Two “very large films” will shoot in the Cincinnati area early next year, possibly followed by a TV series and more movies, says Kristen Erwin Schlotman, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Film Commission.
“I have two very large films coming in just after the first of the year. And I have many scripts that I’m going through right now,” Schlotman said on WVXU-FM’s “Cincinnati Edition” Tuesday.
She also has scripts for a TV series which would give “eight months continuous work for people,” she said.
The TV and some movie productions may be contingent on the availability of Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credits. All of the $20 million in filmmakers’ tax credits has been allocated for the fiscal year ending June 30. However, “some projects may not move forward for various reasons. So it is possible that funding could be available again during this fiscal year, said Katie Sabatino, Ohio Development services communications manager
Rebates have lured many Hollywood productions here in recent years: CateBlanchett’s “Carol”; Don Cheadle’s “Miles Ahead” movie about jazz icon Miles Davis; Jessica Biel’s “A Kind Of Murder” (formerly “The Blunderer”); Bruce Willis’ “Marauders”; Nick Jonas’ “Goat,” George Clooney’s “The Ides of March”; and two Hallmark Channel movies, Mariah Carey’s “A Christmas Melody” (premiering 8 p.m. Saturday) and Nicollette Sheridan’s “A Christmas Spirit.”
“Carol,” opening here on Christmas, received five Golden Globe Award nominations last week – the most of any film – for best drama picture, best actress (both Blanchett and Rooney Mara); director (Todd Haynes) and original musical score.
“We’re in the top seven cities for film production worldwide,” Schlotman told WVXU-FM listeners.
In addition to the tax incentives, Hollywood producers and directors have come to Cincinnati “because the word of mouth has been so strong, and because producers and directors are recognizing the talent that we have here, and the infrastructure that exists to support these kinds of projects….. This is just the beginning. This isn’t our peak. This is showing we have this eco-system here, and now we’d like to be a world-class filmmaking destination.”
Schlotman says the commission is “looking to see if we can enhance the current motion picture incentive program, because we don’t want to be in a position where we are turning projects away…. Perhaps we also see a series here in town, giving eight months continuous work for people. A television series. I have those scripts right now as well. And those producers are helping us pitch this argument that this is a growing industry here.”
Schlotman’s comments came during a 25-minute “Cincinnati Edition” segment on “Carol” and “A Christmas Melody” with Lea Lachey, who choreographed parts in both films. You can hear the entire interview below.
