Almost exactly a year ago, the Associated Press ran a widely circulated article about the potential end of the Vermont Film Commission. The tiny state agency, headed by Executive Director Joe Bookchin, was threatened by then-Gov. Jim Douglas’ budget cuts.
The VFC was spared. But now it faces a damning critique — from some of Vermont’s most prominent filmmakers.
The diverse group includes John O’Brien (Man With a Plan), Jay Craven (A Stranger in the Kingdom), David Giancola (who directed Anna Nicole Smith in her final role in Illegal Aliens) and Rusty “The Logger” DeWees.
This article appears in Feb 16-22, 2011.
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Are there tax incentives for out of state film production? I seem to recall what’s-his-face from Miami Vice screaming about about having to pay Vermont income taxes on a film he shot here.
On the marriage equality legislation – the media buying, production, script writing, voices etc. – was all done right out of our our firm in Montpelier, using talent from around the state. It was top quality, locally-grown, faster and more flexible than anything that could have been done out of state. It remains a mystery why Vermont politicians and other entities continue to go outside Vermont. Political campaigns are not innovative so they go with the DC consultants. They will come around eventually.