Merits of film incentives spike debate

FLINTVILLE, Wis. (WLUK) - A home known for its solitude isn't seeing much quiet now.

"It's like having 40 people over for a party and then they stay for two weeks," Kevin Smith of Flintville said.

But, Smith's visitors aren't houseguests. They're actors. His home is now a movie set for the film Project Solitude. Aside from the constant commotion, he says it's a good thing.

"We've benefited from it, our electrician has benefited from it, different vendors that I know have benefited from it because they are using their services and products," Smith said.

Jay Schillinger, President of Green Bay's Pulse Studios, says the independent film shows how Wisconsin's year-old incentive program is getting attention from Hollywood.

An analysis by Film Wisconsin shows the tax credits have brought in more than $9.2 million and created at least 850 jobs.

"We're educating people, we're building a crew base, these guys have all told us get more films, we want to do this full time," Schillinger said.

He plans to build a $60 million production studio in Green Bay or Milwaukee and says film incentives have played a big role in his company's success.

But, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce is looking to change those incentives.

"A check is cut from state of Wisconsin taxpayers to a Hollywood director for a significant amount of money and we struggle with how that has a direct impact to the state of Wisconsin," Zach Brandon with the department said.

Brandon says there needs to be a yearly cap on what the state can pay filmmakers and more flexibility in how much it will pay. Right now, filmmakers get 25 percent of expenses paid.

"The changes they've suggested so far are bound to be business killers in Wisconsin," Scott Robbe with Film Wisconsin said.

"They're saying give out as much money as possible to be competitive and I think that's the wrong way to look at this program," Brandon said.

Schillinger hopes the department will hold off on the changes, as the economic impact of the incentives is only beginning to appear in Wisconsin.