Considering the Concept of Bringing Film Production to the City of Bowie
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Considering the Concept of Bringing Film Production to the City of Bowie Proposal: To commission a feasibility study/assessment by the City Council to determine the economic benefits of establishing a Bowie-based satellite facility providing film and television production services to the Annapolis-Washington, DC corridor and Southern Maryland region. The facility would work in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Film Office in Baltimore and the newly established Prince Georges Film Office. With the “just passed” Maryland Film Production Tax Credit (which increases the film tax credit program from $7.5 million to a ‘nothing to sneeze at’ $25 million - a $17.5 million increase) by the Maryland General Assembly coupled with the recent establishment of the Prince Georges Film Office (February 2013) launched by the Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) http://pgahc.org/film-office/, in partnership with the Maryland States Art Council, the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the Prince Georges County government, located in the Arts district in Hyattsville, Maryland, the PGACH’s goal is to attract film industry jobs and productions to Prince George's County. The new Hyattsville Film Office is intended to serve as a one-stop resource in Prince George's County, for the film industry nationwide. However given the diverse streetscapes of the County, the numerous filming venues offered by the City of Bowie (noted below) and the City’s Rt. 50/Rt. 301 proximity to the Nation’s Capital, the Maryland State Capital and the Southern Maryland region, the potential use of studio production space possibly located at the Melford complex, coupled with the ability to secure desired film location sites (at cost) within and around the City as well as the central and southern regions of Prince Georges County, Annapolis and Southern Maryland, makes establishing a satellite film and television production facility a viable consideration for the City. Such a facility has the potential to expand economic opportunities for a multitude of Bowie-based service providers. Film production, particularly pre and post production work as well as television live sound stage work in Bowie, may be viewed as a more cost effective base location for independent film producers or pilot television productions than the more costly Washington or Baltimore hubs while offering more logistical options for filming in Southern Maryland. While it may be challenging to consider what an actual film location site might look like, aside from the use of private homes, prominent filming locations (for a fee) in Bowie include but are not limited to: City Hall Belair Mansion Bowie State University and the MARC train Allen Pond and White Marsh Park station Bowie Tennis and Swim Clubs Bowie Library and South Bowie Library Bowie Country Club Bowie Baysox Stadium Freeway Airport Bowie Town Center Area churches and local schools 1 Patuxent River sites near the Melford Numerous Horse Stables along Racetrack property Road Six Flags Amusement Park Standard service providers in the film and television industry that exist in the City of Bowie include but are not limited to: Hotels Restaurants and Caterers Carpenters/contractors Furniture, automobile & motorcycle rentals Electricians and Plumbers Interior designers/stagers Real Estate Brokers Painters Private security and surveillance Carpet Dealers Ground transportation/Drivers Animal trainers and groomers Graphic artists Landscapers Camera Equipment Rental Florists IT professionals *Announcers Accountants *Broadcasters *Journalists *Dancers Human resource professionals *DJs Payroll companies *News Writers Insurance agents *News Editors *Program Hosts Public relations firms *Puppeteers Printing companies *Recording Artists, Physicians and medical assistants *Singers Childcare providers and tutors *Stunt Performers Costumers/tailors *Voiceover Artists Cosmetologists *Other media professionals Hair stylists *Musicians and of course, *Actors (*Eligible for Screen Actors Guild membership. See http://www.sagaftra.org/wma) In addition, film producers frequently enlist the services of local police and fire departments as consultants and public works departments for grounds maintenance. These service providers will be able to generate additional revenue for the City of Bowie while increasing their profit margins. The location of a Bowie satellite facility offers broader opportunities not only within Prince Georges County but in the aforementioned jurisdictions. The proposed facility could structurally model the public/private partnership format used by the Hyattsville Film Office or as a quasi-local government agency (GSE) or a nonprofit organization with Bowie State University. This latter suggestion also provides an opportunity to expand the film production component of BSU’s Communications Department. 2 Regional State Statistics of the Economic Impact of Film Production Provided by the Motion Picture Association of America The production and distribution of films and television programs is one of the nation’s most valuable cultural and economic resources. The industry is a major private sector employer across the nation, with salaries above the national average. The industry is a nationwide network of tens of thousands of small businesses, located in every state in the country, the majority of which employ ten people or fewer. The industry is heavily reliant on vendors in other industries all over the country. Each year, film and television production activity takes place in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (*Please note, aside from the District of Columbia, Maryland provided the fewest number of jobs in the Industry within the region.) MARYLAND Economic Impact of the Industry The motion picture and television industry is responsible for 6,893 direct jobs and $592.4 million in wages in Maryland, including both production and distribution-related jobs. Nearly 3,200 of the jobs are production-related. Movie & TV Production Spotlight 2010-2011: During the course of 2010 and 2011, 9 movies and 1 TV series filmed in the state. Movies include Dead Money, The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best, The Haunting of Pearson Place, I Am Ben, The Possession, The Wereth Eleven, and Learning Uncle Vincent. TV series include Ace of Cakes. Production Incentive: Maryland's film production incentives include a refundable tax credit of 25% for films and 27% for TV series on eligible production-related expenditures, including wages. The program requires a minimum in-state spend of $500,000 and requires that 50% of principal photography occur in Maryland. (**These figures do not reflect the “new” film production tax credit passed this week by the Maryland General Assembly.) Baltimore Film Office Maryland Film Office 10 E. Baltimore Street 401 East Pratt Street, 14th Floor Baltimore Maryland 21202 Baltimore Maryland 21202 VIRGINIA Economic Impact of the Industry The motion picture and television industry is responsible for 13,729 direct jobs and $643.6 million in wages in Virginia, including both production and distribution-related jobs. Nearly 2,200 of the jobs are production-related. Movie & TV Production Spotlight 3 2011: During the course of 2011, 5 movies and 1 TV series filmed in the state. Movies include Lincoln, J. Edgar, Nocturnal Agony, To Have and to Hold, and Alone Yet Not Alone. TV series include Coal. 2010: During the course of 2011, 6 movies filmed in the state. Movies include Lake Effects, At the Top of the Pyramid, The Watermen, The Perfect Breed, Scary Story Slumber Party, and Infamous. Production Incentive: Virginia's Governor's Motion Picture Opportunity Fund provides a performance-based cash rebate at the Governor’s discretion, taking into consideration length of filming, job creation, trainees hired and goods and services purchased in Virginia. In 2010, productions receiving tax incentives generated an economic impact of $14.2 million. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Economic Impact of the Industry The motion picture and television industry is responsible for 4,005 direct jobs and $426.1 million in wages in the District of Columbia, including both production and distribution-related jobs. Over 1,200 of the jobs are production-related. Movie & TV Production Spotlight 2010-2011: During the course of 2010 and 2011, 9 movies and 10 TV series filmed in the state. Movies include Safe House, J. Edgar, Argo, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Brake, Dead Money, and Nocturnal Agony. TV series include The Chris Matthews Show, DC Cupcakes, The McLaughlin Group, Meet the Press, The Newshour With Jim Lehrer, On the Record With Greta Van Susteren, and The Situation Room. Production Incentive: As of June 2011, the District of Columbia's incentive program is not funded. It would otherwise include a rebate of 42% on qualifying direct production expenditures subject to D.C. tax. Expenditures not subject to D.C. taxes may apply for a 21% rebate. There is a 30% rebate on qualified payroll expenditures. PENNSYLVANIA Economic Impact of the Industry The motion picture and television industry is responsible for 16,395 direct jobs and $732.9 million in wages in Pennsylvania, including both production and distribution-related jobs. Over 5,000 of the jobs are production-related. Movie & TV Production Spotlight 2011: During the course of 2011, 10 movies and 5 TV series filmed in the state. Movies include The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers, Learning to Fly, One Shot, The Perks