On Wednesday, Gov. Brian Schweitzer named 27 people to the Montana Film and Television Advisory Council. The members of the council will use their industry know-how, as well as their contacts, to attract film production to the state, he said.
Livingston residents and actors Peter Fonda and Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane in the movie "Superman," are both on the council.
State officials estimate that Montana has lost $200 million in moviemaking money to Canada over the last 10 years. In response, the 2005 Legislature passed the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act in an attempt to compete with our neighbors to the north.
The new series "Into the West" by TNT was shot in Canada, said Diane Kamp Clayton, an agent for dialect coaches from Big Timber.
"Calgary has taken away a lot of our business in the last 10 years," said Patrick Markey of Bozeman, producer of "The Horse Whisperer" and "A River Runs Through It." "We hope to pluck some of that business and bring it down here."
Numerous big-name films have been shot in Montana, including "A River Runs Through It," the CBS mini-series "Return to Lonesome Dove," "The Horse Whisperer," "North Fork," "Steal Me" and "The Slaughter Rule."
The BBC and the Discovery Channel are currently working together on a documentary about the Tyrannosaurus rex in Montana. Betty Ann Conard of Manhattan, a freelancer in the film industry, is hiring Montana actors for the project.
"It's a fun project," aid Conard, a member of the film council. "It's very interesting."
Schweitzer said the film council will promote the state's new tax breaks to the film industry and said he will even travel with the council to Los Angeles to "close deals" with movie producers.
"This is an important part of Montana's economy, and we aim to grow it," he said.
Seventy-four Montanans applied to sit on the state film council; 26 were chosen. Schweitzer said he was looking for diversity, geographic balance as well as inside knowledge of the film industry.
"We intend to make aggressive forays into Hollywood," Markey said.
An increase in moviemaking in Montana will also spark more tourism in the state, said Mona Charles, a council member and former actress. State university system officials have said that out-of-state applications to the University of Montana and Montana State University jumped after "A River Runs Through It" was released.
The 27-member council is made up of: Jim Abel of Billings, Dennis Aig of Bozeman, Dean Bear Claw of Billings, Troy Bertelson of Bozeman, William Campbell of Livingston, Charles of Kalispell, Conard of Manhattan, Christopher Cronyn of Missoula, Colin Davis of Livingston, Robert Ebinger Jr. of Livingston, Paul Edwards of Helena, Mike Fantasia of Los Angeles and Libby, Fonda of Livingston, J.P. Gabriel of Bozeman, David Goodwin of Bozeman, Audrey Hall of Livingston, Cinda Holt of Stevensville, Kamp Clayton of Big Timber, Kidder of Livingston, Bert Manzari of Whitefish, Markey of Bozeman, Tom Mickel of Bozeman, Ed Noonan of Helena, Rob Story of Emigrant, Allison Whitmer of Wolf Point, Jake Whittenberg of Billings and Tony Preite, director of the state Department of Commerce.
Hollywood attractions
A look at incentives to attract film productions to Montana.
The Big Sky on the Big Screen Act, passed by the 2005 Legislature:
12 percent rebate based on hired Montana labor. This incentive applies to the first $50,000 worth of wages paid per Montana resident.
8 percent rebate based on qualified expenditures. These consist of hotel and lodging expenditures, production equipment rental, fuel costs, expendables, lumber and construction materials, vehicle rentals, and food expenditures.
No sales tax.
Accommodations tax break:
Production companies staying longer than 30 days at the same hotel or motel are exempt from the 7 percent accommodations tax.
Licensing exemption:
Out-of-state commercial vehicles and equipment used exclusively in the production of motion pictures, television, or commercials are exempt from licensing requirements for 180 consecutive days. Other out-of-state commercial vehicles entering Montana require permits.
Source: Montana Film Office
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