Connecticut’s “Hollywood East” tax credits program played a prominent role in the 2009 CT Digital Media Business Conference, which was held on November 11 at UConn’s Stamford Campus. Here are a few interesting notes on the State’s film and digital media industry and the controversial tax credit:
- Various speakers stressed that the State must be consistent in its message and approach to attract film and digital media businesses to Connecticut. The debates in the General Assembly over whether the tax credits are working as intended and changes to the credits appear to have left some uncertain as to whether State is committed to the incentives that were first enacted in 2006.
- On the other hand, the current economic climate in Connecticut and throughout the country was discussed as a factor that caused the tax credits to be scrutinized more closely.
- Building infrastructure to support the film and digital media industry is still a priority, and a necessity.
- The video game industry was mentioned more than once as a segment that could be important to the State’s economy. To this end, see Gregg Lallier’s post Connecticut Video Game Industry – Promise and Pitfalls.
- Governor Jodi Rell’s announcement that she would not run for reelection did not go unnoticed. First, Stamford Governor Dannel Malloy, who has designs on running for Governor, delivered the keynote address. Second, the issue of jobs in the upcoming election could provide an interesting tie-in with the tax incentives for the production of film and digital media.
-Dan Fitzgerald
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