$200 million more for film industry: statewide filming boosts economy.

• Author: Bohi, Heidi
• Position: FILM: SIDEBAR

Revenge is a dish best served cold--as in Alaska cold. Until recently, film and television companies have been shooting shows about Alaska in other states and countries made only to look like Alaska. As a result of the State's film production tax credit incentive launched in 2009, Hollywood is moving Alaska to the A-list of places it considers first when scouting locations, locations, locations.

Just last year, the production company for the Stephen King mini-series "Bag of Bones," which has a storyline set in Maine, decided to film in Alaska and make it look like Maine because the Alaska Film Office offers an incentive and Maine does not. As long as the program maintains its momentum, Alaska's newest industry can likely expect more red carpet treatment from entertainment executives who have never had anything against Alaska--they just couldn't figure out a way to make filming here cost effective. This is why State Sen. Johnny Ellis, the prime sponsor of the original legislation, introduced Senate Bill (SB) 23 during the last legislative session, which proposes extending the program for another 10 years. The current mandate is not scheduled to end until July 1,2013, but Ellis says he wanted to get started on the extension early so there is no risk of the legislation riding off into the sunset.

The bill proposes $100 million for each of the two five-year blocks. Some states structure their incentive program so the funding level is open-ended, which Ellis would like to see for Alaska in the future. For now, he says, his colleagues feel comfortable with a more conservative model.

Before the Legislature adjourned from its...