MA film tax credit update

While we were out (and not posting), the Massachusetts State Budget for the year went in... and it did not put a cap on the tax credit. Excellent. The state recognizes the film industry's ability to bring work here. It's worth losing a little in tax revenue to strengthen our local economy.

Though nothing is set in stone, we can temporarily breathe a sigh of relief. Hopefully our friends in LA have noticed these developments... we'd like to see more productions here soon!

Film Crew Protest at the State House

Good morning,

At this exact moment, several of our coworkers have (slyly) left the office to go voice opposition in a State House hearing to Massachusetts House Bill 3854. This bill threatens to cap the tax credit to $7 million... essentially killing our local film industry. And killing our jobs.

We're hoping for a big turn out. Also, this brief but positive article in yesterday's Herald touches on why we need to keep this industry bringing money in:

Hollywood big ‘Fighter’ for tax breaks

Review of a Non-Boston Movie: Practical Magic (1998)

Practical Magic is the quintessential chick flick, which means it's great if you're into that -- or it sucks if you're not. This movie works best when accompanied by a pint of Ben & Jerrys, a bottle of wine, and some sort of traumatic breakup.

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman star as a pair of witchy sisters living on a fictional island off the coast of Salem, MA. They are into organics and conjuring. They accidently kill that guy from ER. Gentle sheriff Aiden Quinn appears from Arizona to throw some romance into the mix. The ladies drink margaritas and dance around the kitchen table while giggling. It's that kind of movie.

And why are we reviewing Practical Magic at this exact moment?

Because it was NOT filmed in here. Practical Magic was made before the MA film tax credit came into law. Despite it clearly being set in Massachusetts (author Alice Hoffman lives in Brookline), the producers shot this in Washington state. That's lost money to the MA film industry, and the state's economy.

We mention this now because there are petitions circulating via email and Facebook to fight for the MA tax credit. The 2010 state budget wants to cap it, which could severely hurt our work prospects. When Rhode Island capped theirs, it all but killed their film industry. That can't happen here. We need our jobs!

As for Practical Magic, the gals are giving it an A-, and the guys are giving it a C- (though we're not sure they actually watched it).

Final Score = B-

The Massachusetts Film Tax Credit

Tonight's State of the Union address coupled with the recently proposed MA state budget has got us thinking about taxes. And tax credits....

What makes major film and television work possible in Massachusetts is our film tax credit. Our understanding is that the production company pays to apply for the tax credit. In return, they get tax exempt status (that wonderful ST-12 form that is floating around the accounting office), and eventually get 25% of their total expenditure returned by the state.

Our state tax dollars give 25% of the money they spend back to producers? Yes. And, yes, we know this doesn't sound right, but financially it works out well for us. The tax credit lures major features here, where millions are spent on hotels, meals, transportation, and the supplies needed to build movie sets -- not to mention employ hundreds of local people (even us humble Production Assistants). We may only keep 75%, but that is millions more than having no films come to town.

Without the tax credit, we would have had to move to LA for this kind of work. Then we'd be competing with every recent film school grad from around the country, living in a crappy overpriced apartments, and finding shit day-playing jobs on Craigslist. News on Manny Ramirez would be unavoidable. We can't have that.

So, because we like jobs, and we like Boston, we here at the Boston Production Assistant like the MA Tax Credit.