Everett hopes to keep some showbiz

  • Eric Fetters / Herald Writer
  • Sunday, February 24, 2002 9:00pm
  • Business

By Eric Fetters

Herald Writer

EVERETT – Construction has begun on the largest film and television production lot in Canada, prompting Hollywood to seek new ways to keep the motion picture industry from fleeing north.

But the director of the Everett Film Office says she doesn’t worry much about competing with Canada.

She knows it’s not realistic.

“There’s no way we can be competitive with the incentives Canada offers,” said Lanie McMullin, who oversees the film office as the city’s executive administrator.

“But we would be happy to deal with their leftovers – and we often do.”

The new production center being built in Toronto will bolster Canada’s facilities, but when studios in British Columbia and other Canadian locations are booked, some producers consider Everett as an alternative. The city has the advantage – compared with other cities in the state and the nation – of price and a streamlined permit process, McMullin said.

Unlike Seattle and nearly every other city, Everett does not charge film and television producers for the permits they need in order to shoot scenes in the city, she said. The city asks only that producers spend their money locally and pay for any costs created by filming, such as traffic control by police.

Also, especially compared with Seattle, Everett can offer less expensive hotel and motel rooms and restaurants for production crew members.

During the 1980s, labor unions, elected officials and industry groups lamented productions that left Hollywood to film in cheaper locations, including Washington state. In the past decade, however, more productions and jobs in the film industry have moved to Canada, Australia and European countries, all of which offer big tax breaks.

Tax credits offered by Canada, coupled with that nation’s weaker dollar and crew wages subsidized by the government, can reduce the costs of film production by 25 percent.

More producers are discovering that economic advantage. More than 25 percent of theatrical films shot in North America and released during 2000 were filmed in Canada, according to the most recent report from the Center for Entertainment Industry Data and Research. That was up from 13 percent in 1999.

That represents billions of dollars – industry sources estimate from about $3 billion to $10 billion a year – that otherwise would have gone into the U.S. economy.

While leaders in Hollywood and California are among those most concerned with the exodus, other states that have tried to attract film and video productions seem to have suffered the most.

McMullin’s feeling that Everett cannot compete with Canada for productions is repeated by other film office directors in Washington. Donna James, director of the Mayor’s Film and Video Office in Seattle, said her office instead tries to attract productions that otherwise would go to other American cities.

“We compete with Phoenix, San Francisco and Chicago,” she said.

Notable productions that have used Everett as a base of operations in recent years include the now-canceled TV series ‘The Fugitive” and “Ring,” a film that wrapped up filming late last year.

As of this month, no films are shooting in either Everett or Seattle, according to the film offices.

But this spring, a feature film production from Paramount Pictures plans to shoot scenes in Everett, and HBO is looking locally for possible sites to film a historical documentary, McMullin said. Seattle is scheduled to have productions in the near future as well.

While California is mulling tax credits to keep productions in that state, no similar plans are being considered in Olympia right now, according to the Washington State Film Office in Seattle. The state already offers certain exemptions from sales and lodging taxes for productions that shoot here.

More financial incentives wouldn’t help much anyway, McMullin said.

“One thing we could do is build a nice sound stage,” she said. “I’d love to see one in Everett. I think we could keep it busy.”

You can call Herald Writer Eric Fetters at 425-339-3453

or send e-mail to fetters@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

A closing sign hangs above the entrance of the Big Lots at Evergreen and Madison on Monday, July 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Big Lots announces it will shutter Everett and Lynnwood stores

The Marysville store will remain open for now. The retailer reported declining sales in the first quarter of the year.

George Montemor poses for a photo in front of his office in Lynnwood, Washington on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Despite high mortgage rates, Snohomish County home market still competitive

Snohomish County homes priced from $550K to $850K are pulling in multiple offers and selling quickly.

Henry M. Jackson High School’s robotic team, Jack in the Bot, shake hands at the 2024 Indiana Robotics Invitational.(Henry M. Jackson High School)
Mill Creek robotics team — Jack in the Bot — wins big

Henry M. Jackson High School students took first place at the Indiana Robotic Invitational for the second year in a row.

The computer science and robotics and artificial intelligence department faculty includes (left to right) faculty department head Allison Obourn; Dean Carey Schroyer; Ishaani Priyadarshini; ROBAI department head Sirine Maalej and Charlene Lugli. PHOTO: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College.
Edmonds College to offer 2 new four-year degree programs

The college is accepting applications for bachelor programs in computer science as well as robotics and artificial intelligence.

FILE — Boeing 737 MAX8 airplanes on the assembly line at the Boeing plant in Renton, Wash., on March 27, 2019. Boeing said on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, that it was shaking up the leadership in its commercial airplanes unit after a harrowing incident last month during which a piece fell off a 737 Max 9 jet in flight. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)
Federal judge rejects Boeing’s guilty plea related to 737 Max crashes

The plea agreement included a fine of up to $487 million and three years of probation.

Neetha Hsu practices a command with Marley, left, and Andie Holsten practices with Oshie, right, during a puppy training class at The Everett Zoom Room in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Tricks of the trade: New Everett dog training gym is a people-pleaser

Everett Zoom Room offers training for puppies, dogs and their owners: “We don’t train dogs, we train the people who love them.”

Andy Bronson/ The Herald 

Everett mayor Ray Stephenson looks over the city on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015 in Everett, Wa. Stephanson sees  Utah’s “housing first” model – dealing with homelessness first before tackling related issues – is one Everett and Snohomish County should adopt.

Local:issuesStephanson

Shot on: 1/5/16
Economic Alliance taps former Everett mayor as CEO

Ray Stephanson will serve as the interim leader of the Snohomish County group.

Molbak's Garden + Home in Woodinville, Washington will close on Jan. 28. (Photo courtesy of Molbak's)
After tumultuous year, Molbak’s is being demolished in Woodinville

The beloved garden store closed in January. And a fundraising initiative to revitalize the space fell short.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center executive director Larry Cluphf, Boeing Director of manufacturing and safety Cameron Myers, Edmonds College President Amit Singh, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 2 celebrating the opening of a new fuselage training lab at Paine Field. Credit: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College
‘Magic happens’: Paine Field aerospace center dedicates new hands-on lab

Last month, Edmonds College officials cut the ribbon on a new training lab — a section of a 12-ton Boeing 767 tanker.

Gov. Jay Inslee presents CEO Fredrik Hellstrom with the Swedish flag during a grand opening ceremony for Sweden-based Echandia on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Swedish battery maker opens first U.S. facility in Marysville

Echandia’s marine battery systems power everything from tug boats to passenger and car ferries.

Helion Energy CEO and co-founder David Kirtley talks to Governor Jay Inslee about Trenta, Helion’s 6th fusion prototype, during a tour of their facility on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
State grants Everett-based Helion a fusion energy license

The permit allows Helion to use radioactive materials to operate the company’s fusion generator.

People walk past the new J.sweets storefront in Alderwood Mall on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Japanese-style sweets shop to open in Lynnwood

J. Sweets, offering traditional Japanese and western style treats opens, could open by early August at the Alderwood mall.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.