NEBRASKA FILM ASSOCIATION

The Nebraska Film Association, a newly organized group of arts supporters, business leaders, specialized workers in the film industry, independent skilled professionals and other Nebraskans interested in advocating for the future of film projects, have banded together to promote incentives for the film industry in Nebraska.

Even before actor George Clooney appeared on the front page of the Omaha World Herald this past June, after working for two days in Omaha’s Old Market on a feature film called Up in the Air, supporters of film making as an economic development tool were working to encourage the Nebraska Legislature to consider tax incentives similar to those already in place in surrounding states, including Iowa. Clooney left Omaha after those two days and the rest of the film’s cast and crew filmed for 48 days in a new location, despite the fact that Omaha was the location of the story written into the script. Those who produced the movie indicated that if Nebraska would have had some kind of established tax incentive, the state would have landed the film for six weeks.

In the two days of principle photography on Up in the Air that took place in Nebraska, the Omaha economy was impacted directly with tens of thousands of dollars in just car rental alone. More than 250 extras were hired for one day at the Eppley Airfield shoot location at $111/per extra plus over-time, amounting to an estimated $27,750.00. Before filming began, the film’s director and crew flew into Omaha on 3 separate occasions to scout locations while using hotels, car rentals, food and lodging; just another example of the impact on the local economy.

This two day project is only a sliver of the kind of impact one film can have on the economy. Imagine the impact of a full length film project which costs millions of dollars. Yet without incentives, we can’t compete with the likes of Iowa and other states that have already weighed the cost of incentives with the overall economic benefit, and recognize that the income and economic development dollars created far outweigh the initial costs.

The Nebraska Film Association members believe that the right kind of incentives will provide a level playing field for the state to compete in the film industry. Filmmakers from the West Coast have been moving more projects to locations throughout the country often times based on the incentives. Nebraskans bring a strong work ethic and there are many more resources in this state than most realize. We have to tell people about them and promote them to be successful:

- Film production is a high-wage, labor intensive industry that employs skilled workers.

- The majority of these independent skilled workers are self-employed technicians and professionals, including: caterers, actors, laborers, drivers, and technical crews. Nebraska already has hundreds of these individuals who would prefer the opportunity to work locally.

- Film production is heavily dependent on the hospitality industry; a film project’s presence immediately enhances the local business environment.

- Accelerates training in the local economy to provide future technical and skilled workers through post-secondary job training courses.

- Creates an infrastructure essential to attracting and growing state artistic and cultural heritage.

The Nebraska Film Association believes that in the upcoming legislative session, Nebraska’s legislative body should take a close look at what kind of impact even a single film could have on the state and understand how the dollars spent here can impact our economy and promote jobs. This is the type of economic development tool that makes sense.

For more information or to join the efforts of the Nebraska Film Association, visit www.nebraskafilmassociation.com. Please contact Aaron Farber at nebraskafilm@acgusa.net to learn more, or reach him by phone at 402-475-0727.