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Is Oklahoma the next Hollywood? How the state’s film industry has thrived despite COVID-19

(oklahoman.com)

EDMOND — On a spring day inside Wantland Stadium, football players are running through drills while coaches bark instructions and critiques. 

Instead of the University of Central Oklahoma’s bronze and blue, through, the players are decked out in green and gold, to match the vintage Green Bay banners flapping in the frisky Oklahoma wind.

And the player on the sidelines washing out of training is none other than “Shazam!” star Zachary Levi, who is portraying a hall of fame quarterback in the Oklahoma-made movie “American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story.”  

“So this is Green Bay Packers training camp, and most of this will be visual effects,” producer Kevin Downes said in a March interview on the set of the biopic, which recently wrapped filming in the Oklahoma City metro area. “For me, it’s been a long five months, but here we go. We’re at the finish line.”

Even as COVID-19 has been keeping many movie theaters closed, Oklahoma’s film and television industry continues to show promising growth even amid the lingering pandemic, which has slowed or stopped production in other parts of the country. As the state marks the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma Film Rebate Program, show business is burgeoning in the Sooner State. 

By: Brandy McDonnell

Continue Reading at oklahoman.com

New York’s Massive Budget Channels Fresh Funds To Covid-Battered Arts And Entertainment

(deadline.com)

New York State’s just signed fiscal 2022 mega-budget includes a $1 billion package – a combination of grants and tax credits — for small businesses including arts, entertainment and restaurant to help speed economic recovery.

The Covid-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program steers $800 million in funding and $138 million in tax credits in part to for-profit arts and cultural institutions.

The New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit expands to $100 million over two years to jumpstart the industry and support tourism in the city. For musical and theatrical productions outside NYC, the budget extends the tax credit for four years through 2025 and doubles it to $8 million.

By: Jill Goldsmith

Continue Reading at deadline.com

LL COOL J’S ROCK THE BELLS BRAND RAISES $8M IN SERIES A FUNDING

(hollywoodreporter.com)

LL Cool J is planning a significant expansion of his Rock The Bells direct-to-consumer business.

The actor and rapper has raised $8 million in a Series A funding round for Rock The Bells, led by Raine Ventures.

Other investors in the round include venture capital firm M13, Willoughby Capital Holdings (the family office of billionaire Daniel Och) and Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang. Rock The Bells’ current investors include Irving Azoff, Mark Cuban, Egon Durban and Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Rock The Bells is led by former BET executive James Cuthbert, who joined the company earlier this year.

Rock The Bells was founded in 2018 as a content and commerce brand dedicated to classic hip-hop (the name is based on LL Cool J’s third single off his debut album Radio, released in 1985).

With the new round the company plans to invest further in its direct-to-consumer business, particularly in the content, commerce, and experiences spaces. It will also build out is executive team alongside Cuthbert.

“This funding will help us accelerate our growth and team-building efforts to make sure we can further uplift the people and culture at the forefront of Hip-Hop through exciting e-commerce collaborations, storytelling, and experiences,” LL Cool J said in a statement announcing the funding round.

Alongside the funding round, the company said that Raine Ventures managing partner Gordon Rubenstein, LL COOL J Inc. COO Claudine Joseph, and Thai Randolph, president and COO of Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud, will join its board.

By: Alex Weprin

Continue Reading at hollywoodreporter.com

Every state is looking to take business from Georgia — here’s why N.J. has legitimate chance to do so

(roi-nj.com)

When the outrage following Georgia’s new voting laws started impacting business and industry in the state — starting with the loss of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy responded as so many other governors did, imploring companies to bring their business to their states.

But Murphy’s appeal to television and film industry companies should not be confused as a one-time, one-off opportunity to grab a game or a project. His interest in the industry has been strong since he took office, including the 2018 instatement of New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program, which he extended in 2020.

Outside of wind energy, there are few industries the state has targeted more than TV and film production. Simply put, the state is set up to handle production companies now.

Murphy’s ask — in an open letter sent to Disney, Warner Bros., Netflix and others last Thursday — is just the latest in an ongoing effort to build the sector here.

In fact, the governor had the film industry in mind when he pushed for the transformative projects provision in the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2021. It’s a provision that could provide millions in incentives — but only if a sector is willing to make a major commitment to the state.

By: Tom Bergeron

Continue Reading at roi-nj.com

TV, film productions set up shop on Vancouver Island, rake in millions for local economy

(mypowellrivernow.com)

The North Island is catching Hollywood’s attention.

The natural beauty and scenery continues to lure in movie stars and film crews, not only profiling the region on the big screen but also helping to boost the local economy.

Film commissioner Joan Miller with INFilm (Vancouver Island North Film Commission) recently provided Campbell River council with an overview of the growing success of the film industry and its economic impact on the island.

She also shared changes and recovery related to the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing training, and film tourism opportunities.

Back in 2018, Miller says filming locations for the Apple+ TV series SEE starring Jason Momoa included Ralph River, Myra Falls and Discovery Industrial Park. Scouting, prep and principle production commenced on April 15th, 2018, and wrapped on February 5th, 2019.

Miller says this production raked in millions for the economy: over $3.5 million went to local vendors, with around $3.2 million contributed to local payroll. And, during the filming of SEE, over 19,000 local hotel room nights were booked.

Miller says the payroll part really showed that INFilm’s hard work in regards to growing and training crew was paying off, “and I realize with our tourism partners it was a big impact for tourism services as well.”

Throughout 2019, a handful of documentaries were also filmed on the island, including CBC’s The Nature of Things and the UK Natural History Documentary, Minotaur.

By: Ethan Morneau

Continue Reading at mypowellrivernow.com