New Mexico's economic incentives great for filmmakers

August 21, 2008 "When you're creating a financial model for any entertainment program, the creative is the first element that has to be addressed and then it's a financial conversation really," says Kevin Beggs, president of TV programming and production at Lionsgate, which is shooting the TV series "Crash" for Starz in New Mexico. Under New Mexico's popular 25% tax rebate on all direct production expenditures, the state has refunded just under $80 million through the program since 2003. The rebate features no cap and no sunset clause, and productions are refunded based on the expenditure's full amount, not just the tax portion.

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