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These exciting projects
are estimated to create 5,000 jobs and inject $68 million into the
state's economy. In 2004, projects filmed throughout the state
created nearly 15,000 jobs and generated $77 million, 200 percent
higher than in 2003. "Our film industry has gone from bust to boom
in the past two years -- bringing thousands of jobs and millions of
dollars in revenue for our economy," Gov. Blagojevich said. "Again
and again, we have proven that our state has the talent pool, the
settings and the resources needed for blockbuster films, and this
continued growth reinforces what we already know: Illinois is a
great place for Hollywood to do business."
Illinois' film industry was in deep decline up until two years
ago, when the governor signed Senate Bill 785, which made the state
more competitive with other filming locations across the nation and
around the world. The law provides a tax credit equal to 25 percent
of the wages paid to Illinois residents working on television and
film projects shot in the state. Just last week, the General
Assembly passed legislation extending the film tax credit
legislation for another year, with provisions making the credit
easier to use and encouraging the hiring of Illinois workers from
high unemployment areas. The governor will sign
Senate Bill 1965, which was sponsored by state Sen. Rickey
Hendon, D-Chicago, and state Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago.
"Gov. Blagojevich and I are so pleased to see this important
industry prospering in Illinois," Hendon said. "By partnering with
Hollywood's finest studios, we are creating thousands of jobs and
pumping millions of dollars into our economy."
"This is another strong indication that Illinois is once again
attracting these incredibly diverse productions that are providing a
critical economic boost," Dunkin said. "Gov. Blagojevich and I will
continue working with the studios to make sure this year is an even
better year than 2004."
"The film industry is a very competitive business, and Gov.
Blagojevich knows that we must continue to provide an attractive
environment to keep these studios coming back," said Jack Lavin,
director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity. "Film and television production brings so much to the
table in terms of spurring economic development and job creation
because thousands and thousands of people benefit when these studios
do business in our state."
"Illinois has such strong talent, and we can keep them working,
in front of the camera and behind the scenes, as the Illinois Film
Office continues to foster relationships in Hollywood to rebuild the
Illinois film industry," said Brenda Sexton, managing director of
the state's film office. "Thanks to Gov. Blagojevich's support,
we've come a long way, but we must continue to support the film
industry to keep these studios coming back to Illinois."
[to top of second column in this article]
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 Movie and television projects
currently filming or scheduled to film in Illinois include the
following:
-
Illinois' first television series in
five years, "Prison Break," is a FOX Television series with Brett
Ratner serving as its executive producer. Dominic Purcell will
play a death row inmate who professes his innocence, and his
engineer brother, Wentworth Miller, will get placed in the prison
to orchestrate a plan to help him escape. The series charts the
prison break over the course of a season. Production is scheduled
to begin this month at the Joliet Correctional Center, with airing
expected in late August. The "Prison Break" pilot was filmed in
Illinois in December.
-
Warner Bros. Studio's "Il Mare" is
directed by Alejandro Agresti and produced by Doug Davison and Roy
Lee. This romantic drama is being filmed in and around Chicago and
stars Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, John Dylan Walsh, Shohreh
Aghdashloo, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Lynn Collins, Willeke van
Ammelrooy and Christopher Plummer. Production started in
mid-March.
-
Mandate Studio is filming "Stranger
Than Fiction," with a cast including Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman,
Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Ferrell plays
a revenue agent for the IRS who finds himself the subject of
narration that only he can hear. The voice-over begins to deeply
affect everything from his work to his love life. Chicago Theater
School alumnus Zach Helm wrote the script, and Marc Forster is
directing the film.
-
"The Break-Up" is a romantic comedy
staring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston under the direction of
Peyton Reed. The writers are Jeremy Garelick, Jay Lavender and
Vince Vaughn, with Vaughn also producing the movie. Filming is
scheduled to begin this month.
-
Magnificent Mile Productions Ltd.
producers Anthony and Joseph Tomaska and John Malkovich, with
co-production partner Paris Mudd, began filming "Drunk Boat" in
late May. The Tomaskas, producers of "Tony N' Tina's Wedding" and
owners of the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, and
Malkovich, who also stars in the film with John Goodman, have
several other projects planned to shoot in Chicago. Robert Meyer,
a native of Morton Grove and alumnus of Southern Illinois
University, is directing the film.
- "You Are Going to Prison," a comedy based on the book of the
same name, is produced by Prison Pictures and directed by Bob
Odenkirk. The movie was shot in the Joliet Correctional Center and
stars Will Arnett and Dak Shepphard.
[News release from the governor's office] |
