A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD

Already a Member of another Organization?

You may be wondering how membership in the IPA compares to your membership in organizations like the Independent Feature Project Chicago (IFP/C) and Women in Film (WIF). These, and other organizations, are collaborative partners with different goals and benefits to their members. The IPA works alongside them to support their events and provide benefits to their members, but more importantly the IPA is coordinates their efforts along with those of businesses and unions for the greatest impact both politically and economically. Our goals is to focus the best efforts of all organizations together while encouraging their individual growth and success.

Are you a member of a Union?

If you are a member of a union, you may ask what the IPA offers you – especially if your union is a contributor to the IPA. Union workers are important members of the IPA, especially since Illinois has a long and proud history of strong unions. As the economy adjusts to changes in technology and regional media development, union members have special interest in networking with others and keeping the industry healthy. The work that the IPA does in promoting the Illinois’ film industry also promotes the creation of jobs. In 2007, an estimated 26,000 job hires were a result of the IPA supported Illinois Film Tax Credit. By supporting IPA, you are also supporting job growth in Illinois. Union dues help your union remain strong and protect your interests. IPA dues help your industry grow and, in return, bring more revenue into the industry benefiting both you as an individual, and your union.

What about states surrounding Illinois?

On the principal that a “rising tide floats all boats” the IPA supports the success of the other states in the Midwest to develop their production communities. Wisconsin and Michigan are both aggressively offering incentive programs and developing infrastructure. And while, like them, we encourage the benefits of production within our own state, we recognize the need for geographic diversity as much as other diversities. We also know that regional strength is far preferred over weakening regional conflict and competition. Some members of our community clearly benefit from production in surrounding states. Performers, skilled trades, teamsters, supply and rental companies all benefit from production near Illinois. And while sound stages in Illinois may not benefit directly, they stand to benefit from a healthy production environment.

What about the Illinois Tax Credit?

A major initiative originated by the IPA, the Illinois Tax Credit is one of the most important incentives bringing production into the state. Recent years have seen the feature film industry looking more and more at economic incentives for location selection. And while having a strong tax credit is not the only condition, it has become a necessary condition for consideration in many large productions.

Due to the direct efforts of the IPA, the Illinois Tax Credit is enjoying a successful 4 year anniversary. The Illinois film industry reached an all-time record of nearly $155 million in 2007, that’s an 80 percent increase over 2006 and a dramatic recovery from the disappointing $25.6 million in 2003 before the tax credit was enacted.

“The Illinois Film Tax Credit brings revenue and jobs to the state by offering a 30 percent tax credit to filmmakers for money spent for Illinois goods and services including wages paid to Illinois residents. The bill (HB 2482) passed in both chambers of the Illinois Legislature sponsored by Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) in the Senate and Representatives Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) and Angelo Saviano (R-River Grove) in the House."

Our thanks to all of the legislators who supported this bill.   Now the time has come to secure continuing growth.

The Tax Credit currently requires annual renewal and was put in jeopardy in 2007, the very year of its greatest success, by legislative delays. For those of you not aware, the Tax Credit was late in renewing (along with many other pieces of legislation). The time-critical nature of our industry with regards to pre-production scheduling turned this delay into a direct cost to our community. Due in part directly to the late renewal, production in Illinois is down this year. And while some may point to downtrends in National economics as an explanation, they must recognize that both Wisconsin and Michigan are surging in production while Illinois falls behind.

This is precisely the type of situation the IPA exists to prevent.

If you invest in the IPA for nothing else, join us to make the Tax Credit strong enough to secure employment and growth in our community. This is the year we push to get a multi-year commitment from our legislators in order to avoid the kind of delays and politics that cost us money and weaken our industry.