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When making a film, there is so much that goes on behind the scenes — unbeknownst to the viewer. In Arkansas of late, there’s been quite a bit of behind-the-scenes activity to promote our own film industry. Film production can be a major boost for a state’s economy, and many are working hard to ensure The Natural State gets a piece of the pie.
Our surrounding states have received much business from Hollywood in recent years; Louisiana ranks third — after California and New York — in film and television production nationwide. According to the Louisiana Economic Development office, last year, 80 major films and television programs were filmed in Louisiana with combined production budgets of $800 million, $500 million of which was spent in the state. Louisiana offers one of the most appealing tax incentive programs in the country: a credit of 25 percent for motion picture production costs and an additional 10 percent credit on Louisiana labor, plus an additional 40 percent credit for infrastructure development. Since their incentive program’s inception in 2002, the state has not only become one of the leading states for film production, touting blockbusters such as “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Ocean’s Thirteen,” it has increased its base of skilled production workers by 400 percent and six production studios have opened throughout the state.
Production companies can spend tens of thousands to millions of dollars when making a film — including money spent on food, lodging and recreation.
Until recently, Arkansas was one of two of the only states — Delaware being the other — that didn’t offer filmmakers a tax incentive plan. That changed April 3, when Gov. Beebe signed into law a tax incentive program that many politicians, film producers and government officials passionately worked on.
The Digital Product and Motion Picture Industry Development Act of 2009, headed by State Rep. Rick Saunders, D-Hot Springs, cites its intent to provide “the citizens of Arkansas with the education, training and financial tools to succeed in today’s global economy,” as well as to provide “the financial incentives needed to foster the long-term development of the digital medium and traditional film industry in Arkansas.”
The incentive offers filmmakers a rebate of 15 percent on all production costs and an additional 10 percent for the payroll for full-time employees, excluding directors, producers, writers and directors, who are Arkansas residents. The stipulation is that the production company must spend at least $50,000 on the project within a six-month period.
Many may not know that Arkansas was actually one of the first states in the nation to implement a motion picture tax incentive program. In the early 1980s the “Nickel Rebate,” which expired in 2007, was created to offer filmmakers a 5 percent rebate on expenditures. Many major movies and television programs, including “The Blue and the Gray,” “Under Siege” and “Sling Blade” were partly or entirely filmed in the Natural State under that program.
The new bill, while it may not offer as much as our neighbor to the south, is viewed by many — including Saunders — as a good start to getting Arkansas’ film industry in motion.
“I felt this bill would be good for economic development in the state and a good way to keep the youngsters here. There are so many people involved with the film industry who live here and have to fly out of state to work, or who just move away.” Saunders said he hopes this bill will help a lot of talented people return to Arkansas.
Saunders worked on the bill for three terms; he first introduced it in 2005, however it did not receive enough support until he figured out how to enlist some of the political heavy-hitters to his cause. “What finally got the bill to pass was my stubbornness,” Saunders said, laughing, “and a study performed by Christopher Crane, with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Crane was the genius who did all the really hard, thorough research that found the bill would be a gainer for the state. When we could prove that it would be a good economic move, we were able to get the general assembly, as well as the governor, on board.”
Arkansas Film Commissioner Christopher Crane directed the economic impact analysis and was more than satisfied with the findings — for every dollar the state spends, it will see a return of $1.90. “The next step is to get working on the development and infrastructure. We need sound stages and studios — all of this is the bricks and mortar,” Crane said.
“We have several things happening to facilitate the growth and workforce development. There are many programs throughout the state with film-based curriculum, and all of these things are starting to interlink now,” he said.
Gov. Mike Beebe has much faith in what the new incentive program can do for Arkansas not only in economic terms, but also for creating jobs and broadening educational reaches.
“The real strength of these incentives is the potential job creation they can generate for Arkansans. We can create an entirely new field of stable career opportunities. I have no doubt that as the need for skilled production crews increases, the resources we already have available in Arkansas, including the Department of Workforce Education, the Economic Development Commission, and private organizations, will come forward to ensure that there are qualified, competent Arkansans to fill the jobs that arise,” Beebe said.
The individuals who worked so diligently for the film incentive program, and the filmmakers who will be affected by it, share Gov. Beebe’s enthusiasm and hope the floodgates for movie production, and education for the industry, open wide for Arkansas.
While the behind-the-scenes players often get the ball rolling in the film industry, it is usually those in the spotlight who make a lasting impression on the public. There are many actors, writers and producers native to or now living in the Natural State who have tapped into its resources to create noteworthy films; they are advocates of the great qualities the state possesses as a prime filming location.
Judge Reinhold has been a familiar face around Arkansas for the past ten years since marrying his wife, Little Rock native, Amy Miller. Reinhold got his first taste of Arkansas in 1990, while filming “Rosalie Goes Shopping” in Stuttgart. “This was an avant-garde, yet wholesome and wacky movie. I played the priest. Rosalie was a compulsive shoplifter who would come confess her sins to me … then go shoplift again,” Reinhold said.
“I landed at the Little Rock airport, had lunch at the Capital Hotel and rented a car to drive to Stuttgart. By sundown, I was profoundly lost; I think I finally arrived around 9 p.m. At that time, all I knew was New York and L.A. I had no idea Stuttgart was the rice capital of the world. The community of Stuttgart was very supportive, everyone always seemed to be cooking us meals. They were very excited for us to be there.
Ten years later Reinhold met his wife who was visiting a friend in L.A. “Amy has an English degree from Southern Methodist University. She has great gifts that are perfect for producing film. We fell in love first, then became business partners,” Reinhold said.
He believes the incentive program is a great way to get the film industry back to Arkansas, but stresses the importance of identifying highly skilled Arkansas crew members and making them easily accessible to filmmakers.
“Production companies will always go where it’s cheaper to film. I’ve worked in Bulgaria, Romania and the Czech Republic — believe me, I’d much rather be in Arkansas. I like this community. It’s friendly and encouraging.”
“War Eagle, Arkansas,” one of the most talked about films recently produced in the state, has won more than 30 awards nationally and is still being shown at film festivals throughout the country. It is the story of the relationship between an aspiring high school baseball player whose stutter left him a social outcast, and his best friend, nicknamed “Wheels,” who is outgoing, comical and has cerebral palsy.
“The movie is based on the relationship between my son and his best friend when they were growing up,” said producer Vincent Insalaco. “It is a simple story with a simple message about how important it is for us to look after each other.”
Insalaco filmed the movie in Eureka Springs in 26 days. “When you make a quality film, you come in and get to know the people and where you will be shooting; you spend money; you clean up your mess; and you leave. It is a major local stimulus for small towns. I feel we saved the summer for some of the small businesses in Eureka Springs that year.”
Insalaco is also excited about the tax incentive program in Arkansas. Most of his projects are influenced heavily by the Natural State, which is where he would prefer to see them develop. “We have everything in Little Rock to make a scene look like D.C., or New York City. Northwest Arkansas can be made to look like the Rockies. I can’t think of an environment that we couldn’t alter. We have a really great talent pool as well.”
What’s more, he is looking forward to the opportunity to use the tax incentive as a way to lure bigger projects to the state. “There are many in the film industry who didn’t just leave the state; they come back all the time and tell their friends about us … Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson, Joey Lauren Adams, Harry Thomason and others are all great ambassadors to the state,” Insalaco said.
He believes Arkansas is the perfect environment for filmmaking and hopes others will help spread the word.
Graham Gordy is one of those great ambassadors to the state: an incredibly creative Arkansan who had to travel to New York to pursue a career in the film and theater industries. He was born and raised in Conway and has been living in New York for the last eight years, where he by chance met Insalaco through a mutual friend. Insalaco brought him the basis of the story of “War Eagle, Arkansas” — the relationship between his son and his son’s best friend — and asked him to turn it into a script. The story Gordy wrote is touching, human and inspiring, yet honest and incredibly funny at times.
“Vincent wanted me to write [the “War Eagle, Arkansas” story]. I immediately thought to myself ‘I don’t know how to write that.’ I never lived with anyone who has this disease. Over Christmas, I came to Little Rock and I met Vincent’s son and his friend and all of the sudden I realized that the movie wasn’t about disabilities; it was about two kids’ relationship, and I know about that,” Gordy said.
The story intrigued Gordy. “It was an opportunity to write a film set in my home state. I was very excited to get the chance to portray Arkansas in a positive way.”
Gordy is a playwright in New York, which is how he found his next big venture as co-writer of “The Love Guru.” This comedy was released in 2008, and starred Mike Myers. The film took his work in an entirely different direction.
“Mike Myers saw a play of mine and asked me to come work for him,” Gordy said.
After working on two projects that were so entirely different, Gordy may have found his niche in the writing industry. “I still write for a living. I’m going back and forth to L.A. a lot right now.” He has two movie scripts he’s shopping around. The producer of the Academy-award winning “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” has picked one up … a major coup for a hometown boy.
The film industry in a state is nothing without film festivals to promote up-and-coming local films and generate interest within the community. Arkansas is fortunate to be home to top-notch film festivals that feature great local and international films as well as informative workshops and act as a great place for filmmakers to showcase their work.
The Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute (HSDFI) began in 1992, and was one of the first documentary film festivals established in the world. The Institute offers many educational outreach programs, as well as hosts the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival each year.
In 2008, the festival had more than 1,000 entries, 400 from foreign countries. The 2009 festival is scheduled for Oct. 16 through 25.
The Institute is not only about promoting films but educational outreach as well. “There is so much cultural diversity in the state. The opportunities for filmmakers in Arkansas are absolutely endless,” said Malinda Herr-Chambliss, executive director. “We want to help foster filmmakers from childhood up and hope they stay in Arkansas.” The Institute offers a variety of year-round programs to teach the community about filmmaking.
Chambliss is very excited about an upcoming event. The HSDFI will host a special preview of PBS documentary film producer Ken Burns’ six-episode series on national parks titled “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” Hot Springs — which makes an appearance in the series — the first land set aside for national park use as well as home to the oldest documentary film festival in the county, is the perfect place for this much-anticipated premiere. Check the Institute’s Web site for more information about the event.
The Ozark Foothills FilmFest just finished its eighth successful festival in March and is gearing up for next year. The festival was proud to host the premiere of “The River Within.” The film was directed by Arkansas native Zac Heath and filmed along the beautiful Spring River with a largely Arkansas cast and crew. The Foothills FilmFest prides itself on its dedication to portraying rural Arkansas, a theme this Batesville-based festival feels very close to.
“What makes us different, as a film festival, is our strong connection to Arkansas and the surrounding region. We try to focus on films from Arkansas and its neighboring states, mostly about rural communities,” said director Bob Pest.
In addition to screenings, the festival offers discussion panels, musical performances and social events to give filmmakers the opportunity to meet one another.
“Our festival is really defined by the region. It is relaxed, laid back and friendly. There are not many communities of 9,000 people who have film festivals.”
Pest is not only involved in promoting films at the festival, but also understands the need to encourage and teach youth about filmmaking. He created the T Tauri Film Festival and Movie Camp as the youth division of the Ozark Foothills FilmFest. This program focuses on educating youth in a series of summer programs and has a film festival in which students showcase their work.
An emerging Harrison film festival looks very promising. In its second year, The Spark International Film Festival is a collaborative project of North Arkansas College and the Ozark Arts Council. It is a competitive festival that only accepts short films with running times under 15 minutes.
“The Spark International Film Festival is working to promote more diversity in the area,” said Rachael M. Prevatte, executive director, Ozark Arts Council and Lyric Theater.
This year’s entries include films from Germany, India and Brazil, as well as local entries. Films will be shown June 26 at the historic Lyric Theater; a panel of judges will choose the winner.
The Little Rock Film Festival (LRFF) is another fresh-faced festival in the state. In 2008, more than 5,000 attended the festival and nearly every screening sold out. The 2009 event, May 13 through 17, is expected to be bigger and better with more than 70 films showing at 150 screenings throughout the five days with social and community-based events.
The LRFF is a high-energy festival centered on the experience of the moviegoer. They offer a wide variety of local, national and international films. “There is something for everyone,” said Jack Lofton, executive director.
Look for new additions to this year’s festival including the introduction of the Golden Rock Award, which is a creatively designed, Arkansas-themed bronze statue to be given to winners in the categories of Best Narrative and Best Documentary Feature. This year audience members will vote for their favorite film. Ballots will be passed out at every screening for films to be rated on a scale from 1 to 5.
Lofton is excited about the festival’s films and events, including a special performance by piano virtuoso and Arkansas native Walter Norris. Norris will perform at the Clinton Center following a screening of a documentary by Chuck Dodson about Norris’ life and work.
The opening night film “That Evening Sun” is a story about a rural Tennessee farmer, staring Arkansan Ray McKinnon. Other headlining films include “Body of War,” the story of an injured American veteran returning home from the war in Iraq; and “Kassim the Dream,” the story of world champion boxer, Kassim “The Dream” Ouma, who battled Little Rock’s Jermain Taylor in 2006. Ouma and Taylor will be in attendance.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of movies and special events scheduled throughout the festival week. The festival is free; however to ensure priority seating at screenings and admission to most events, Lofton suggests you purchase a festival pass, which is $25. Passes, as well as a full schedule of events, are available on the LRFF Web site, littlerockfilmfestival.org.
For more information about Arkansas’ film industry and these film festivals, log onto arkansasedc.com; hsdfi.org; ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org; and sparkfilmfestival.com.
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