FILMING DOLLARS DIP IN 2001, '02 LOOKS STRONGER

    (Ridgecrest)---Even a thousand apes couldn't stop local 'on location' filming dollars from dropping slightly as TV commercials and programs continued their flight north; this, according to Ray Arthur, Executive Director of the Ridgecrest Regional Film Commission (RRFC).  Ridgecrest is a desert community of 25,000 located 2 1/2 hours northeast of Hollywood, and until recently home to about 100 film productions annually.  Arthur says that this year's numbers show a disturbing trend as the topic of "Runaway Production To Canada" continues to cost the California film industry billions of dollars each year.

    Local disposable income, the revenue directly generated from 'on location' film production in a community, totaled $3,762.000 last year.  That compares to $4,152,000 in 2000; a $410,000 decrease.  According to Arthur, actual filming days increased slightly from 201 to 208 during the same time period, but feature films like PLANET OF THE APES, which spend nearly six months in Ridgecrest, and the soon to be released DIABLO, starring Vin Deisel, which logged three weeks at the Inyokern Airport, weren't enough to push revenue totals past the previous year.  "It was still a pretty good year.  In fact, Inyokern Airport logged an additional 13 days.  That was the difference between pretty good and not so good," Arthur said. 

    According to figures released by the RRFC, the $3,762,000 in film revenue was generated through 97 days of feature film production:  54 days of still photography, 41 days of commercials and 11 days of student films, with a Japanese music video accounting for 3 days and a documentary for 2.  The RRFC estimates that $3.7 million was also responsible for generating over $75,000 in Ridgecrest Transient Occupancy (bed) Tax, and $267,000 in sales tax, of which about $36,000 stays in the local community.   Thanks to 'Apes,' the Trona Pinnacles were again the region's most popular location, with the Inyokern Airport finishing a close second.  Other popular filming sports within the 10,000 square mile region that the RRFC represents include:  Ridgecrest, Poison Canyon, Randsburg, Cuddeback, Fremont and Searles Dry Lakebeds, the off-highway vehicle areas of Spangler Hills, Dove Springs and Jawbone Canyon, as well as Red Rock Canyon State Park, Inyokern, Trona, and dozens of local deserts roads.

    Arthur compares local filming dollars to the stock market with more ups than downs over the long term, and a modest overall increase.  He notes that, with the exception of PLANET OF THE APES, film revenue the last three years would have been flat.  That lack of growth is a drop in television production, both programs and commercials; and that decline is directly attributable to a problem that Hollywood has been grappling with for several years: Runaway Production To Canada.  “We thought we were bulletproof.  There are no dry lakebeds or pinnacles in Canada.  However, the combination of multiple tax incentives, lower crew salaries and the exchange rate has made it so cost efficient to film in Canada that deserts and other U S only locations have literally been written out of scripts,” according to Arthur.  With savings of 25 percent or more on a $500,000 commercial or $50 million movie, Arthur states that dry lakebeds become lakes and desert roads with Joshua trees become mountain roads with fir trees. 

    However, there are several lights at the end of the tunnel, California’s cash back incentive program, “Film California First,” had a very successful first year.  And there are several federal legislative initiatives currently in and out of congress, such as tax breaks, rebates, incentives and even trade tariffs, that could, when passed, have a major impact on bringing ‘on location’ filming back to California.  And there may be one other bittersweet reason for a brighter film future for Ridgecrest. “Since the September 11^th tragedies we’re hearing that a large number of ‘above the line’ film people, actors, directors and producers, are very interested in projects that allow them to stay close to home.  That could translate to an increase in production in the southern half of the state,” Arthur said.