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Motion Pictures

Film incentives take off in Arizona

Posted 2/3/23

Weeks after new film incentives took effect, Arizona is already seeing results.

Nicely Entertainment has announced its expansion to the state. Production on “Mysteries of the Heart,” …

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Motion Pictures

Film incentives take off in Arizona

Posted

Weeks after new film incentives took effect, Arizona is already seeing results.

Nicely Entertainment has announced its expansion to the state. Production on “Mysteries of the Heart,” its first movie in Arizona, will begin in February.

“The film needed a quaint Americana town backdrop and Prescott is a perfect fit,” said Glendale native Dave Hickey, who will oversee production of Arizona-based movies for Nicely. “The state’s motion picture production program was instrumental in the decision because TV movies in this budget range need tax incentives.”

Bella Hibbs, owner of Scottsdale-based Good Faith Casting, will work with Hickey to cast about 15 speaking roles for actors between 25–75 years old.

“With more production companies now considering Arizona locations, we want to capitalize on the opportunities for local actors,” she said.

Hibbs served as head casting director for “Daddy Daughter Trip,” the Rob Schneider film shot entirely in Arizona. She recently cast for Urban Movie Channel’s “Monogamy Season 3” and HBO’s “Duster” series, which was filmed in Tucson.

The Arizona Motion Picture Production Program that took effect Jan. 1, 2023 is designed to promote the workforce and expand the film and television industry in the state. Approved productions can receive:

  • 15% tax credit for productions up to $10 million
  • 17.5% tax credit for productions between $10 million and $35 million
  • 20% tax credit for productions more than $35 million.

Recently, the Arizona Film Office reached agreements with the Navajo Nation and Sonora, Mexico, to expand filming opportunities for Arizona-based productions.

To support the coming boom in film and TV production, the Arizona Commerce Authority has partnered with five community colleges to offer a production assistant certification program provided by the Arizona Production Association. Over the next five years, more than 2,000 production assistants are expected to be trained.

Arizona film history highlights:

  • The first movie filmed in Arizona was a silent Western in 1913. The film “Arizona” was directed by Augustus Thomas and based on his 1889 play of the same name.
  • Old Tucson Studios was built in 1939 to film another western titled “Arizona.” Hundreds of movies and TV shows filmed there until the pandemic forced its closure in 2020. In October 2022, it reopened as Old Tucson, a mini theme-park and filming location.
  • “Nomadland,” filmed in Quartzite, won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020.
  • Multiple award-winning movie “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006), was filmed in Phoenix, Chandler and Flagstaff.
  • While filming a critical scene for “Jerry Maguire” (1996) in Tempe, Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. proclaimed, “I’m a Sun Devil, man!” before teaching Tom Cruise to “Show me the money!”