Print Page

MONDAY EDITORIAL

The issue ~ Filmmaking incentives

Our opinion ~ Sanford push for incentives should pay off with more films made here

S.C. looking to see itself in the movies

Gov. Mark Sanford couldn't have picked a better place to promote South Carolina as a filmmaking destination. What fan of classic movies can forget the drama of the World War II epic film "Tora! Tora! Tora!"? There also is the Academy Award-winning documentary "The Fighting Lady." The floating star of both is the Yorktown, the 27,100-ton aircraft carrier decommissioned in 1970 that is now the centerpiece of the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Charleston. It is famous for participation in numerous World War II and Vietnam War engagements, as well as the rescue of Apollo 8, the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon.

Sanford took to the decks of the carrier to announce South Carolina is in search of more movie stars, signing a new law to attract movie makers.

The film incentive act is designed to make South Carolina more competitive in attracting major motion pictures, independent films and television shows. The law increases wage and sales tax rebates for motion pictures, independent films and television series that come to South Carolina to film. It couples our state's existing scenic competitiveness with more aggressive industry incentives.

Specifically, the amendment to the Motion Picture Incentive Act allows a film production spending more than $1 million in the state during a consecutive 12 months to receive a 15 percent wage rebate for all employees subject to South Carolina withholding tax involved with the film except those earning more than $1 million. It also provides for a 15 percent rebate of funds used to purchase South Carolina goods and services in connection with the production.

Filmmakers generally spend about a third of a movie's total budget on location, money that includes numerous high-paying, high-skill jobs without creating the infrastructure costs to the state associated with many other industries.

"We've got an incredibly diverse selection of unique, scenic backdrops here in South Carolina that other states frankly can't compete with," Sanford said.

"What we're doing with this new law is making sure filmmakers know that South Carolina's economic incentives are now just as competitive as our natural, visual incentives. That's a big part of playing to our strengths as a state and enhancing our existing competitive advantages, which is what this administration will continue to focus on as part of our efforts to raise income levels and improve our quality of life."

In recent years South Carolina has been the host to numerous feature films, including "Radio," "The Notebook," "Cold Mountain," "The Patriot," "Forrest Gump," "Days of Thunder" and "The Big Chill."

But more recently states such as Louisiana and New Mexico and countries such as Canada and Romania have drawn an increasing proportion of film projects because of strong incentives offered to filmmakers.

"This legislation gives us a tremendous advantage when it comes to recruiting," said Commerce Secretary Bob Faith, whose Department of Commerce houses the S.C. Film Commission. "We've got great locations for almost any kind of film setting, but today, choosing a location is almost always about the bottom line."

Sanford and lawmakers deserve credit for moving South Carolina into a better position to compete and become one of just a handful of locations at the very top of filmmakers' lists.