Sure, Virginia is made for lovers, as the slogan goes. But it’s also made for movies! Trouble is, there apparently aren’t enough movie makers who’ve figured that out.
So, Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek has taken on the role of movie-promoter-in-chief, and she’s teamed up with Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling to make the case. Spacek and Bolling are calling for the General Assembly to pass several proposals aimed at luring filmmakers to the state, according to the Associated Press.
Earlier this month the state Senate unanimously passed a bill to offer grants to production companies that spend at least $250,000 in Virginia. Companies that make movies in economically depressed areas would get more money, and the state’s budget will likely include tax credits, Bolling said.
Virginia is one of 42 states that have attracted a little bit of Hollywood by offering such incentives. However, many states offer more, and it can be worth the investment. On a recent HBO production, Virginia earned $14 for every $1 spent. Not bad, in a recession.
For Spacek, though, the movie pitch isn’t just about money. It’s about bringing a little piece of the movie business home. Spacek, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” lives in Keswick.
