MUNCIE, Ind. — Think of Netflix’s show “Stranger Things,” which is based in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. They surely found one of the dozens of small towns across the state to film the series in, right?
Well, no. It’s filmed in Georgia.
According to Georgia Trend Magazine, in 2016 the state overtook California as the top location for production of feature films. In fact, 17 of the top 100 grossing movies were filmed there that year.
And while Indiana isn't the next Hollywood, some believe that the state can learn from Georgia and help graduates from several top media schools find jobs without moving to other states.
Indiana is missing out on an economic boon by not netting more film productions, some believe, and they are pushing for a new law that would help.
So why not Indiana?
“It's the most frustrating thing because there is no reason other than the tax incentives,” said Chris Flook, a Ball State University associate lecturer in telecommunications.
Senate Bill 262 is currently working its way through the legislature and could help change that.
The bill would allow the newly-established Indiana Destination Development Corp. (IDDC) to create a film and media incentive program to help bring more media production to Indiana.
Getting more films produced in the state could also help correct the brain drain, Indiana’s long-discussed stigma of college graduates leaving for employment instead of working in-state.
“It's helping to create and build an industry that isn't here,” Flook said about the possible legislation. “If you go and shoot a place like Muncie it brings in all of that outside money.”
According to Flook, BSU, Taylor University and other schools across the state have students who graduate looking for media production jobs, especially film, who must leave Indiana to find the best paying and steady work they need to make a career.
"We graduate a couple hundred folks every single year and if they want to work in film and television, they are limited in Indiana," Flook said. "The work is in Georgia and Southern California."
The potential economic impact for a state that can land these productions is no joke.
Georgia's film industry was boosted substantially by tax incentives introduced in 2002 and strengthened again with more in 2008. Just in the fiscal year 2017, film and TV production had an economic impact in Georgia of $9.5 billion, according to data from the state.
The impact should come as no surprise, as Atlanta is the center of the Georgia film industry with Turner, Tyler Perry, and EUE/Screen Gems studios located there. Dozens of blockbuster movies are being filmed outside of Hollywood and landing right in Georgia instead.
MUNCIE IN THE MEDIA:
►Iconic pop culture has put Muncie on the national stage
►Film producer from Muncie happy to see new film ‘Hold On’ open in his hometown
►Restaurant Impossible films episode at Retro Diner
So why hasn’t Indiana passed incentives already?
Flook says that it's not been a priority because a strong history of film and television doesn't exist in Indiana. But he says it should, as there is a lot of money in this industry.
Indiana did pass some incentives in 2008. The Indiana General Assembly overrode Gov. Mitch Daniels’ veto of House Bill 1388, which gave some incentives for film. Daniels said the bill became bloated with too many incentives.
The new bill doesn't give direct incentives.
Instead, it pushes the IDDC to work with the Office of Management and Budget to provide a report detailing incentives offered in other states and providing a recommendation on the type of incentives Indiana should offer.
"In time it would help jump start an industry that is here but not all that active," Flook said. "We don't have the best structure in place for film production."
Representative Sue Errington, the Democratic member of the house representing Muncie and District 34, said that she was very interested in the bill, noting that it has been assigned to the house ways and means committee.
“We get passed by on films that are even about our state, instead they are filmed somewhere else,” Errington said, echoing Flook’s sentiment.
While this bill doesn’t have as much substance as previous attempts, Errington felt that the cautious approach might help it pass.
“We are training people to do these kinds of things, so it’d be good to keep them in Indiana,” Errington said. “We have the talent.”
The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee and passed by the full Senate by a vote of 47-2. If it passes the house it will go to the governor’s desk.
If signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb, the bill would go into effect July 1, 2021.
Corey Ohlenkamp is the city/county government reporter. Contact him via email at cohlenkamp@muncie.gannett.com or by phone at 765-213-5874. Follow him on Twitter at @Ohlenkamp
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