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Film
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Governor Kulongoski Signs Bill to Bring Film Industry Jobs to Oregon
Greenlight Oregon will help to create family wage jobs
Portland -- Governor Ted Kulongoski signed a bill on Monday, August 22 to create the Greenlight Oregon program, which will strengthen Oregon's film and video industry and create family wage jobs by offering an incentive to production companies to shoot films, television shows and commercials in Oregon. Film and television stars Ed Asner and David Ogden Stiers both plan to attend to bring a message of support from the film industry.
"My commitment is to the economy of Oregon - and that means standing up for the people who are the backbone of the film industry in Oregon. Filmmaking requires hundreds of highly skilled workers to create magic on screen and to
put food on the table for their families. When I look at this industry, I see family wage jobs, tourism, a ringing cash register for restaurants, hotels and small businesses, and millions of dollars in economic activity -
here in Portland and across Oregon," said Governor Kulongoski.
The Governor signed House Bill 2191 "on location" at a sound stage in Portland hosted by Euro RSCG stage facility, 1001 SE 9th Street.
The Greenlight Oregon Labor Rebate offers qualifying productions a rebate of approximately 6.2% of wages paid through regular payroll for work done in Oregon and from which Oregon income tax was withheld. Productions must
spend at least $1 million in Oregon on production-related expenses to qualify for the rebate. In the case of commercials, a single commercial production company must spend at least $1-million in Oregon within a single year to be eligible for a rebate.
Greenlight Oregon will also offer a vendor rebate, which gives producers a 10% discount on the purchase of goods and services in Oregon. Oregon vendors who sign up for the program agree to offer the discount in exchange
for the Oregon Office of Film and Video identifying the vendor as a participant in the program. Productions must spend at least $1 million in total production-related expenses to qualify. Commercials, news and sports
coverage do not qualify. The rebate is paid by the vendors but is administered through the Oregon Film and Video Office.
"Every film or video that is shot in Oregon brings in thousands, if not millions of dollars to our economy. Producers hire actors and crews and spend money on food and equipment. This program will help strengthen Oregon's already improving economy," said Gordon Sondland, Chair of the Oregon Film and Video Board.
In 2003, Governor Kulongoski and Oregon legislators created the Oregon Production Investment Fund, which offers an incentive to qualified productions. Governor Kulongoski also traveled to Hollywood to meet with
studio executives and talk about other ideas to increase production in Oregon. As a result of those meetings, the Governor and a bipartisan group of legislators created Greenlight Oregon, a package of incentives that will
help make Oregon a serious player in the competition for major film and television productions - productions with the potential to create jobs throughout the Oregon economy and generate millions of dollars in economic activity.
Euro RSCG 4D DRTV is the largest full-service direct response television-advertising agency in the world and is based in Portland. Euro provides fully integrated DRTV services-including research, creative, production, media and logistics - to a variety of clients, including several
Fortune 1000 companies.
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