Arizona film industry thrives without tax credit

Despite the claims made by some, the lack of a film tax credit did not appear to stop film making in Arizona. The Phoenix Film Office reports that the multimedia industry had an economic impact of more than $13 million for fiscal year 2012-13; an increase of 72 percent over the prior fiscal year.

In fiscal year 2012-13, the film industry employed 3,156 skilled technicians and actors spanning a total of 564 projects, accounting for 1,222 shooting days and 1,663 hotel room nights. A typical project in Phoenix shoots for six days with daily expenditures of more than $18,000, resulting in 18 crew/talent hires and 17 hotel room nights.

The multimedia industry includes, but is not limited to, commercials, independent features, documentaries, still photography, post production, reality TV projects, student films and corporate/industrial projects.

In the Greater Phoenix region, the industry has increased across all tracked categories compared to fiscal year 2011-12, which can be related to a substantial rise in corporate/industrial projects and commercial shoot days.