See the Blockbuster Movies the Corbett Administration Scared Away From Filming in Philadelphia.

By BACKLINE MAGAZINE STAFF

 

What does Oscar nominated movies like American Hustle, World War Z, and The Bourne Legacy have in common? They could have been filmed (at least partially)  in Philadelphia. However, due the PA Film Tax Credit program, currently capped at $60M, the studios took their projects elsewhere to more "tax-friendly" climates 

Case in point, World War Z, a film with a $190M budget, and a $540M worldwide box office gross ($202M domestic), was set in Philly. However, thanks to the Commonwealth’s paltry tax credit, the project found its way to Glasgow, Scotland. Consequently, a significant amount of revenue and jobs were lost overseas for a film that opened with a local setting.     

 

Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO) has been the lead advocate in this struggle with Harrisburg to remove the cap. She says, “$60M is simply not enough to attract the blockbuster production projects that create thousands of jobs for our local crew and businesses. It's not even enough to sustain the number of locally produced projects by a mature resident production community. Furthermore, Pennsylvania is the only state with two major production hubs. Without an uncapped program like our competition, we will continue to lose thousands of jobs and billions in revenue”!
 

Throughout the month of June, GPFO and area supporters will educate the public and garner support through a special summer screening series dubbed ‘Sips with a Twist’. The first screening is American Hustle, at 5 p.m. today. This is the first in a series of titles that represents a lost project due to the underfunded PA Film Tax Credit program.  The screenings are located at the Media Wall in the Courtyard at Commerce Square, 2001-2005 Market Street

Screening Schedule
June 4 - American Hustle
June 11- World War Z
June 18- The Bourne Legacy
June 25- TBA

GPFO staff and volunteers will be on hand to distribute postcards with instructions to post, tweet and instagram @GovCorbett, along with their State Representatives & Senators to: 1). Take a SELFIE in front of your favorite Philly Film Location. 2) Record and upload a short video to GPFO's Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram accounts.

Supporters are asked to urge their state legislators to enact a sustainable Film Tax Credit, save our #PAProductionJobs and #UnCapPA..  Live "Tweeters" will be entered into a raffle for donated prizes from GPFO partners, including: The Capital Grille, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Marriott, Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con, Starr Restaurants, VideoSmith, MinuteMan Press, Philadelphia Soundstages & PFS @ The Roxy.

Editor's note: BACKLINE MAGAZINE supports GPFO's efforts to lift the cap. We strongly urge all who are interested, to attend and help get the word out.