RI Tax Incentive Program Is Good For RI
RI Tax Incentive Program Is Good For RI
This blog is intended as the opening to a discussion. We want to hear both sides and get a clear debate going about the benefits/ drawbacks of the Tax incentive program. This blog allows you to comment below. If you feel passionate one way or another, please click on this blog and leave your response in the comment section.
My point of view:
As many of you know, the tax incentive program is under review. State legislature is proposing a cap on the credits. Many jobs and a whole lot of money has been promised, and so far, it seems that the credits have not brought in enough money and jobs to justify the expense. Especially in a time when the state budget is so low.
However, it seems many people who are not involved in the film community do not understand the issue and have many misconceived notions about the credits.
One: We want Hollywood here because we like movies.
Wrong. We want them here because it brings money to the state.
Tax incentive programs have a long history of success in bringing money to a state. It is one of the few economic stimulus programs that consistently works. It is never proposed because the state wants to make a movie, it is about creating revenue for the state and it's citizens.
From an article on the North Carolina Film industry:
"....film matters. In fact, it is big business, having brought more than $7 billion to the state since 1980, according to the N.C. Film Office. But now, other states want a piece of the action."
Two: they think we should have seen the full impact already.
Wrong. It will take a few years to build the resources in RI.
After two years, the program has brought over 200 million into the state and created thousands of jobs. However, this is nothing compared to what it will bring in over time. RI did not have the infrastructure to support the films entering the state two years ago. In the two years since the program has begun, that infrastructure has grown and is still growing. A studio has been built, crew has been trained, companies have emerged to take advantage of the boom in the film business. The more the infrastructure grows, the more money Hollywood will spend in Rhode Island.
Three: the jobs are part time, no benefits.
Wrong. Crew work is union work with benefits and tons of well-paid overtime
Granted, a crew member may only work for a few months at a time, with the endless movies, as well as commercials, corporate videos, etc, a crew member can easily get consistent employment. Also, they are paid so well with so much overtime, they will likely make more than most people with a full-time, year-round job.
Hollywood, having been ruled over by liberals, has notoriously powerful and excellent unions. As a result, crew jobs have excellent pay, consistent overtime and good benefits. The benefits work differently from most jobs which has led to the perception that crew workers do not have benefits. Not true. Other great things about working crew is, you do not need a college degree to get the job. You do need to work really hard and be reasonably healthy, because it is hard work with long hours.
That is the truth about the issue. Anyone questioning the facts in this blog need only search the internet to support it. I could give links to support these claims, but they are so numerous I do not have space on this blog.
Instead, I suggest you do what I did. Enter your search engine and type the words:
economic impact film industry
Links for every state with a similar program will appear. This program has an incredible potential to motivate the RI economy in a big way. Let us not miss this opportunity.
Just my thoughts.
Yours? comment below.
Mark Fogarty
RIFC president
From the Film and TV Office:
We are providing this information to you as a member of our state's film workforce. If you oppose establishing a cap on future film credits for the effect it might have on your livelihood, then please send a letter and/or make a phone call to your own district Senator and Representative to inform them how you feel about the proposed legislation.
If you are not sure who your Senator or Representative is, go to www.rilin.state.ri.us or look at the list and contact information below.
This blog is intended as the opening to a discussion. We want to hear both sides and get a clear debate going about the benefits/ drawbacks of the Tax incentive program. This blog allows you to comment below. If you feel passionate one way or another, please click on this blog and leave your response in the comment section.
My point of view:
As many of you know, the tax incentive program is under review. State legislature is proposing a cap on the credits. Many jobs and a whole lot of money has been promised, and so far, it seems that the credits have not brought in enough money and jobs to justify the expense. Especially in a time when the state budget is so low.
However, it seems many people who are not involved in the film community do not understand the issue and have many misconceived notions about the credits.
One: We want Hollywood here because we like movies.
Wrong. We want them here because it brings money to the state.
Tax incentive programs have a long history of success in bringing money to a state. It is one of the few economic stimulus programs that consistently works. It is never proposed because the state wants to make a movie, it is about creating revenue for the state and it's citizens.
From an article on the North Carolina Film industry:
"....film matters. In fact, it is big business, having brought more than $7 billion to the state since 1980, according to the N.C. Film Office. But now, other states want a piece of the action."
Two: they think we should have seen the full impact already.
Wrong. It will take a few years to build the resources in RI.
After two years, the program has brought over 200 million into the state and created thousands of jobs. However, this is nothing compared to what it will bring in over time. RI did not have the infrastructure to support the films entering the state two years ago. In the two years since the program has begun, that infrastructure has grown and is still growing. A studio has been built, crew has been trained, companies have emerged to take advantage of the boom in the film business. The more the infrastructure grows, the more money Hollywood will spend in Rhode Island.
Three: the jobs are part time, no benefits.
Wrong. Crew work is union work with benefits and tons of well-paid overtime
Granted, a crew member may only work for a few months at a time, with the endless movies, as well as commercials, corporate videos, etc, a crew member can easily get consistent employment. Also, they are paid so well with so much overtime, they will likely make more than most people with a full-time, year-round job.
Hollywood, having been ruled over by liberals, has notoriously powerful and excellent unions. As a result, crew jobs have excellent pay, consistent overtime and good benefits. The benefits work differently from most jobs which has led to the perception that crew workers do not have benefits. Not true. Other great things about working crew is, you do not need a college degree to get the job. You do need to work really hard and be reasonably healthy, because it is hard work with long hours.
That is the truth about the issue. Anyone questioning the facts in this blog need only search the internet to support it. I could give links to support these claims, but they are so numerous I do not have space on this blog.
Instead, I suggest you do what I did. Enter your search engine and type the words:
economic impact film industry
Links for every state with a similar program will appear. This program has an incredible potential to motivate the RI economy in a big way. Let us not miss this opportunity.
Just my thoughts.
Yours? comment below.
Mark Fogarty
RIFC president
From the Film and TV Office:
We are providing this information to you as a member of our state's film workforce. If you oppose establishing a cap on future film credits for the effect it might have on your livelihood, then please send a letter and/or make a phone call to your own district Senator and Representative to inform them how you feel about the proposed legislation.
If you are not sure who your Senator or Representative is, go to www.rilin.state.ri.us or look at the list and contact information below.
posted by Mark Fogarty at
11:07 AM
3 Comments
