Alaska has issued its second-largest filming incentive payment to serial killer drama Frozen Ground. The feature shot in the state in the second half of 2011 and was awarded just over USD6 million after spending nearly USD20 million locally.
Earlier this year the state extended its incentive programme for ten years and committed USD200 million, but it’s still having problems attracting big-budget Hollywood projects. The incentive has been politically divisive in the state with debates flaring over how many Alaskans really benefit.
Low-budget indie feature Villain has been planning an Alaska shoot but this now seems less likely. David Worrell is Manager of the Alaska Film Office and spoke to Anchorage Daily News: “Their initial plan was to shoot this fall and I think we might be getting kind of at the edge of being able to do all the work necessary.”
Crewing levels have been an issue in the past. Big Miracle qualified for the biggest incentive pay-out at slightly less than USD10 million and soaked up most of the local crew base when it filmed in 2010. Otherwise crews seem happier filming in more established production centres like British Columbia.
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