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Ohio academic urges $75M film tax credit to spur industry and keep graduates in state
Summary
Scott Titsworth, dean at Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication, asked the Senate Finance Committee to set the Ohio motion picture and entertainment tax credit at $75 million with no sunset to attract productions, grow infrastructure and retain local graduates entering film and media fields.
Scott Titsworth, dean of the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University, urged senators to expand Ohio's motion-picture tax credit to $75 million with no sunset clause and to broaden the definition of eligible productions. "Higher tax credit, employment sector. Higher tax credit could unlock that," Titsworth said, referencing Georgia's example where credits and an unlimited cap supported rapid industry expansion.
Nut graf: Titsworth framed the request as both an economic-development and workforce-development proposal, saying the tax credit would signal durable state support to attract production companies, spur infrastructure such as sound stages and post-production firms, and provide local job opportunities so graduates do not relocate to places like Los Angeles.
The dean said Ohio trains roughly 200 students a year in disciplines related to motion pictures and that many alumni currently go to Los Angeles for jobs because the local industry lacks scale. He suggested removing a sunset and raising the cap would help attract long-term investment, though he acknowledged other states also invest heavily in studio infrastructure. Senators questioned whether tax credits alone were sufficient to bring studios and whether AI would irreversibly change production; Titsworth said AI is a tool and that human creative roles remain central.
Ending: Titsworth asked lawmakers to adopt workforce provisions and a durable tax-credit signal to foster industry growth, emphasizing potential job retention for Ohio graduates and regional economic benefits if studios and supporting businesses locate in the state.
