A bipartisan group of lawmakers is drafting legislation that would create a 20% federal tax credit for movies and television shows shot in the United States. The goal is to counter incentives from Canada, the U.K., and Australia that have drawn productions, and the jobs that come with them, overseas. Actor Jon Voight, now serving as a special ambassador to Hollywood, blames the shift for heavy job losses across the industry, and Rep. Brian Jack (R-Ga.) is sponsoring the effort with White House support.
For the Suncoast, the interesting detail is how the credit would work. It’s designed to stack with existing state incentives and includes bonuses for rural filming locations and in-state spending. Florida has its own production incentive history, and productions that shoot here bring more than cameras. They book hotel rooms, hire local crews, rent equipment, and eat at our restaurants. A single series shooting for a season can mean months of steady work for people who live right here.
The questions are the same ones that follow any tax credit: how much does it cost the federal government, and does the money come back? President Trump says the return would be tenfold, and advocates are pushing for passage this year. Supporters say the alternative is watching more American stories get filmed somewhere else. So what do you think? Should the U.S. offer a federal tax credit to keep film production at home, and would you like to see a production come to the Suncoast?
