Alaskans Have Mixed Feelings About the Film Tax Incentive Program

The 10-year extension plan passed during the legislative session

Tools

By KTVA CBS 11 News
Bio

Story Created: Apr 18, 2012 at 7:41 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Apr 18, 2012 at 7:51 PM AKDT

ALASKA - Alaskans in the burgeoning film industry are expressing mixed feelings about the legislature's 10-year extension of the film tax incentive program, which passed at the end of the regular session.

The revised program limits tax credits for what are known as above the line costs – salaries for directors, producers, writers and actors.

Supporters of the program said that resistance to subsidizing salaries of Hollywood movie stars is misguided.

"So they've got to have somebody like, you know, Nicolas Cage, or Drew Barrymore or somebody to front – to open the picture as it's called in Hollywood,” said Ron Holmstrom. “So those people are incredibly important to getting your movie distributed and of course getting people into the seats."

Holmstrom is the Alaska representative of the Screen Actor’s Guild and said he will be talking with his Hollywood contacts in the near future to determine whether the cap on above the line costs could steer films away from Alaska.
 

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.