Hollywoodstrikesaffecting the CT film industry as production halts
Jul. 21—The Connecticut film industry, which has blossomed in recent years, is feeling the effects. George Norfleet, Director of the Connecticut Office of Film, TV & Digital Media, said that three or four projects in varying states of production have been impacted as part of the strikes. An exact number of Connecticut employees affected by the strikes could not be determined at this time.
For Andrew Gernhard, owner of the Rocky Hill-based production company Synthetic Cinema International, the strikes were something that he foresaw, which is why he wrapped production on his latest project a week before the actors' strike commenced. Gernhard said that he worked on four Hallmark movies in succession starting in November. One of these movies was filmed in North Carolina, another in Ireland and Scotland and the remaining two movies shot in Connecticut. Prior to the strikes, Gernhard said that he was looking at completing another two or three productions in Connecticut for the remainder of the year.
Gernhard said that productions bring in revenue for local rental companies, hotels, restaurants and bars among other industries. By removing the hundreds of people that would be involved in a production, that revenue dries up. "It's an injunction of money that's just not like tourism," Gernhard said. "We're talking six to eight weeks of money that could've happened two more times this year."
Hallmark productions account for many of the movies shot in Connecticut in recent years and have included "Next Stop, Christmas," which was filmed in Chester, Essex, Deep River and Old Lyme, and "Christmas at Pemberley Manor" which was filmed in Old Lyme and Essex. In May, a yet-to-be-announced Hallmark movie was filmed in Mystic.
Hallmark did not respond to requests for comment on how the strikes are affecting production.
Among some of the reasons why Connecticut is chosen as a hub for filmmaking is its central location in the Northeast as well as its variety of landscapes for filming. Financially, Connecticut is also competitive.
Connecticut offers tax credits for productions that take place in-state. Productions with budgets between $100,000 and $500,000 can expect potential 10 percent tax credit while expenses between $500,000 and $1,000,000 can net a potential 15 percent tax credit, according to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. Productions over $1,000,000 can expect a 30 percent tax credit.
The eligibility to receive those tax credits hinges of three factors: at least 50 percent of the principal photography days are done within the state, at least 50 percent of post-production costs are expended in the state or the expenditure of at least $1 million is spent in the state during post-production.
While the strikes continue, Gernhard said that he has a number of projects in development as well as movies that are in post-production. He said that he has received interest in producing independent movies, which he believes will become more commonplace as the strikes continue.
So far, it's too early to tell how much of an impact this will have on future releases, including 2024 Hallmark movie releases, but a number of notable Hollywood productions like "Deadpool 3" and "Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part Two" have been stalled and pushed back their release window.
Productions not affiliated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers can sign up for waivers through SAG-AFTRA in order to continue their production, according to the union.
"Everyone wants to work and they want their members to work, but they just have to finalize their negotiations with the studios and networks," Gernhard said.
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"We hope for a mutually beneficial outcome for all sides involved because as the industry fares well, so does Connecticut," Norfleet added.
