The NC Film Industry - What's next? (Charlotte, Wilmington: how much, house)
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That's the problem. It's an industry that operates differently than the norm. With other businesses the state gives back taxes, & counties give a rebate on taxes for 10 or 20 years. The movie & TV crews are like nomads. They rent production facilities & sometimes a crew. They pay good wages. There are people who make a living doing set design, makeup, costume design. Local people are paid for the use of their property.
Legislators bought into the image of them being far-left & made their decisions accordingly. People in the entertainment industry are like ever other business. They range the spectrum.
It's not the typical business model and the Wilmington studios are very much in jeopardy of becoming stranded assets (or seldom used) in a few years once strong relationships amongst current leadership either retires or is replaced. The competition is too fierce and without incentives, the handwriting is on the wall.
It's simply a political decision that appeases a portion of the base (not unusual but very risky) and the current legislature has decided that job creation/investments in other areas is the priority because we all know the money is going to get spent (fiscal conservatives when convenient).
I don't hope they fail but it's obvious these people are out of touch and don't know what the hell they're doing.
There is a lot of filming that goes on in NC way outside of Wilmington. A lot in Winston Salem in particular.
The popular Fiat commercial, "The Italians are coming" was filmed in Old Salem. If the film biz goes, the ability to produce top end commercials will go with it.
The simpletons in Raleigh, and their pitiful supporters lack the ability to project their actions. Their thinking, if at all, appears to be very concrete, very linear, and alas, very limited. Tis a pity.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Aristotle
It's not the typical business model and the Wilmington studios are very much in jeopardy of becoming stranded assets (or seldom used) in a few years once strong relationships amongst current leadership either retires or is replaced. The competition is too fierce and without incentives, the handwriting is on the wall.
It's simply a political decision that appeases a portion of the base (not unusual but very risky) and the current legislature has decided that job creation/investments in other areas is the priority because we all know the money is going to get spent (fiscal conservatives when convenient).
I don't hope they fail but it's obvious these people are out of touch and don't know what the hell they're doing.
They're trying to play the economy from the right-wing playbook. The right has had a problem with the press & the entire entertainment industry since the Nixon administration.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,809 posts, read 34,654,152 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LLN
There is a lot of filming that goes on in NC way outside of Wilmington. A lot in Winston Salem in particular.
The popular Fiat commercial, "The Italians are coming" was filmed in Old Salem. If the film biz goes, the ability to produce top end commercials will go with it.
The simpletons in Raleigh, and their pitiful supporters lack the ability to project their actions. Their thinking, if at all, appears to be very concrete, very linear, and alas, very limited. Tis a pity.
It's just sad & a lot of people will suffer because of them.
THAT infrastructure (the studio) is private...I was referring to public infrastructure with NC incentives...like interstate exits, natural gas lines, etc......
Ahh so if you now argue this infrastructure didn't benefit from the NC taxpayer, then this Private Studio won't be affected by the cancellation of the tax credit.
(You can't have it both ways)
Last edited by WaldoKitty; 08-27-2014 at 03:36 AM..
The popular Fiat commercial, "The Italians are coming" was filmed in Old Salem. .....The simpletons in Raleigh, and their pitiful supporters lack the ability to project their actions. Their thinking, if at all, appears to be very concrete, very linear, and alas, very limited. Tis a pity.
This is a great example of what is wrong with the film tax credit program.
Let's says that Fiat spends a $1,000,000 on this commercial. Then they get paid $250,000 by the NC taxpayer. Yes 25%. And this includes salaries and fringe benefits paid to employees who do not live or spend money in NC. Fiat doesn't have any factories in NC, they pay no corporate taxes in the state, they have no executives or direct employees in NC.
It was a horrible irresponsible law signed into place by Beverly Perdue. One of the biggest purveyors of corporate welfare that NC has ever seen. And she did this while borrowing money like Obama with no amazingly with no way to verify the results. There isn't any justification for it. Just FUD and and insults for "simpletons" daring to question it.
(BTW, the rest of the world already knows that Fiat is no longer located in Italy, so it was a laughably stupid commercial anyway. "Tis a pity" for sure.)
Last edited by WaldoKitty; 08-27-2014 at 03:48 AM..
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,809 posts, read 34,654,152 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaldoKitty
This is a great example of what is wrong with the film tax credit program.
Let's says that Fiat spends a $1,000,000 on this commercial. Then they get paid $250,000 by the NC taxpayer. Yes 25%. And this includes salaries and fringe benefits paid to employees who do not live or spend money in NC. Fiat doesn't have any factories in NC, they pay no corporate taxes in the state, they have no executives or direct employees in NC.
It was a horrible irresponsible law signed into place by Beverly Perdue. One of the biggest purveyors of corporate welfare that NC has ever seen. And she did this while borrowing money like Obama with no amazingly with no way to verify the results. There isn't any justification for it. Just FUD and and insults for "simpletons" daring to question it.
(BTW, the rest of the world already knows that Fiat is no longer located in Italy, so it was a laughably stupid commercial anyway. "Tis a pity" for sure.)
Fiat would contract a production company. They would not get a rebate from NC. They are customers buying a product. The rebate would be calculated to the production company for total business done in the state in a year.
Ahh so if you now argue this infrastructure didn't benefit from the NC taxpayer, then this Private Studio won't be affected by the cancellation of the tax credit.
(You can't have it both ways)
You are trying to mince words...a private industry invests in facilities...in this case you have the studios in Wilmington....let's compare to the Carolina Panthers...its stadium is private, but there was a ton of infrastructure needed BECAUSE of that private facility...new roads, etc...that were funded by the taxpayer. I am saying that infrastructure is not needed in the film industry. What is needed, in order for it to be competitive in the marketplace, is film incentives PER PRODUCTION. It would be like the Panthers saying "we'll build the roads, install water/sewer, etc...if you give us a per game payment. If we don't have a game, you don't pay.
I don't have a problem with modifying the incentives, although consider what the incentives brought in, it was a success for an industry that was struggling. The film industry has brought a huge amount of attention to NC, which can fuel tourism.
Fiat would contract a production company. They would not get a rebate from NC. They are customers buying a product. The rebate would be calculated to the production company for total business done in the state in a year.
Of course they would. If fact their advertising agency would, but it doesn't change what I said. Ultimately Fiat who would be paying, would gain the benefit.
.....
... The film industry has brought a huge amount of attention to NC, which can fuel tourism.
This is unsubstantiated. If this is the goal, then proper due diligence should be performed. I am sure there are better bargains for the money rather than to underwrite 25% of all the costs of films produced in this state.
If you owned a business, I am sure that you would love for the taxpayers to cover 25% of your costs. More money in your pocket. But it doesn't work that way.
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