By Ben Andrews,
Renton Municipal Arts Commission

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on film in Washington. And whether you realize it or not, our little Renton is now looked upon as a film center in the state of Washington.

I’m a citizen who took a risk from a secure technology industry and dove into the entertainment industry. I was tired of not really understanding myself and knew that my long denied creativity had to have an answer.

That’s one of the amazing things about the film industry in Washington; If I lived in New York or Los Angeles, there’s no way I could enter the industry late in my career and hope to compete. But here, the industry is smaller and more of a community. People want to help and they welcome new players.

Renton has become a microcosm of that same energy.

I joined the Renton Municipal Arts Commission a few years ago and learned that this community was filled with passionate, professional artists. I initially joined the planning committee for the Renton Film Frenzy and was excited as the city created a day where multiple teams, all across Renton, would film mini-movies with only 50 hours to complete the entire process.

Then came SIFF-Renton, an amazing partnership with the Seattle International Film Festival. This involved an awesome opening night party – often referred to as Renton’s best party – followed by a full week of SIFF screenings in our very own backyard.

Soon thereafter came Crash Cinema (another SIFF partnership), and then finally in 2014 the formation of REEL Renton, an umbrella organization for all these amazing events.

So it was an honor when Washington Filmworks reached out and asked me to be a community organizer for the legislative efforts of Senate Bill 6027, which would double the state’s current production incentive program.

Our state has a Film Competitiveness Program that presently has a $3.5 million cap. This incentive gives production companies a tax rebate for expenditures in our state. Washington’s is the fifth smallest incentive in the country.

Last year, under the program’s current cap, the annual fund was expended by May and a total of $55 million worth of film production projects were immediately turned away.

SB6027 doubles the size of the cap over the next two years to $7 million and increases the fund incrementally each year until it reaches $10 million in 2019. The sunset date for the program will also be extended to 2022.

Economic analysis shows that our state receives $10 of economic benefits for every $1 invested. But beyond economic value, I argue that film has a creative energy impact.

I realize it’s apples to oranges, but how do you gauge the economic impact of the 12’s? You can’t. It’s an energy. It’s community. It’s a common purpose that distracts people from what can otherwise be a stressful and difficult daily routine.

Film can do something similar. The community gets excited when celebrities are in town. When you walk by a movie set you can’t help but want to get closer. When you finally see the movie you’re excited about all the locations you recognize.

“Sleepless in Seattle” was filmed in Washington more than 20 years ago, yet when you get off the plane at Sea-Tac you can STILL find Sleepless in Seattle souvenirs. People recognize, relate, and feel through movies. I don’t know about you but I want to have a movie like that shooting in Seattle once a year.

On March 17, along with hundreds of other local film industry people, I visited Olympia to meet with our legislators and lobby for the film incentive. It was an amazing day.

A volunteer cast and crew filmed a scene promo scene of “Z Nation” on the capital steps. “Z Nation” is an incentivized SYFY series shot in Spokane. Even some of the leads came out to be a part of this production. Zombies were all over the capital. It was crazy.

Meanwhile 300 film industry people split into teams and had more than 90 meetings with our state senators and representatives. I personally had meetings with four different senators. I have to tell you it was awesome to learn a bit more about their daily work and challenges. I definitely have a new respect for the challenges our legislators face.

What was the result?  We have just learned that Senator Andy Hill (R-45) has scheduled a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee for SB 6027 at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

This hearing is critical because the bill needs to be heard and voted on in committee before it can be considered for a vote on the Senate floor. While we are receiving initial success it’s important that we keep the pressure on.

Please visit www.keepfilminWA.com and sign the petition. If you happen to be a business owner. Washington Filmworks has drafted a business letter of support and the goal is to have 300 businesses sign on to the letter before Wednesday’s hearing.

If you own a business, work with a business as a cast or crew person or know of a business that has been positively impacted by the film industry, please reach out and ask them to sign on to this very important letter.

All businesses interested in adding their name should email Executive Director Amy Lillard at Amy@WashingtonFilmworks.org.

This is an important week for the legislation. Please do help spread the word.

Ben Andrews is an actor, writer and producer who lives in Renton. He is a member of the Renton Municipal Arts Commission and a volunteer with reelRenton.