State Rep. Mike Miller says he is hopeful some form of his film tax incentive bill will get through next week's special session in Tallahassee halting a feared exodus of hundreds of local film professionals.
[WEB EXTRA: Extended interview ]
In an exclusive interview with Local 6, the Winter Park Republican said he will be asking for a one year package that includes $50 million in tax incentives for Film and TV productions.
"I think the strategy would be to look at a one year extension to the current program," Miller said.
The state's film tax incentive budget has been dry for months sending production companies to states that are offering tax incentives including Louisiana and Georgia.
An estimated 100,000 local professionals who work behind and in front of the camera are suddenly facing the prospects of leaving Florida and heading to those states.
Orlando actress Lauren O'Quinn landed a role in the sequel to Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale 2 she says jobs for local professionals are just part of the story.
Both films were shot in Florida and according to a study by the University of South Florida's St. Petersburg College of Business the films will have a "$2 billion economic impact on the area for the next 5 years."
O'Quinn says the projects bring jobs and economic growth to the state but she is concerned the tax proposal won't get a chance.
"If it doesn't make it to the session, O'Quinn says, "then I'm worried that our industry is dead in the water."
Critics of the tax incentives call it nothing but a "Hollywood handout" but the economic effect is compelling.
The Governor's office reports the first Dolphin Tale movie had over 55 production days in 2010 and added $17 million in revenue to the state, "including paychecks totaling slightly more than $7.5 million for nearly 1,300 Floridians working as crew members, actors and extras."
Louisiana's film boom has earned it the title of Hollywood South.
The productions in Georgia and Louisiana took away revenue from Florida and Hollywood.
In fact, Hollywood Mayor Eric Garcetti led a push to add a $330 million film tax incentive package to lure those productions back to his town.
Garcetti told CBS Sunday Morning the business lost is too costly not to chase.
"We're talking billions of dollars that would have been spent in California that was not there ,"Garcetti says, We're talking about tens of thousands of jobs."
Miller understands Florida's state budget is top priority but he will be looking for an opportunity to add the incentive package to the budget. In his view it's a "jobs bill."
"I'm going to be front and center saying let's make sure we keep an eye on the film industry because it's really important , not only to the folks you're talking to but the whole state."
The special session runs from June 1-20.