Despite tough times due to the recession, the state found a way to put more money in the economy and create more jobs. Gov. Bob Riley announced in August that the state is funding its first independent film production for its new incentives program under the Alabama Film Office.
The film, which qualifies for an approximately $153,000 rebate, is directed by Alan Hunter, who thanked Riley and the state for the support.
“We are grateful to be the first project to receive incentives and help grow the entertainment industry in the state,” Hunter said.
Hunter previously worked on other independent films including “Johnny Flynton,” which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2003.
“Lifted,” his current project, tells the story of a talented young man who inspires to become a singer despite hard circumstances, and it will take place around rural Birmingham. The film will star new talent Uriah Shelton of Mobile, Ala., Dash Mihok, former American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, country singer Trace Adkins and Alan Hunter himself.
“‘Lifted’ is a movie about a kid with a big heart and a great voice, and we think Uriah is going to be a big star after this,” Hunter said.
During its third and final week of filming, production has been running smoothly, Hunter said.
“We’ve had some great scenes with Ruben Studdard, who plays a kindly minister named Pastor Johnson,” Hunter said. “He befriends our young lead named Henry and helps inspire his love of music.”
The film production employed 160 Alabama residents, according to Riley and will be a test case for all other films hoping to qualify for the rebate.
“This is a promising start to a thriving motion picture industry in our state,” Riley said in a statement.
The program’s incentives allow production to receive a rebate of 35 percent on salaries paid to state residents and 25 percent on other expenses.
Though new to Alabama, this type of program has been successfully implemented in other states, including Louisiana and Georgia. The program aims to fund films under $10 million and also includes television productions.
Many are optimistic about the program, including, Gary Copeland, UA professor of telecommunication and film.
“The idea behind the rebate is to show that we have people who can do the jobs that movie studios do and that we don’t have to bring in camera grips and other positions in from somewhere else,” Copeland said.
The incentives program would also help bring more money into the state’s economy through creating more jobs and skilled workers in the state.
“The hope is to bring in more productions and larger productions.” Copeland said.
Local filmmaker Lee Fanning, a 2007 graduate of the Alabama telecommunications and film department and producer for the up-and-coming feature “The Nocturnal Third,” said he is excited about the incentives program.
“The incentives bill is a great thing,” Fanning said. “We are competitive again for large scale productions.”
Larger productions means more jobs, more money pumped out into the economy and the hope of a larger industry, he said.
“More big industry productions means more and more industry professionals willing to live in state.” Fanning said.
The duration of the rebate will take place over 12 months, and next year will grow from $7.5 million to $10 million.
Lee fanning said this program is good news for the state.
“The incentives mean more money, and more money means more opportunities to everyone in the industry, big and small,” he said.
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