BlackSwan Zine

Former Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich pledged Wednesday to replenish the state’s film production incentives if re-elected to the State House, and the movie industry embraced him for it.

Actors, crew members and small-business owners who depend on film projects in the state have criticized incumbent Gov. Martin O’Malley for cutting into a pot of money used to draw movies and TV productions to Maryland. Over the past three years, projects here have dried up and workers in the industry have had to find work in states that offer more film incentives.

Ehrlich said he would rebuild the incentive fund from its current level of $1 million back up to $7 million, the same amount it received before he lost to O’Malley in 2006. About 150 members of the film industry joined at a rally in support of Ehrlich and the industry Wednesday, despite the fact that many in the industry don’t share the same political leanings as the former Republican governor.

Ehrlich said he didn’t see it as a political issue, but rather one of jobs and economic development.

“Most of Maryland doesn’t understand the economics of this industry,” Ehrlich told the crowd at the Hunt Valley film studio of Renegade, an advertising and film production company. “There’s no downside this industry brings to the state; it’s all upside.”

Attendees said it is that attitude that will win their support despite many of them being Democrats. Ehrlich was flanked by casting director Pat Moran of Pat Moran and Associates and told the crowd that when she called him recently, she was quick to identify herself as a Democrat but was asking for his help, anyway.

Stan Flint, co-owner and producer with Severn River Productions in Annapolis, said while it’s not hard for him to support Ehrlich, others in the industry are more liberal-minded. But the dire circumstances in the industry are encouraging many of them to consider voting for Ehrlich.

“If it’s going to their pocketbook, they might have to do that,” Flint said.

While Ehrlich recognized the $7 million pledge is still small compared to some states — New York Gov. David Paterson wants to expand his state’s program from $350 million to $420 million, for example — even it could help. Maryland has been a favorite of production companies because it has a wide variety of types of locations within a small area, but the projects have been lured to other states by money. Maryland offers productions a 25 percent rebate of their costs, whereas Michigan offers a 42 percent discount.

“Every other governor has realized this is a cash cow,” Moran said.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell recently signed into law two bills that will help the commonwealth compete for film and television productions. One bill creates Virginia’s first-ever tax credit for the film industry. Another increases from $200,000 to $2 million funding for the governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund for fiscal year 2011.