Thurs., 1/12/12: The Mass Film Tax Credit

The Mass Film Tax Credit
From blockbuster movies and TV pilots, to commercials and indie flicks, more studios have been looking to the Bay State for shooting locations and plot inspiration. One reason for the recent boom may be a tax credit allowing studios cut their tax burden while filming here. Proponents of the tax credit say it's caused a precipitous climb in big-name movies such as the films "R.I.P.D." and "Donny's Boy" currently in production in Massachusetts. Detractors say taxpayers are being asked to pay for a credit that's being repackaged by brokers and sold to third parties unrelated to the film industry. The state is looking to attract more films, TV series, commercials, attention, and jobs. Today we'll hear about how it's doing, and where we go from here.

GUESTS:
  Todd Wallack is a reporter for The Boston Globe. He wrote a piece on Massachusetts' film tax credits program.
  Lisa Strout is film commissioner for Massachusetts, and she's in charge of bringing films, commercials and television series to the state. She is the former film commissioner for New Mexico, where she oversaw the shooting for such films as "Cowboys and Aliens", "No Country for Old Men" and "The Avengers".