Blockbuster Or Flop? Film Tax Credits
Offered By States Bring Mixed Reviews
But Author Who Chronicled Atlanta-Based A-List Production Says Such Incentives Are Mutually Beneficial And Likely To Stay
The entertainment that movies provide is deeply embedded in American popular culture. And in recent years, the making of them in many states has become an important consideration in their economic strategy.
States have lured Hollywood movie production with tax credits, banking that shooting films in their area will substantially boost their economy. As of 2018, 31 states offered film tax incentives, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
While the move has been controversial in some states and spurred legislative debate, largely over lost tax revenue and budget pressure, it has been a hit in others, such as Georgia, with Atlanta now being called “Hollywood East.” The state claims an economic impact of $9.5 billion since the film tax incentives were passed in 2008. Georgia doled out $600 million in incentives alone in 2016.
Meredith Jordan, an author who chronicled the making of Last Vegas, which was shot in Atlanta, Ga. and Las Vegas, says film tax incentives have proven to be mutually beneficial and are likely to stay.
“Tax credits have reshaped the face of movie production in the United States,” says Jordan (http://www.belowthelinebook.com), author of Below The Line: Anatomy of a Successful Movie, a rare behind-the-scenes look at an entire movie production. “To understand why much of the movie happened in Georgia is to take a quantum leap into the business of Hollywood in the new millennium. This movie had a $36 million budget, but with tax credits it became a $30 million movie for filmmakers.
“Tax incentives have come and gone in a lot of states. They’ve worked for the states that stuck with them.”
Some state politicians and economic experts say the benefits states receive in association with movie production aren’t enough to justify tax breaks for the industry. Some states have dropped or reduced tax incentives for films. Other state leaders see the credits as a necessary tool that stimulates the broader economy; New Jersey and Ohio are among those who called for bigger tax breaks recently for film companies.
Jordan notes some different ways film tax credits impact state economies:
Creates new businesses and job sectors. States committed to the film industry see a steady flow of production annually, which creates new businesses sustainable for the long-term. “New companies open to service the industry,” Jordan says. “In Georgia, companies like Panavision and Central Casting have opened offices along with big studios like Pinewood. With time, other needed businesses have filled in, from prop and costume houses to catering companies and casting agencies.”
Enhances existing businesses. In building an infrastructure for future filmmaking, the economic impact is felt across many parts of the already-existing business community. “When a film or TV show is produced, a lot of jobs come with it,” Jordan says. “People sometimes forget that studios also hire local companies - dry cleaners, caterers, paper shredders, hotels and florists. They buy clothes and furniture and greenery. All that has an enormous effect on direct spending. Other industries are impacted as well, including health care, manufacturing, food services, transportation, retail and real estate.”
Increases awareness of the state. Filming locations show off a place. Some become cultural landmarks. All of that encourages tourism. “It all works hand-in-hand,” Jordan says. “It shines a brighter light on the state, making people aware of it and more appealing in the process.”
“The movie industry relies heavily on incentives,” Jordan says. “Take them away or cut them too much and they’ll stay home. The trend among numerous states is to make their tax programs appealing to bring Hollywood to them.”
About Meredith Jordan
Meredith Jordan (http://www.belowthelinebook.com) is the author of Below The Line: Anatomy of a Successful Movie. Jordan, who had the rare experience of being an embedded journalist for an entire Hollywood feature, chronicled the behind-the-scenes happenings in the making of Last Vegas. An award-winning reporter, Jordan worked for East Coast news organizations for 25 years, including Dow Jones & Co., Cox Communications and National Geographic.
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USDA GATHERS INFORMATION TO DETERMINE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF AGRICULTURE
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – February 4, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is collecting data from more than 35,000 farmers and ranchers, for its annual Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). The survey looks at all aspects of U.S. agricultural production, including farm financial wellbeing, chemical usage, and various farm characteristics of farms and ranches.
ARMS is a joint effort of NASS and USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). The information farmers and ranchers provide through the survey influences national and state policy-making decisions. In addition, ARMS data are used to calculate the farm sector portion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The survey also collects detailed information on production practices, costs, and returns for 13 principal commodities on a rotating basis.
The ARMS survey is conducted in three phases from May 2018 through April 2019. The first phase screened participants to make sure they have the principal commodities that are analyzed. During the second phase, NASS collected information on production practices and chemical use for these specific commodities. In the final phase, NASS will survey producers on cost of production, farm income, and production expenditures.
“We strongly encourage every producer contacted for ARMS to participate as their response represents not just their own farm, but many other similar operations across the country.” Said Bill Meyer, Director, Mountain Regional Field Office.
The results of this survey will be available in aggregate form only, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law. We will publish the survey findings in the annual Production Expenditures report on August 1, 2019.
For more information about the 2018 Agricultural Resource Management Survey visit www.nass.usda.gov/go/ARMS. For state specific questions please contact:
Arizona – Dave DeWalt 1-800-645-7286 Colorado – William R. Meyer 1-800-392-3202 Montana – Eric Sommer 1-800-835-2612 New Mexico – Longino Bustillos 1-800-530-8810 Utah – John Hilton 1-800-747-8522 Wyoming – Rhonda Brandt 1-800-892-1660
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UTAH'S TOP YOUTH VOLUNTEERS OF 2019 SELECTED BY NATIONAL PROGRAM
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors Farr West and South Jordan students with $1,000, medallions and trip to nation’s capital
Finalists also named in Kanab, Provo, North Ogden and Panguitch
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Armani McFarland, 15, of Farr West and Gabbie Lundberg, 11, of South Jordan today were named Utah's top two youth volunteers of 2019 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. As State Honorees, Armani and Gabbie each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2019.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 24th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
These are Utah's top youth volunteers of 2019:
High School State Honoree: Armani McFarland
Nominated by Weber High School
Armani, a sophomore at Weber High School, has conducted 27 collection and fundraising drives over the past seven years that have yielded more than 6,000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies for children from low-income families, as well as food, books, toys, clothing and hygiene items for other individuals and families in need. When she was in the third grade, Armani heard from her teacher that there were kids in their own community who went to bed hungry at night. “That thought broke my heart,” she said. Her response: a food drive that collected 1,000 pounds for a local food bank.
Shortly thereafter, Armani began collecting backpacks and school supplies for kids in need. Many other projects followed, and in 2016, Armani founded a nonprofit, “One Can Make a Change.” To conduct her collection and fundraising initiatives, she seeks donations through her website, solicits support from local businesses, and arranges activities such as raffles, bake sales, barbecues and lemonade stands. In addition to her food drives and annual backpack project, Armani has provided books to kids, stuffed animals to traumatized and injured children, and clothing and toiletries to the homeless. Recently, Armani helped pay for a new $12,000 roof on a teen shelter in Ogden. She also has traveled to Ghana with an international nonprofit to help install a water tank and to spend time with children at an orphanage. “Volunteering is not always easy, exciting or fun,” said Armani. “Sometimes it’s really hard. But it has always been worth it. I am constantly motivated by the smiles that the much-needed items bring to so many faces.”
Middle Level State Honoree: Gabbie Lundberg
Nominated by North Star Academy
Gabbie, a sixth-grader at North Star Academy, organized a day camp in her basement for children in her neighborhood in order to raise money for refugees in Utah. Gabbie has loved babysitting kids for as long as she can remember. Watching her mother volunteering on behalf of refugees, she tried to think of a way that she could help, too. Then an idea came to her in the middle of the night: She could combine her love of children with her desire to assist refugees by hosting a daycare event and then donating the proceeds.
The next day, Gabbie began making a flier to advertise her “Camp Awesome” for kids 4 to 7 years old. She distributed it around her neighborhood, tidied up her basement, and gathered toys, games and music. Soon her phone started ringing with calls from parents wanting to enroll their children. “I had a whopping 38 kids who wanted to come to camp!” Gabbie said. Realizing that that was too many kids for one person to handle, she recruited a friend to help supervise. The camp featured dancing, singing, game-playing and other fun activities, plus certificates and awards that Gabbie spent hours preparing. She also had to make sure that all the children got along and that those who were sad being away from home got special attention. Camp Awesome raised almost $200, which Gabbie donated to a Utah organization that supports refugee families. She plans to hold her camp again this summer.
Distinguished Finalists
The program judges also recognized four other Utah students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.
These are Utah's Distinguished Finalists for 2019:
Raymond Briener, 18, of Kanab, Utah, a senior at Kanab High School, led a search team in his local community, helping his local police force to look for a 19-year-old man who had gone missing. Using social media to spread awareness of the situation and to recruit more than 30 volunteers, Raymond distributed maps to the search team, outlined the areas where the man had last been seen and then led a nearly 12-hour search.
Noah Dansie, 17, of Provo, Utah, a senior at Provo High School, serves his high school community in a variety of ways, including through his involvement in student government, National Honor Society, Hope Squad and marching and jazz band. Currently serving as student body president, Noah also helped organize a drive that collected more than 77,000 cans of food for Utah’s Food & Care Coalition, and played a leadership role planning his high school’s first-ever homecoming parade and tailgate.
Caleb O’Neill, 18, of North Ogden, Utah, a senior at Weber High School, served as a builder during a humanitarian trip, teaching English and working with local residents to complete a new school building in Battambang, Cambodia. To prepare for his trip, Caleb learned about Cambodian culture and history, prepared English lessons, and raised money to finance his trip by making and selling bath bombs and completing odd jobs in his community.
McCall Tebbs, 18, of Panguitch, Utah, a senior at Panguitch High School, raised more than $70,000 to help offset the medical expenses not covered by insurance for her nephew, who received surgery for spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. McCall raised money by organizing fundraising events such as a basketball tournament, bake sale, rodeo and auction, as well as by selling T-shirts and spreading awareness about her nephew and his story.
“These young volunteers learned and demonstrated that they can make meaningful contributions to individuals and communities through their service,” said Prudential CEO Charles Lowrey. “It’s an honor to recognize their great work, and we hope that shining a spotlight on their service inspires others to consider how they might make a difference.”
“Each of these honorees is proof that students have the energy, creativity and unique perspectives to create positive change,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. “We commend each of the 2019 honorees for their outstanding volunteer service, and for the invaluable example they’ve set for their peers.”
About The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represents the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. All public and private middle level and high schools in the country, as well as all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of Points of Light’s HandsOn Network, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award. These Local Honorees were then reviewed by an independent judging panel, which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria including personal initiative, effort, impact and personal growth.
While in Washington, D.C., the 102 State Honorees – one middle level and one high school student from each state and the District of Columbia – will tour the capital’s landmarks, meet top youth volunteers from other parts of the world, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. On May 6, 10 of the State Honorees – five middle level and five high school students – will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2019. These National Honorees will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit charitable organizations of their choice.
Since the program began in 1995, more than 125,000 young volunteers have been honored at the local, state and national level. The program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland, India, China and Brazil. In addition to granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program also distributes President’s Volunteer Service Awards to qualifying Local Honorees.
For information on all of this year’s Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.
About NASSP
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student’s potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at www.nassp.org.
About Prudential Financial
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.
