JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An independent filmmaker said the three new programs created to attract production companies and filmmakers could take Jacksonville to the next level.
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The Jacksonville Film & Television Office will manage the new programs passed by city council.
The first is the Jacksonville Film & Television Program. It’s a rebate program structured to attract high-wage film and television production opportunities to the city and has two tiers.
- Tier one offers a 15% rebate for $400,000 minimum qualified expenditures in Duval County, capped at $149,999.
- Tier two offers a 20% rebate for $1,000,000 minimum qualified expenditures in Duval County, capped at $400,000.
The second is the Jacksonville Commercial Production Program. It’s also a rebate program that’s intended to attract high-impact television commercials.
The third program is the Jacksonville Fostering Filmmakers Grant Program. It aims to help up to three independent filmmakers in Jacksonville by assisting with partial funding.
A local filmmaker said the programs are needed.
“That is absolutely amazing,” Junior Ashwood said. “Now every independent filmmaker doesn’t have the same budget so those that are lucky enough to fund it ourselves with a higher budget we’re just blessed that way. With the city doing this with the content we are able to do, that is an absolute prayer.”
Ashwood said his recent movie, Rights of a Father, took about five months to shoot and cost over $30,000 of his own money.
He said the film is about what rights a father has before the baby is born.
Tim Driscoll is the program director of the Jacksonville Film Festival and he said it’s a huge deal.
“Not being that far away from Georgia, granted they still have a state incentive but we can, I think, lure away some of the things out of Savannah specifically,” Driscoll said.
Todd Roobin, the manager of the Jacksonville Film and Television Office said that Jacksonville will offer more incentives than other Florida cities like Miami, Tampa Bay, and St. Petersburg.
“These programs without question will help us in being competitive, which will ultimately bring business to Jacksonville,” Roobin said.
Roobin also said the programs could invite a lot of business and help the area become similar to Jacksonville in the early 1900s.
That was when there were a lot of film productions in the area.
“There’s film-induced tourism, people, there’s studies that show people will select a location based on a television show a movie, a series and so no question about it, that’s one aspect of that we want to try and capture,” Roobin said.
Driscoll said he’s hopeful the program will help retain talent in Jacksonville.
“It might actually fully stop it, which would be tremendous,” Driscoll said.
Roobin said a marketing campaign is expected to launch this week to raise awareness of the programs.
Click here to learn more about these programs.
Ashwood’s “Rights of a Father” will premiere on June 15 at the Ritz Theater on 829 North Davis Street Jacksonville, FL 32202.