Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMay 3, 2016

During the past Legislative Session, the Florida Legislature denied one of Gov. Rick Scott’s signature issues — a $250 economic incentives funding plan to encourage businesses to locate or expand in Florida. It was not only a blow to the governor’s ego (and list of priorities), but also disappointed those in the economic development camp, such […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2016

Bemoaning that a major Hollywood production set in Ybor City was recently filmed in Brunswick, Georgia, instead, the Tampa City Council is urging the Legislature to approve a film incentives proposal. For the fourth straight Legislative Session in Tallahassee, a measure that would provide tax incentives to lure film and television productions to Florida is being debated. Funding […]

Mitch PerryOctober 8, 2015

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In the past week, it was learned that two major Hollywood productions intending to film in the Tampa Bay area chose not to because the state had no tax incentives to provide. The Tampa Tribune‘s Paul Guzzo reported on Thursday that “Gifted,” a new Hollywood film starring Chris Evans and Octavia Spencer about a St. Petersburg […]

Melissa RossOctober 2, 2015

In an email to supporters, Film Florida president Michelle Hillery is blasting the state’s lack of film production incentives, that she argues led a feature film production to choose Brunswick, Georgia to recreate Ybor City for the upcoming feature film Live By Night. “The producers of the film spent months working with the Tampa-Hillsborough Film […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 30, 2015

2015 was supposed to be the year that the Florida Legislature authorized funding to replenish its depleted film tax incentives package, allowing the Sunshine State to compete with Louisiana, Georgia and other Southeastern states in getting its fair share of movie and television production work. It didn’t happen. Despite the reshaping of the incentives and […]

Mitch PerryJune 18, 2015

A sizable percentage of the 100,000 or so entertainment industry professionals in Florida feel let down this week. The Legislature once again refused to include money in the state’s $80 billion budget for tax incentives to lure Hollywood to film in the Sunshine State. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed,” said Gus […]

Mitch PerryMarch 11, 2015

Like it or not, Hollywood productions, like sports owners, have been able to play cities and states against each other for years to get the best deal for themselves. Tampa Bay area residents are all too familiar with getting burned by giving welfare to rich folks. You don’t have to have lived in the area […]

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Alyssa Gay. Image via AG Creative.

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Film incentive tax bill again dies on cutting room floor in Tallahassee

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