National film producers made last-ditch effort to extend NC incentives
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The Motion Picture Association of Americas senior vice president for government affairs, Vans Stevenson, wrote the letter four days before the legislature adjourned and said the General Assemblys unwillingness to extend the incentive program is already having a negative effect on the state and meant North Carolina will no longer be considered for major future feature films.
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Stevenson wrote that another show went to Louisiana because of uncertainty and that Disney is no longer considering the state for films.
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Film incentives have garnered much more attention since 2010, when lawmakers and then-Gov. Bev Perdue expanded the tax breaks after losing a feature film to Georgia. They made changes to pay 25 percent refunds on film spending in the state to production companies. Taxpayers, for example, now pay up to $250,000 to offset an actors wages.
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The moves attracted much more film activity. Film advocates emphasize that the incentive lures spending on workers, vendors and goods such as lumber and hard drives needed for filming. They say it has led to hundreds of millions in economic activity, brought recognition to the state and sustained an industry with as many as 4,000 employees here.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/10/3095366/national-film-producers-made-last.html#storylink=cpy
I have mixed feelings about incentives and am not a fan of all the threats being lobbed, but thought I'd post this as another example of NC GOP "governance." And, of course, the ol' Republican "tax cuts will bring jobs" canard. Fifth worst unemployment in the nation -- WHERE ARE THOSE JOBS, NC GOP?