Film and television productions have a significant impact on a local economy, from buying goods and services from small businesses to donating to local initiatives. Over 270 cities and towns have benefited from the Film & Television Incentive program in which productions have bought goods and services from thousands of local businesses. That totals over 75% of all cities and towns.
For example, Paramount’s Shutter Island pumped $22 million into the state’s economy, with $11.4 million to local vendors and $2.6 million to area hotels. Disney’s The Finest Hours bought or rented goods and services from more than 1,300 Massachusetts small businesses in 155 cities and towns, including $1.7 million for nearly 13,400 nights at local hotels. The film Honest Thief produced in the Worcester area bought or rented goods from 950 Massachusetts businesses in 134 cities and towns throughout the state, with 330 of those businesses in Worcester alone.
The economic impact directly on the cities and towns in which productions shoot can also be dramatic. In the Orange area alone, the Hulu series Castle Rock spent over $750,000 on location fees to local businesses, residents, and the town. Warner Brother’s Live By Night paid the city of Lawrence and businesses $330,000 during the two-week period of filming there, giving the city and small businesses a boost. The city of Malden received $200,000 from CBS Films’ Patriot’s Day, earmarking the revenue to help pay for programs for domestic violence, teen enrichment, for track scholarships at the high school and more.
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Andrew J Boles, Owner & Operator of Above the Line Production Rentals, Flush Services, and eFetch Express (North Reading)
“We work exclusively with Massachusetts film and television productions on transportation and temporary worksite solutions. To date, we have invested more than $15 million dollars in specialty rental / service equipment, and we currently own more than 200 pieces of rental equipment ranging from Box Trucks to Actor and Production Trailers. Since 2011, to meet the increasing demand for our rental equipment and services, we have grown from 2 employees to 26 employees. All of my employees receive 100% covered health and welfare benefits and competitive industry pay.”
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Craig Murphy, Owner of Cambridge Repro-Graphics (Somerville)
“Since the film tax credit came into effect my company has seen a huge uptick in business. We have hired new employees and all of our employees have gotten overtime pay due to the demands of the industry. We have purchased new state of the art equipment and many thousands of dollars of supplies from our local vendors because of all the new business. This tax credit is a direct bullseye to companies like me, to increasing my employees pay and to the new employees that we hired. ”
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