Film Industry Tax Breaks Rake in the Dough and the Jobs
Film Industry Tax Breaks Rake in the Dough and the Jobs Save Email Print
Posted: 7:08 PM Dec 14, 2008
Last Updated: 8:28 PM Dec 14, 2008
Reporter: WEAU 13 News Staff
Email Address: News@weau.com

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Wisconsin's new tax breaks for the film and video game industry have brought in more than $9.2 million and created at least 850 jobs this year.

That's according to a new analysis obtained by The Associated Press.

The Department of Commerce is proposing changes officials say would make state government more money, but supporters of the incentives say that would be a "total business killer."

Scott Robbe, executive director for Film Wisconsin, says the numbers are proof that the incentives work to bring more revenue into the state.

Robbe says eight feature films, including the Johnny Depp film "Public Enemies," and more than a dozen television shows filmed in Wisconsin this year.

The analysis was done by Robbe and an accountant. The report says the state will have to pay out an estimated $6.1 million in incentives.

Producers of "Project Solitude" will film all its scenes in the Suamico and Green Bay areas until around Dec. 23. Filming started Dec. 7.

The movie stars Eric Roberts and Wisconsin native Richard Riehle and has cameos by Green Bay Mayor James Schmitt and Packers linebacker Nick Barnett.

In a news release, executive producer Tom Hillery says the script was written for a remote, warm weather location. But after the producer scouted an ideal wooded spot near Green Bay, they decided on a winter production.

Green Bay-based Pulse Studios is producing the film, which has a budget of under $1 million. Studio President Jay Schillinger says filmmaker tax credits that started this year helped lure the movie to the state.

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