Tax Credit Boosts Hawaii Film Spending to Record High

Yes, ahem, as predicted, the 15-20% refundable film tax credit that took effect in July '06 boosted in-state production expenditures to a record $200 million last year. The previous record was set in 2004, when $164 million was spent in Hawaii, thanks in large part to three network television series ("Lost," "Hawaii," and "North Shore") that shot simultaneously.

Hawaii was very popular with studio features last year, hosting the latest "Indiana Jones" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" installments, an upcoming Judd Apatow-produced romcom called "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," and "Tropic Thunder," a comedy helmed and headlined by Ben Stiller.

Let's hope our local crew peeps banked enough wages in '07 to float through the still ongoing WGA strike that halted production on "Lost."

>> Hawaii film industry brings in $200 million [Hnl Advertiser, 1/20/08]
>> Hollywood spends record amount in Hawaii [AP via KPUA, 1/21/08]

RELATED POSTS:
>> WGA Strike Hits "Lost" HQ
>> 2006 Was a Very Good Year
>> Hawaii Ranks #5 in Top 10 Places to Shoot in the US
>> Revised Film Tax Credit Forms & New FAQs
>> More Film Tax Incentive Success Stories