Alaska has cancelled its filming incentive programme and will redirect the funds elsewhere in the economy.
For the past few years the state has offered a base 30% filming tax credit that specifically rewarded productions shooting in remote areas at certain times of year.
Warning signs for the filming incentive came in February 2015 when state authorities reportedly issued a quiet warning to the Hollywood studios that support may not be available for the coming months.
Alaska’s filming incentives were always politically divisive in the conservative state and, similar to other parts of the US, there were persistent debates about whether the local economy truly benefitted from the expenditure.
Even with the filming incentives in place, Alaska has struggled to attract large-scale productions.
The only major production to follow 2013's Big Miracle is Sugar Mountain, starring Jason Momoa.
A limited crew pool and access challenges have also impacted on the tax credit’s appeal. New Zealand, Vancouver Island in British Columbia and Calgary in Alberta have all doubled for Alaska and other parts of arctic North America in recent years.
We benefited from the co-operation and enthusiasm of almost everyone we worked with locally, from the helicopter pilots to the dog mushers to the vehicle owners and various local vendors. This local support was critical.
Bob Karwoski, Assistant Director
Alaska is so large that it’s usually broken down into five major regions:
Inside Passage (southeast): Rain and snow fed by Pacific Ocean storms have made Alaska's Inside Passage the world's northernmost rainforest. Annual rainfall: 92 inches.
Southcentral: The weather in this region is variable - Prince William Sound has a mild, maritime climate, while Anchorage and inland areas enjoy less precipitation, low humidity and greater temperature ranges. Snow covers the region from late October to mid-April. Annual rainfall 15.2 inches.
Southwest: Mainland areas can be windy, but rain and snow do not fall frequently. On the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands, it is an Arctic climate which is constantly changing. Annual rainfall 16.1 inches.
Interior: Temperatures can hit both high and low extremes, but annual precipitation is low. Snow is typically on the ground between October and April. Permafrost underlies much of the interior. Annual rainfall 10.4 inches.
Far North: The arctic region receives very little precipitation and humidity compares with that of a desert. Light dry snow stays on the ground from September to May. Ice masses remain in the ocean year-round. Annual rainfall 4.8 inches.
