The Centennial state hasn鈥檛 always been the first choice for filmmakers. That鈥檚 changed within the last few months.
Why?
Incentives are the answer. Last year, Colorado鈥檚 cash rebate from 10 to 20 percent and added a loan guarantee program for up to 20 percent of the productions cost.
Three feature films have signed on to shoot here, and Hollywood and the rest of the film industry are now taking a look at Colorado.
- 鈥淒ear Eleanor鈥� produced by Leonardo Dicaprio will receive $500,000 in rebates and a $300,000 loan guarantee based on a projected $2.5 million in local spending.
- 鈥淐aribou Records鈥� a Randall Miller film about Colorado鈥檚 legendary recording studio will receive $1.47 million in rebates and a $350,000 loan guarantee based on a projected $7.5 million in local spending.
- 鈥淭he Frame鈥� a spall-budget supernatural thriller by Jamin and Kiowa Winans will receive $76,000 rebate based on $380,000 in local spending.
The increase in incentives went into effect in July of 2012. Colorado鈥檚 Film Commissioner Donald Zuckerman says that鈥檚 helping make Colorado more competitive among the 40 states to offer tax incentives.
鈥淚t鈥檚 virtually impossible to get someone to come without an incentive. In the past five years, no one from out of state has come to Colorado to shoot with the exception of Lone Ranger which came last year for three weeks,鈥� said Zuckerman.
The started the fiscal year with $4 million allocated for incentives. Zuckerman says all the money is now tied up and the commission is turning away projects. Funding should be available again at the start of the next fiscal year.
Eagle-eyed movie goers will be able to see part of Colorado, and the work of the commission, this summer. Parts of Alamosa and Creede, Colorado .
http://youtu.be/q42DrlOczi0
will be in theaters in July.
