Incentive program expanding for Oregon filmmakers

Salem, Ore. — Governor Kate Brown signed legislation Thursday to bolster film and media production in Oregon. Senate bill 1507 expands the Oregon Production Investment Fund from 10 million dollars to 12 million in 2016, and 14 million dollars in 2017.

Oregon Film says upping the cap on incentives will allow them to host more productions, and in turn stimulate the local economy.

“Projects come into town and they will shoot in a neighborhood, and in that neighborhood they will be spending money,” Tim Williams, Executive Director of Oregon Film says.

In 2014, a portion of Reese Witherspoon’s “Wild” was filmed in the Ashland plaza, and sci-fi thriller “Black Road” was filmed in parts of Phoenix, Ashland, and the Oregon coast. This year, Ashland was named among the top 10 best places to live and work as a movie maker by MovieMaker Magazine.

It’s estimated that 1 billion dollars has been generated in Oregon’s economy since the OPIF’s inception in 2005.