State bill hopes to lure more movie makers to Idaho

Lights, cameras - spend.

A new law signed by Gov. Butch Otter last week could help lure more film productions to Idaho.

Ideally, some spendy productions.

"(Bringing film productions to Idaho) will spur economic development, certainly have more money being spent at various industries, and help tax revenue," said Russ Simons, co-chair of the Idaho Film Industry Advisory Committee. "We just want to see the state become economically diversified."

House bill 525 will increase the number of entities that can contribute to the state Film and Television Production Business Rebate Fund, which provides rebates to production crews that film and hire in Idaho.

Although intended to incentivize more film production in Idaho, the rebate fund - created two years ago - has yet to ever receive any state funding, due to the harsh economic climate.

So this year the Legislature voted to allow other sources help out.

The new law specifies that the rebate fund can receive money from grants, the federal government or any other source, including donations.

"We're trying to encourage funding for the rebate program in an effort to attract the film industry to Idaho," said Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene. "Some similar programs have brought tens of millions of dollars to the economies of other states."

The rebates a production receives depends on how much it spends in the state, according to the bill text.

The rebates, which can't exceed $500,000 nor 20 percent of a production's expenses, can cover filming costs like wages and salaries, makeup, construction, food and lodging and more.

Todd Christensen, president and chief executive officer of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce, said local film production can boost profits for myriad industries.

"As a film crew comes into a community, they benefit a variety of businesses, ranging from hotels to lodging and food establishments," Christensen said. "There's also direct benefit for equipment and rental companies."

Film productions would also create jobs, as currently 25 percent of production employees must be Idaho residents for a production to qualify for a rebate.

That number will rise to 35 percent by 2013, as specified under the bill.

"We know as cited by the U.S. Department of Labor that the film industry will have a healthy job growth in the next five to six years, and beyond," Christensen said.

Idaho is an ideal filming location, said Simons, also a member of the Northwest Independent Film and Video Entertainment Society (KNIFVES).

"It's got beautiful scenery, you have both city and rural areas," he said. "And the cost of living, if they go to a store or lumber yard or a hotel, is less expensive than something in New York or California."

Still, success depends on whether other sources choose to contribute to the rebate fund.

Simons said the Idaho Film Industry Advisory Committee will be looking for potential contributors.

"My co-chairman of the advisory committee, we'll have a sort of brainstorming session to look into that," he said, adding that other Idaho film organizations like KNIVES will lend support.

The law goes into effect on July 1.

Christensen predicted there is definite a niche that film production can fill in North Idaho.

"We (the chamber) watched bill 525 as it was going through the session, and we see that it's an opportunity to invest in the film industry," Christensen said. "The Coeur d'Alene chamber needs to explore the opportunities and options to encourage the filming industry to look at our great community."