Saving $125,800 and firing two people is hardly the answer to Wisconsin’s $1.6 billion state budget deficit. But killing off the 19-year-old Wisconsin film office to save money?a bureau that’s more than paid for itself even in film-drought years?seems to be penny wise and pound foolish.
The July 1 film office closing is the Dept. of Tourism’s response to Governor Jim Doyle’s request for 10% departmental cutbacks. The film office has been under Tourism’s aegis.
The office’s knowledgable and helpful Mary Idso and Scott Thom, employees since 1992 and 1996, respectively, will be looking for new jobs.
Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle asked state agencies to submit budgets with a 10% cut to ease an anticipated $1.6 billon state deficit. “It’s all a matter of priorities in very trying fiscal times,” said Tourism secretary Jim Holperin.
One of the things that saddens Idso is the loss of work for Wisconsin’s film community, many of whom benefited by getting jobs via the office’s informative Web site.
While “Amityville Horror” filmed almost entirely in southern Wisconsin, in 2003 the state took in $7 million in six weeks from the “Mr. 3000” comedy tarring Bernie Mac. Baseball scenes were shot in Milwaukee’s Miller Park and provided work for hundreds of film people.
Some producers criticized the proposal, saying the closing will hurt the state’s image with the arts and entertainment industry.
“The potential for lost revenue is huge. It’s publicity for the state,” said Holly Mosher, a Whitefish Bay native who helped produce “Side Effects,” which was shot in Wisconsin this year.
Holperin said fewer movies are being made in Wisconsin, because other states and Canada provide attractive tax credits. “If you look at how successful this agency is in marketing our state, we have been pretty successful,” he said. “If you look at how successful we’ve been in attracting major motion pictures, we maybe haven’t been as successful.”
Mosher agreed that tax breaks for movie producers are among the reasons more movies are made in Illinois than in Wisconsin. But she said politicians “are always willing to cut arts” programs when money is tight.
Mary Idso can be reached at 608/267-0761; Email, midso@travelwisconsin.com.
EXTRA. Many states, like neigboring Indiana, are confident legislated tax incentives will boost their film business. Indiana is joining Louisiana, Georgia, California, Texas and New York with competitive packages to attract ever-budget conscious producers.
