Calblog

Arnold tries to keep filiming in CA

Arnold, of all people, should be able to accomplish this feat. If we can't keep the movie industry, we're in even more trouble than we thought.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) on Thursday tapped a cast of Hollywood figures, including his former co-star Danny DeVito and Clint Eastwood, to mount an effort to keep movie and television productions in California.
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But the governor said he enlisted their high-powered help because the state's $33.9 billion-a year entertainment industry was ailing and has been losing too many productions to other states and countries.

"The mission of this commission will be to make it easier to get permits (to film movies) here in California and keep productions here ... and to make the cost come down, and make it free of charge to shoot on some of the state properties," Schwarzenegger said.

The governor said he wanted to double the 250,000 entertainment industry jobs, partly by providing incentives to keep productions in the state. He said he was in favor of tax incentives, but when asked whether the financially troubled state could afford them this year, he said, "I will be going to producers, and those who stay in this state, we will reward them." He did not specify when or how.