Alaska's film incentive program was the hottest topic at the Anchorage Legislative Caucus meeting Saturday at Loussac Library, where dozens of people turned out to voice their support for continuing the state subsidy.
The program, which is up for reauthorization during the current legislative session, allows movie producers to recoup about a third of the money they spend making films in the state.
Anchorage's state senators and representatives heard from aspiring Alaska actors, general contractors doing work for production companies and local business owners who say they've benefited on everything from selling movie crews lunch to renting them cars.
No one spoke out against the state film subsidies during public testimony.
Besides those there to support the film incentives, the Anchorage legislators also heard from mothers seeking state-funded treatment for their autistic children, people opposed to proposed changes to Alaska's oil tax structure, and supporters of increased funding for school lunches.
But the film incentive program dominated public testimony.
Originally from the Western Alaska village of Shaktoolik, Mary Lou Rock told the legislators that as a child she had three ideas of what she wanted to be when she grew up: astronomer, princess or actor.
But acting for a living didn't seem realistic, she said.
"I thought that being a princess was way more possible," Rock said. "And then 'Whales' came."
Rock was referring to the movie "Big Miracle," which was first titled "Everybody Loves Whales." Currently in theaters, the film paid $4.2 million to Alaskans, state records show. Rock was one of them, and she ended up with two lines in the movie, she said.
Now, Rock wants to stay in Alaska to keep up with her childhood dream of acting, she said.
"I'm afraid that if this incentive doesn't pass, I'm going to have to move somewhere else," Rock said. "I don't want to move somewhere else. I want to stay here."
"So please, please, please, make my dreams come true."
For others, the film incentive program is less about making dreams come true than it is about making money.
Gary Zimmerman, a manager at Avis Rent A Car in Anchorage, said companies like his benefit greatly from movie productions renting vehicles. And the rental companies pay millions of dollars to the state in taxes, a source of state revenue that's boosted by increased movie production, he said.
Zimmerman asked everyone in the packed Assembly Chambers who was there to support the film incentive program to stand up. More than half of those in attendance rose to their feet.
"We're just one small part of industry that is impacted in a positive manner," Zimmerman said.
Kirk Ridley of Ridley Painting said he'd worked with dozens of other contractors to transform an old warehouse to a movie studio, allowing him and the others to employ more people. None of them ever imagined a boom in business brought on by movie companies coming to Anchorage, he said.
"It's really exciting to have a brand new industry starting in Alaska," Ridley said.
Deborah Schildt, on the board of directors for the nonprofit Alaska Film Group, pleaded with the legislators to continue the program.
"This talent, these workers, this businesses, they have a lot at stake," Schildt said. "I'm hoping you call 'action' instead of 'cut.' "
Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4589.
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