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Preliminary film-production study finds $64.6 million gross GVA from incentivized work; recommends reform, staffing and data improvements
Summary
A preliminary report by Olsberg SPI found $64.6 million in gross GVA in Arkansas from incentivized production between FY2014 and FY2025, recommended reforming the incentive, linking expansion to industry development, expanding film commission staffing and improving data collection; final report expected in about two months.
A preliminary report from Olsberg SPI on Arkansas’ film and motion picture incentive found that incentivized production generated about $64.6 million in gross value added for the state between fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2025 to date.
Leon (surname not provided) of Olsberg SPI briefed the committee. He said the report reflects interviews with more than 30 stakeholders — including producers, business owners, supply-chain firms, trainers, legislators and filmmakers — and an initial economic pass. He described the $64.6 million figure as a gross number that will be refined after an additionality survey to remove economic deadweight and show net impact.
“We did find there is an outlier production during the time we were looking at — one production that spent far in excess of typical productions,” Leon said. The draft report separates that outlier from the rest of the data to provide a clearer picture.
The consultant listed four high-level recommendations in the draft: reform the incentive; link any incentive expansion to an industry-development strategy; expand the Arkansas Film Commission’s staffing and capacity; and improve data collection and publication for greater clarity.
Committee members asked about staff levels at the Arkansas Film Commission and whether capacity limits the state’s ability to attract production. The consultant said the commission is under-resourced compared with competitors and that larger incentive budgets in other states typically are paired with larger film-commission staffs.
The transcript records that the bureau expects the second part of the study to take about two months, after which the final report will be delivered.
