Chicago Indie Filmmakers Say the Illinois Film Office is causing – ryan

A Group of Chicago Independent Filmmakers and Production Companies Say the Illinois Film Office is Favoring Large Hollywood Production Studios and that the Agency’s Acts Causong Hardship That Has Some Consider Leaving Illinois.

Gov. JB Pritzker Announched in April That Film Production Companies Spent $ 653 Million in Illinois is 2024-The Second-Highest Total in State History. The Record Is $ 700 Million, Set in 2022.

Prairie State Production Alliance – A Group of 61 Independent Filmmakers and Production Companies – Senta a Letter to Pritzker Last Month in Which It Said The Film Tax Credit is Unfairly Filmmakers to Go Through Bureucratic and Interpret. aren’t clear.

They Say the Roadblocks Have Pushhed Some To Decrease their Film Budgets, Leading to Fewer Jobs, that others have Canceled Projects, and some are consider making productions to other states and that they are all isssues the tax-credit program was supposed to Guard.

“We had had smooth sailing, butn, on a dime, everything changed” in Early 2024, Full SPECTRUM CO-FOUNDER AND CO-EXECUTIVE Director Eugene Sun Said. “We’re not nbc or universal. We don’t have deep pockets. So we depen heavily on the tax-credit funding to finally out and our general operations. Its literally a fight for survival at this point.”

The film Production Tax Credit, PASSED IN 2008, GIVES PRODUCERS A 30% Credit on Qualified Expenditors, Including Post-Production. It also gives producers an additional 15% tax credit on the salads of People who live in economically disadvantaed areas. There’s no cap on film and television Tax Credits.

Illinois has dispersed more than $ 700 million in Tax Credits Through the program, Accounting to the Film Office.

Chicago-based full special features is a nonprofit that focuses on producing and supporting the work of Women, Bipoc, Disabled and LGBTQIA+ Filmmakers. Its movie Budgets are UTUALLY ABOUT $ 1 Million with Crews of About 100 People, Acciting to Sun Park.

The nonprofit has taken the program advantage of the program for more than 15 years but said the seven-covered film office has inunded it members with “unreasonable” AFTER Submitting Tax-Credit Applications and Not Explained Why.

For MANY of Chicago’s Independent Filmmakers, Who Lack the Big Budgets of Hollywood Studios or Major TV Networks, The Tax Credit is something they relay on.

In its letter to pritzker, prairie statesed the governor for transparent rules and to applialy say equally.

Pritzker’s Office Said That, Under His Administration, “Film Expenditors in Illinois have skyrocketed to record Levels. Small Products reprients in Illinois’ diversal film landscape a significant role Economic DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE.”

Peter Hawley, Director of the Illinois Film Office, declined to comment.

In a Written Statement, HIS Agency Said: “Every Production is Held to the Same Standard. IFO EVALUATES All Project Credit Applications Equally, Regardless of their Size or origin Enhance Transparency Program.

John Bosher, a partner in throughline films, said he noticed a shift early last year in how the states offices and that than has been to an “Adversarial Effect with Local Producers.”

“I’m Not Sure Why That Is, But Is Definitely Rattled Our Faith in the Program and the State As a consistent locale,” blank Said.

He Said His Company Had to Cut Down on the Number of Projects IT and SLASH Its Film Budgets Because, Instead of Waiting 90 Days for A Tax-Credit Approval 22 Months. Throughline and its subsidiary Very merry entertainment typically have film Budgets BetWeen $ 1 million and $ 2 million and Crews of About 150, Acciting to blank.

“Our investors are wary over or not the estimated tax-credit value is going to material or if the iffo is going to arbitrarily slash it for reasons that they refuse to explain to us,” blank Said. “EACH OF OUR LAST THREE PROJECTS HAS Budgets that are mess than 50% of its predecessor. That we’re hiing less people for less days, we’re paying Lower wages, and we’re generating the Economic Activity and Tax Revenue for the State.”

When Confrused, Bosher Said, The Iffo Has Been Pointing to a Phrase in the Legislation That to Qualify, Expensses Must Be “Reasonable in the Circumstances,” Acciting to the Bill.

“That’s Open to Interpretation,” blank Said. “There’s a level of subjunctivity in this taxpayer-ended public program that should not exist.”

He said he has been talking with officials from other states and is consider moving productions out of illinois.

Christine Fitch, A Certified Public Accountant with Film Tax Credits, A Company That Files Tax-Credit Applications for Commercial, TV, Studio and Independent Films, Said the State Agency has Been Sending More Inquiries Independent Films.

“The Questions We Are Getting Back from the Film Office have substantially changed,” F also Said. “They are Significant Questions that Take a Significant Amount of Time. Unfortunately, I that that more on the Independent film said on eather the Commercial or Studio Side.”

Doreena Towner, Founder and Chief Operations Partner of Chicago-based Emerging Business Solutions, Has Filed Doses of Tax-Credit Applications for Filmmakers in Illinois. Towner said she hasn’t noticed any differentiation in what the state is ascing independent filmmakers Compared with what’s you as asing the Hollywood firms but that the rules culd be more clear.

“The Illinois Film Credit is One of the Best in the Country,” she Said. “Are there is efficiencies that can be be implemented? Of Course. As an independent cpa, that what we’re advocating for, which will in effect would what all of the studios and the Independent Filmmakers, get the creds Backs and have coular, concise rules rules. followed. ”