LINCOLN — The star power of celebrities might shine brightest over Hollywood, but one state senator wants to redirect some of that glow to Nebraska.
Legislative Bill 99, introduced by Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln, would establish the Nebraska Film Advantage Act to offer financial incentives to production companies that make movies in Nebraska.
Nebraska is one of just seven states without a financial-incentive program for filmmaking.
Iowa suspended its tax breaks after an owner of a production company was charged with fraud in claiming excessive benefits. Kansas suspended its program because of financial constraints, and other states are pondering similar moves.
Nevertheless, Coash believes the state could become the Midwest’s prime destination for filmmaking, if it adopts the Film Advantgage Act.
“I believe 2011 is the year Nebraska has unprecedented opportunity to grow its film industry,” Coash told the Legislature’s Revenue Committee Friday afternoon.
Coash, an undergraduate theater major, has had minor or supporting roles in three small-budget films shot in Nebraska.
Wahoo native Jake Hull, the director of one of those movies, titled “Trunk’d,” told the committee that of the 55 people he hired for the movie, fewer than 10 came from outside the state.
Hull said his next project is expected to have a budget of nearly $500,000 and would create 80 jobs during production. He hopes to hire at least 80 percent of the crew from Nebraska.
“We don’t want to bring L.A. there,” he said. “We want to show them we have great filmmakers here.”
Some states, such as Michigan, offer tax credits, but Coash’s bill would offer grants from the Department of Economic Development.
Each movie could qualify for a $500,000 grant, if it met several stipulations. For example, a production company would have to spend at least $1 million in the state on such things as labor, equipment, hotel rentals, construction and transportation.
Other stipulations include hiring at least 10 Nebraska residents, having a rating no more restrictive than “R” and recognizing Nebraska in the credits.
Sally Walker, president of the Nebraska Writers’ Guild, said benefits of such a program would surpass the immediate economic impact.
“Every film has such a ripple effect among the people affected by the film,” Walker said.
The committee took no immediate action on the bill.
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