Written by on Apr 26, 2012. Posted in Incentive News

Ohio filming incentive expiry approaches as Avengers buzz peaks

Ohio’s filming industries are pushing for the state filming incentive to be renewed and improved as its expiry approaches as The Avengers rolls out to cinemas around the world. The hotly-anticipated comic book film shot partly in Cleveland, doubling the mid-western metropolis for New York City.

The state incentive in Ohio - a 25% tax credit - is set to expire at the end of June 2012, but its supporters want a renewal and a doubling of the annual film fund to around USD20 million. Nearly 30 productions have used the incentive programme, spending more than USD70 million in Ohio, reports Cleveland.com.

Now we have concrete evidence that what the legislation had done in its prior form worked and now we have something that will help us build on that.

Ivan Schwarz, Greater Cleveland Film Commission

Ivan Schwarz is Executive Director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and spoke to the outlet: "The first time around it was sort of ‘If you build it, they will come’ [with the incentive package]. Now we have concrete evidence that what the legislation had done in its prior form worked and now we have something that will help us build on that.”

There have been concerns that the incentive wouldn’t be renewed and that Ohio’s filmmaking profile would fade after its successful 2011. However, with The Avengers delivering around USD25 million to the state, the programme’s supporters can make a persuasive argument.

(Main page image copyright: Zade Rosenthal/Marvel)