Official: Lack of incentives leaves Arizona out of film limelight

PHOENIX — When it comes to getting Hollywood movies to film in Arizona, we’re on an island of our own.

“Out here, we don’t have a film incentive anymore,” City of Phoenix Film Office Program Manager Phil Bradstock told News/Talk 92.3 KTAR’s Mac & Gaydos on Thursday. “We did have a film incentive from 2006 through 2010 and we saw about 56 projects come out here and they spent about $110 million in the state of Arizona.”

When Hollywood location scouts are checking out possible filming sites, the lack of incentives pretty much eliminates Arizona.

“Now Arizona is largely off the table for consideration for very large projects, like big Hollywood ones,” said Bradstock, adding that Arizona is surrounded by states that offer incentives.

Arizona’s numerous climates and settings have been used in films of the past and likely could draw studios, but it all comes down to the bottom line.

“The big carrot is going to be tax incentives,” said Bradstock.

There has been a push over the past four years to bring back a program to offer cuts to filmmakers, something Bradford said would easily benefit the state.

“This is a state that, I think, traditionally doesn’t offer a lot of incentives just for any industry, but there have been reports that have been done based upon the incentive, what was proposed where it would actually bring money back to the state coffers,” he said.

Bradford said Arizona should focus on landing television series if it can, as the constant need to film new episodes will continuously pump money into the economy compared to a one-and-done film.