Minnesota's been in the movies a lot in recent years. But a group called "Shoot in Minnesota" is arguing that the movies haven't been to Minnesota in years.
"Right now, they're not even calling us, they're flying over us," Shoot in Minnesota's Anne Healy said.
The group is made up of professionals with movie experience in our state that are missing out as movies set in Minnesota shoot in other states.
Healy says those other states offer the studios incentives. "What we're asking for is 25 million dollars which will result in at least $112 million in spending here for our state," Healy said in the capital rotunda.
The group was pitching its case to lawmakers on Tuesday. "Shoot in Minnesota" says "Leatherheads," the story of a Duluth football team, was shot in South Carolina because the incentives were there.
They add "Juno," the story of a Minnesota teen, and "New in Town" based on the city of New Ulm took their business to Canada.
Healy says "New in Town" had a $140 million budget. "Typically a movie spends 40% of its budget locally so do the math. What would that have meant to New Ulm?" she wondered. The group took part of the day to address Senator Tom Bakk, the Tax Chair from Cook.
While Bakk wonders if state government will get its $25 million back from movie spending, he did like the sound of the proposal, especially in today's economy.
"Proposals that do something to retain jobs or to create some new jobs or create some new economic activity, I think we need to have a real serious look at them," Bakk remarked.
"This is money and jobs. This is easy money and jobs. All we have to do is put a fund in place and they'll come and it will work," Healy said. Lawmakers will look at this, and dozens of other proposals, this spring.
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