Lights, camera, action!
You could soon be hearing those words when visiting the North Shore.
Film and TV Executive Director, Melodie Bahan, told News Talk 830 WCCO's Sheletta Brundidge, on the 9-noon show, that tax breaks are attracting Hollywood filmmakers to Minnesota.
"Since July 1st of last year, we strengthened our incentives," said Bahan. "We have both a rebate program and a tax credit program."
Bahan said about $20 million dollars in tax incentives are being spent, or will be spent, on film production throughout Minnesota.
And that's only the good news, the even better news is that productions are already underway.
"We've got three projects that are well over a million dollars, one of them quite (a) big television series. That will be starting up, in the in the metro area, in the next couple of months."
That's right, Bahan says Minnesotans could soon be seeing movie stars or ones-to-be around town!
Bahan remained tight lipped about the name of the films or TV series soon to be in production.
WAYS TAX BREAKS COULD HELP LOCALLY
Film and TV Executive Director, Melodie Bahan, told WCCO's Sheletta Brundidge, the $20 million dollars in tax breaks could be used to hire local talent.
Bahan says films could hire anywhere from 30-200 people. She says local caterers, office assistants, and crew members could be hired.
The Executive Director says the northland economy is already receiving a boost from the productions taking place in the area.
"(There has been) a real impact on local small businesses and hotels in St Louis County and the Iron Range."
Tax breaks are attracting Hollywood filmmakers to the 10,000 lake state. A Minnesota Film and TV Director says productions are already underway in the Duluth area.
