“So thats a lot of business we are not currently getting,” said Chris Baum, CEO of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitor’s Authority. He said next year Nevada will offer a $6 million per-movie tax credit.
This month Baum organized a panel of Hollywood producers who told hundreds of local business the movies are coming but they must be ready to be flexible.
Brian O’Niel is Location Manager for Sony Pictures. He was on the panel and said, "Anything we do is written in jello, it will giggle it will change it might melt.”
He is considering three films here because of the proximity to Hollywood, scenic sierra and the incentive. Studies in Michigan and Louisiana show a $50 million movie generates 150 million dollars in local spending.
Reno lighting professional Matt Jones is eager to get in on show business.
“I havent seen dollars, but I have seen a ton of interest,” Jones said. “Absolutely, everyone is kind of aligning themselves to be ready to jump into the industry.”
Clint Eastwood’s producer, Tim Moore has seen these incentives work.
“The right steps are being taken," Moore said.
Baum said Reno will be star struck.
“Even conservative business executives get all giddy and get home and tell their spouse if they ran into George Clooney walking down the sidewalk on their lunch hour.”
The tax incentive bait may already be working. A shark movie is in production on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.
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