Posted on 08/17/2007 3:25:37 PM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
Rell backs incentives to boost state's film industry
Gov. M. Jodi Rell talks with John Travolta at Putnam Park in Redding on Thursday. Rell traveled to the film set of Disney Films "Old Dogs", starring Travolta and Robin Williams, to sign into law an expansion of film tax credits.
REDDING -- Gov. M. Jodi Rell was joined by actor John Travolta on Thursday as she signed into law incentives to help promote the burgeoning film industry in the state.
"Connecticut already has one of the best programs in the country to draw movie production to our state, and this new law will help make us an even more attractive place for filmmakers," Rell said during a ceremony at Putnam Memorial Park, where crews with Disney Films have been shooting the movie "Old Dogs."
"This new law promotes my three favorite things: jobs, jobs and jobs," the governor said.
The legislation she signed into law provides tax incentives for companies that build infrastructure in the state, such as production studios and sound stages.
The law, which also provides for a work force training program, strengthens a 30 percent tax credit for film productions that took effect last summer. Both incentives were spearheaded by House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford.
"The talk is out there that Connecticut can truly become Hollywood East," Amann said. "We have the incentives, creativity and locations to develop a long-term industry here and add billions of dollars to Connecticut's economy."
Officials said more than 36 productions have been filmed in the state since the first tax incentive took effect. They include "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" in Kent and Danbury, "Old Dogs" in Redding, and the fourth Indiana Jones movie in New Haven.
The money that production companies spent in the state increased from $1 million in 2005, before the incentive was put into place, to more than $438 million, according to officials with the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.
Redding First Selectman Natalie Ketchum said Travolta created quite a stir when he arrived at the bill-signing ceremony Thursday.
"He spoke about how important these incentives are, and how he's sure that he will be back in Connecticut in the future," she said. "There is no question that these new incentives will be good for the entire region. It's amazing how many people are involved in shooting even one scene, and they all have to eat and sleep somewhere."
Kevin Segalla, founder of the Connecticut Film Center in Stamford, said the development of infrastructure and a trained work force are key to ensuring a permanent film industry in the state.
"We need to train more people and we need to build more infrastructure to support the industry," he said. "That's something we've been working very hard on here at the center."
He said the center has teamed up with Spinnaker Real Estate Partners to acquire a 122,000-square-foot warehouse in South Norwalk that will be used as a sound-stage facility.
It will be only the first facility in the state to take advantage of the new incentives.
"Our first facility in Norwalk will be followed by more announcements on new facilities in coming weeks," Segalla said.
I saw all the trucks they had across from UCONN last week. I didn’t see Travolta or Williams though.
Double Loaded Barf from this freeper.
Looks like Travolta could use a bra.
Looks like Travolta could use a bra.
don’t you mean a “bro”.....or is it a “manzeer”????
John Travolta looks like he’s been getting friendly with too many bowls of pasta and boxes of canolies.
“Becoming Hollywood East (Connecticut welcomes actors - BARF alert)”
I thought this was about all the illegals moving to Sanctuary City,
CT (aka New Haven).
Illegals are usually pretty good actors...pretending to be real
legal residents!
And the Governess could challenge Hillary for the Her Thighness title.
expansion of film tax creditsThat'll help the poor.
My Cannolis are not fattening.
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