RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe made an announcement Tuesday about the economic impact of the film industry in the Commonwealth.
Virginia film projects brought a total of $382.5 million and $19.4 million in state and tax revenue in 2013, according to the Virginia Tourism Corporation. This is a 16 percent increase from 2012, when the economic impact was $328.4 million.
These film projects have also increased Virginia employment. There was a total of 2,014 full-time jobs provided by the film industry.
“Bringing jobs and revenue to the Commonwealth is my top priority, and the 16 percent increase shows that our incentive program has been successful in generating more business and jobs for the Commonwealth,” Gov. McAuliffe said in a written statement.
Rob Lowe as President John F. Kennedy on the set of National Geographic Channel’s KILLING KENNEDY (PHOTO: Kent Eanes/National Geographic Channel)
Some of the major 2013 television productions included the National Geographic Channel’s Killing Kennedy and AMC’s TURN: Washington’s Spies. Feature films were The Field of Lost Shoes , filmed in Lexington and Richmond, and Big Stone Gap, filmed in Wise County.
“We are particularly interested in continuing to bring episodic television series to Virginia,” said Virginia Film Office Director Andy Edmunds. “These productions stay longer, hire more Virginians, and provide a greater impact on the economy. With the support of the Governor and the General Assembly, I believe that TURN: Washington’s Spies will be the first of many major TV series that will choose Virginia.”
Virginia has two different incentive funds for production groups that choose the Commonwealth as their project location.
The Governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund is a grant fund and the Virginia Motion Picture Tax Credit fund is a refundable tax credit program.
