Is Hollywood losing its top billing?

Press, 4 May 1984, Page 14

Is Hollywood losing its top billing?

Hollywood, the world’s movie capital, is under attack, reports WILLIAM SCOBIE from Los Angeles.

Ben Harris, head of Florida’s Motion Picture and Television Bureau, has a deal for British filmmakers — and he is flying to London this month to spell it out. “British movies like ‘Educating Rita’ and ‘The Dresser’ are big hits in the States,” says Mr Harris. “With your taxes, British moviemakers should know what Florida is offering today: low costs, no red tape, cheap and plentiful labour, and all the help we can give you, including tax breaks.” He intends to talk to every leading British film and television company. His mission is part of a multi-billion dollar, multi-state battle in America to snatch a bigger slice of the entertainment industry’s pie and end California’s long dominance. ‘ Growing awareness of filmmakers’ displeasure with California’s high costs, unions, and red tape has led 60 cities and 44 states around the nation to form aggressive, well-funded film commissions. Scouts speed about — like agents seeking the Big Break for a client

— offering a glamorous range of perks, incentives, and cost-cutting plans to lure business away from California. They are succeeding: at last month’s Oscar ritual, only one of the five movies nominated for Best Picture - “The Right Stuff’ -

was even partly filmed in California. Last year, the Golden State lost 51 billion in film and television production money to rival states and foreign countries. Of all feature movies made in the United States in 1983, more than 70 per cent were filmed outside Hollywood’s home state. Florida leads the way. "We mean to make our state the new movie capital of the world,” says Governor Bob Graham. In that cause Florida spent 5430,000 last year to capture 5150 million worth of movie business. This year, analysts predict, will be more profitable. “It’s cheaper and sweeter there,” says director Hal Needham, who made his highly successful "Smokey and the Bandit” series in Florida. “State officials meet you at the airport, drive you to the best

hotel, supply free helicopters to scout locations. It costs them a few thousand, but they get millions from us.” Governor Graham cheerfully closes motorways and bridges, and orders buildings demolished to keep his clients happy. Mr Harris points out that Californian unions insist that extras are paid 5120 a day; elsewhere it is 520 to 540. California demands 120-member crews; in other states the same work is done by 80 people, or fewer. State commissions are vying to devise new lures. The New York City sales team, which has 5350,000 to spend annually, offers free police and fire protection. Arkansas gives 5 per cent rebates to companies that spend a million or more. Texas is especially galling to

Californians. Its high-powered sales group last year landed three of the top Hollywood films, all Oscar winners in some category — "Terms of Endearment,” “Silkwood,” and “Tender Mercies.” “People are friendly here,” says Dana Shelton of the Texas Film

Commission. “In California they’re jaded. They ask 55000 to let you film in their home or street. Here you’re welcome.” Only in the last few months has California woken up to its problem. A political odd couple, conservative Governor George Deukmejian and Leftist Democrat Tom Hayden, are leading a drive to mend the state’s filmic ways. Assemblyman Hayden, husband of Jane Fonda, has introduced a Bill to cut costs, taxes, and red tape for the industry. The Governor is addressing gatherings of film moguls on the same topic.

“We became lazy,” says Mr Hayden. “California took this great traditional industry for granted. We must get back on top again.” It may not be easy. California’s Motion Picture and Television council fought hard last month to bring a 512 million Sissy Spacek film, “The River,” to the state. Production has just begun — in Tennessee. Copyright — London Observer Service.