9/11/08:  Article in P3 Update Magazine on New England

5/7/07:
CONNECTICUT has seen a dramatic increase in production since passing its incentive, but there are now concerns about capacity - that is, will there be buyers for all of the tax credits? Individuals and insurance companies do not qualify to use the credits, and there are historic building credits available in addition to the film credits. It appears that prices for credits have dropped in the past week..
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Connecticut's Program offers elible productions a tax credit of up to 30%of qualified expenses incurred within the state.  Motion Pictures, documentaries, music videos, video games - you name it.  Expenses must exceed $50,000.  Additinally, the state offers a sensible hotel tax exemption allowing productions whose hotel occupancy extends past 30 days to avoid paying a 12% hotel tax.  Also a property tax exemption for equipment used in production.  A hlf billion dollars of film production spending in Connecticut since the incentive legislation went into effect in July 2006.

The new Connecticut Digital Media & Motion Picture Tax Credit act offers a transferable tax credit of 30% of all costs incurred within the state, provided that instate expenditures exceed $50,000. Expenses may be for pre-production, production, or post-production; there are no minimum filming days required. There are no residency requirements, and equipment and supplies from out-of-state qualify for the tax credit. There is no annual cap, and no pre-production cap. 

To receive the credit, the production company must first apply to the Commission for an eligibility certificate. This application must be made no later than ninety (90) days after the first qualified production expense or cost is incurred in Connecticut for a qualified production. The eligibility certificate certifies that the production company is eligible to earn the tax credits.
The second step of the process begins when the eligible production company applies for a tax credit certificate no later than ninety (90) days after the last production expense is incurred in the state. At this time, the eligible production company must submit a record of its eligible production expenses. After these are verified, the Commission issues a tax credit certificate. An eligible production company is not entitled to claim tax credits before the production tax credit certificate is issued.
Once issued, the tax credits may be transferred and sold, either directly to a local taxpayer, or to a broker.

• Connecticut Film, Video & Media Office.
Director -- Heidi Hamilton ? Phone: 860 256-2734 -
Heidi.Hamilton@ct.gov
o Phone -- 860-256-2800 or (800) 392-2122 Fax 860-256-2811
o Website ? www.ctfilm.com/
o Production Guide -- http://guide.ctfilm.com/user-cgi/index.cgi
•• Location Gallery
 

CONNECTICUT has a new incentive, effective July 1, 2006; a transferable tax credit of 30% of all costs incurred within the state, provided that in-state expenditures exceed $50,000. Details should be available soon.
ADD 30% TAX CREDITS*
• NO PER PRODUCTION CAP
• NO ANNUAL CAP
• NO PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY REQUIREMENT
 

Other Economic Incentives Information

New 30% Tax Credit Program - Download Sheet

 Film, Video & Media Office
Guy Ortoleva, Director
Connecticut Film, Video & Media Office
805 Brook Street, Building 4
Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3405
860-571-7130, 800-392-2122
Fax 860-721-7088
info@CTfilm.com
 

Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism
 

CCT Film Division
755 Main Street
One Financial Plaza
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
 

Film Division Staff

Hamilton, Heidi
Division Director
860-256-2724
hhamilton@ctarts.org

Dixon, Mark
Consultant
CERC, 805 Brook Street, Bldg. 4
Rocky Hill CT 06067
860-571-7130
860-391-3284 (Cell)
Film2@cerc.com

Woolf, Ellen
Consultant
CERC, 805 Brook Street, Bldg. 4
Rocky Hill CT 06067
860-571-7130
ewoolf@cerc.com
 

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An editorial in the Hartford Courant calls for Connecticut lawmakers to pass tax incentives for film so that the state can compete with neighbors Massachussetts and Rhode Island, both of which are flush with new film incentives. Connecticut's Commission on Culture and Tourism estimates the economic impact of a film to be $300K per day, and if hiring state residents were required for incentives eligibility, the impact would be even greater. "Mystic Pizza," which starred a young Julia Roberts in 1988, shot in the Mystic/Stonington area and is still paying dividends for tourism.
>> Lights, Camera, Tax Credits! [Hartford Courant, 12/3/05]
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From the Connecticut Film Commission Website:
 

ECONOMICS OF FILMING:
Producers of Whirlygirl Spend $1.6 Million in Connecticut
“Where does the money go?”
The following is typical of the way a film is brought to this state.

In April of 2002, when the Connecticut Film Office learned Jim Wilson (Dances With Wolves, Message In A Bottle) wanted a New England setting, the state’s economic development wheels went into motion.

Competing locations included Baltimore, Massachusetts and even Canada. After reviewing the script the Film Office sent detailed images of potential locations as well as information on available production crew.

When the producer and director visited Connecticut in November of 2002, the Film Office brought them to many of the locations that ultimately were selected for the film.

Pre-production began in January, production commenced on March 3rd and filming was completed April 26th.

Highlights of expenditures include:

Local Crew, extras and stand-ins $467,254
Local Production crew (29 CT crew members) $353,154
Per diem (daily payments to out-of-state cast/crew
who in turn spend at local restaurants, stores, bars) 55,100
Extras/stand-ins (payments to 464 local actors) 59,000
Production equipment rentals (CT only) $58,000
Includes lights and grip equipment, generators, etc.
Locations, primarily Avon and New Haven $121,900
Location fees (payments to property owners) $ 74,000
Location support (holding areas, location parking) 14,000
Police/Fire 19,200
Security 11,000
Parking (New Haven) 3,700
Accommodations, hotels and private apartment $101,000
Avon 482 room/nights $ 36,000
New Haven 1182 room/nights $ 65,000
Transportation, rented vehicles and 'background' cars $ 70,000
Car rentals $ 29,000
Picture cars 15,000
Gas/oil 14,000
Truck rentals 12,000
Support Services, partial list only $133,200
Craft Services (soda, snacks, water) $ 19,700
Catering, local supplies 38,000
Set construction, local lumber/hardware 15,000
Set dressings and props 27,000
Walkie-talkies 5,000
Telephones (land lines and cell phones) 20,000
Production Office purchases/supplies/rentals 8,500

Overall, the producers of Whirlygirl reported spending $1.6 million in Connecticut.