film Office (MFO). “There are scores of companies creating and supporting documentary work and indigenous narrative production. The indie filmmakers that live and work in greater Boston are a tight community and are responsible for countless awards and international recognition.” One of the first official state film offices, the MFO offers one-stop shopping for indie moviemakers, nurturing a growing crew base and assisting with everything from location scouting and permitting to dealing with government relations and union issues. Also noteworthy are the financial incentives: A tax credit equal to 25 percent of in-state production costs, provided half of the film’s total expenses or production time are spent in Massachusetts, and a 100 percent sales tax exemption on any production-related items purchased in the state.
Massachusetts Film Office:
www.mafilm.org
7. Atlanta, GA
From its majestic mountains and beautiful beaches to its small towns and big cities, Georgia is a location paradise. It boasts significant studio space in Atlanta as well, with EUE/Screen Gems building a 30-acre production complex near downtown Atlanta in the Lakewood Fairgrounds, Raleigh Studios standing strong just 45 minutes outside the capital and Tyler Perry operating a 200,000-square-foot facility in the city. More than 700 film and TV projects have shot in the state, and figures for the 2011 fiscal year underscore the burgeoning growth of Georgia’s film industry, with producers investing nearly $7 million in the state’s economy. Georgia is also a national leader in film incentives. The Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, passed in 2008, offers a transferrable tax credit of 20 percent for in-state production expenses and an additional 10 percent tax credit for embedding a Georgia promotional logo in titles or credits or in promotional trailers or other negotiated placements. Credits can be applied toward any state tax liabilities or sold to third parties.
Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office:
www.georgia.org/georgiaindustries/entertainment
8. Chicago, IL
“The core strength and future of Chicago’s independent film community resides squarely in its hometown talent: An internationally acclaimed theater community and a growing population of emerging storytellers and new-skills technicians,” says Rich Moskal, director of the Chicago Film Office. “Chicago also has a rich diversity of creative institutions and film schools that are consistent in launching fresh approaches to the medium and the industry.” Furthermore, the Chicago Filmmakers organization dedicates itself to independent moviemakers by providing opportunities for shooting, distributing and exhibiting projects made outside the mainstream marketplace. And in December 2008, the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit Act was passed, offering a 30 percent transferrable tax credit for qualified expenses with no sunset, along with a 30 percent credit on Illinois salaries of up to $100,000 per worker (there is an additional 15 percent tax credit on total salaries of at least $1,000 paid to residents of economically disadvantaged areas).
Chicago Film Office
: www.explorechicago.org
9. Richmond, VA
This year’s roundup marks Richmond’s third time on this list. Without a doubt, Virginia’s capital city continues to nurture a thriving film community that welcomes indigenous and out-of-state moviemakers alike—Steven Spielberg recently chose Richmond as the backdrop for his highly anticipated feature Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. “The people are what make shooting films in Richmond such a joy,” notes local writer-director Joey Tran (Singularium). “Not only is there a large number of really skilled people who are more than happy to contribute to the creative side, but even non-filmmakers are willing to help out with locations, like houses or other kinds of property. There are financial incentives for creating films, but the biggest draw for me is the open atmosphere for creativity.”
Virginia Film Office: www.film.virginia.org
10. Wichita, KS
Slowly but surely, Wichita is becoming an indie moviemaker’s Eden. Kansas’ largest city has welcomed such productions as Mars Attacks and Twister, and its film office has been working diligently in assisting both local and visiting moviemakers interested in shooting in Wichita. “Wichita is a great place for independent filmmaking,” proclaims Lela Meadow-Conner, executive director of the Tallgrass Film Association, which presents Wichita’s Tallgrass Film Festival. “Shooting is easy here. There’s very little red tape, permits aren’t required for filming on public property and there are plenty of local people who are experienced in all aspects of production and readily available for shoots.”
Wichita Film Commission:
www.gowichita.com
Bonus:
San Antonio, TX: City on the Rise
Like its Lone Star sister city, Austin, indie moviemakers in San Antonio have the venerable Texas Film Commission and the state’s bevy of tax incentives at their disposal. A budget of $250,000 in in-state spending is all it takes to qualify for the state’s 7.5 percent cash grant, with projects spending $5 million eligible for a 17.5% grant. Up-and-comers can get in on the grant action, too; the San Antonio Film Commission’s Student Film Project will see film students compete for $25,000 to produce their student film in the city. With a government that understands the importance of a thriving film community—and is willing to put their money where their mouth is—San Antonio is one city that embraces its moviemakers.
San Antonio Film Commission: www.FilmSanAntonio.com MM
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COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
- Comment by Ryan Williams on 2/21/12 at 10:17 am
Hello my names Ryan and i’m a freelance Boom Operator and Sound Mixer from Chicago. I’ve been in the entertainment industry for 3 years, and while the city is great and their is a fair amount of work during the spring and summer, i’m looking to relocate to another city where their’s more constant work. I’m curious if Seattle or Albuquerque are better options than LA or NY.
- Comment by Otman on 3/04/12 at 7:01 pm
RohoMech,Yeah, we would go out and talk about the film. In Austin we didn’t have any particular venue that we would go to. In the old days, when I was at LucasArts, it would be the local IHOP (since most our group srecenings were in the morning). Those were great, because it was a die hard group willing to wake up early on a Saturday to catch the latest film; good or bad. Most of the time I’d take the long drive to a questionable film just for the discussion afterwords. How can you pass up an IHOP experience?
- Comment by Tommy G Warren on 3/19/12 at 2:25 pm
Congratulations to #2 Austin… Ashamed Spiderwood wasn’t mentioned since the Studios are a major part of the motion picture infrastructure in Texas, with 200 ac. of Back-Lot on the river, largest Texas pre-lite “CYC” wall and 4 sound stages. Over 50 Productions has been made, commercials, music videos, including 6 feature films with several in development or pre-production.
This story was published in the Winter 2012 MovieMaker Magazine. The headline was:
Movie Cities: 2012 / MM's annual countdown of the best places to be a moviemaker
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