Filming in California
Film California First Program Helps Filmmakers "Retrieve" Rebates on Filming Costs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
07/26/2001
Contact: Karen Constine, Director or Karen Caesar, Information Officer
Contact Phone: 323.860.2960
TAG Entertainment and Animal Planet Take Advantage of California Incentive Program
Los Angeles -- The new family film The Retrievers has received more than $5,000 in rebates from the Film California First (FCF) Program simply by filming on public land in California. Tag Entertainment and Animal Planet will hold a premiere screening of their new movie in Beverly Hills on Friday, July 27, 2001.
The new 3-year, multi-million dollar FCF Program is administered by the California Film Commission (CFC) and is the only incentive program of its kind. The FCF Program reimbursed The Retrievers for the cost of public labor, excluding local police, and greatly reduced the location site fee, film permit fee and public equipment fee incurred when filming on public property. The FCF Program promotes itself through partnerships with Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS).
FCF was one of the deciding factors producers considered before deciding to film in California, rather than taking production to Ohio or North Carolina. Producer Steve Austin met El Dorado Tahoe Film Commissioner Kathleen Dodge at a Location Expo event, and she helped him scout locations in her county that would ensure his film could benefit from the FCF Program.
"We are excited that a family film such as The Retrievers was able to stay in California and benefit from the Film California First Program," said Karen Constine, Director of the CFC. "We are looking forward to sharing similar success stories in the near future."
"More people should take advantage of this valuable program," said the movie's producer, Steve Austin. "Our film was an excellent candidate for the FCF Program because it was shot entirely in the state of California and many of the scenes were filmed on public roads and on public land."
Most of the movie's scenes were filmed in several locations in Placerville, including a vacant county building that was used as an advertising agency for the movie.
"It was like getting a huge present back at the end of shooting," said El Dorado Tahoe Film Commissioner Kathleen Dodge. "This Program is a huge incentive for films to stay in California."
"We are very happy that we kept production in California," said Austin. "There is a higher quality of production and a more expansive pool of talent in the State that you just can't get when you go to a foreign country."
According to Austin, "shooting in California was great for the film's actors, who enjoy staying close to home during filming. Also, the nice thing about California is that so much of the state can be cheated for other locations. For example, we were able to use the terrain of Placerville and a helicopter shot of Malibu Canyon as terrain for the state of Virginia in the film."
Robert Wagner, Betty White, Robert Hayes, Mel Harris, Alan Rachins and Alana Austin star in the film. The Retrievers is the story of a big city family that moves to a small town, where a loveable stray golden retriever that is also an expectant mother adopts them. When the retriever gives birth to six puppies, the family helps find homes for the puppies, only to realize that life is not the same without them. Led by their newfound pet retriever, the family sets off on a quest to "retrieve" the puppies and rediscover what it means to be a family.
Written by Larry Ketron and directed by Paul Schneider, the movie will make its television debut on Animal Planet Monday, July 30, 2001 at 8 p.m. Eastern time, 7 p.m. Pacific time.
Austin's daughter, Alana Austin plays one of the kids in the movie. "As a parent of a child actor and a producer, I like the idea of receiving rebates for staying close to home," says Austin.
The Retrievers' debut on Friday, July 27, 2001, taking place in Beverly Hills at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will benefit LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program and Animal Adventures. Crewmembers from the film and location/prop owners from Placerville will attend the premiere.
The Retrievers is distributed by Animal Planet and produced by TAG Entertainment, headquartered in Universal City, California. Tag Entertainment creates family entertainment designed to enrich the lives of audiences of all ages. For more information, contact Tag Entertainment at (818) 985-7900 or visit the Tag Entertainment Web site at www.tagentertainment.com.
For more information on the FCF Program, visit the Web site at www.filmcafirst.com.
The California Film Commission is a division of the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency.