Lack of film incentives in California not a draw

July 24, 2008 Director Brad Silberling recalls a recent poignant visit by Universal chairman Marc Shmuger to the set of his upcoming comedy Land of the Lost. No matter how much executives may like their projects to shoot on the lot or at least within the Los Angeles area, they can't resist a bargain, and these days good deals are everywhere to be found, with some 40 states offering film and TV production incentives -- including New York, which in April boosted its tax credit on below-the-line expenses from 10% to 30%. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger offered to make a cameo appearance if the movie shot in the Golden State, as the series' previous three big-screen entries had, but Warners decided to shoot in New Mexico, where the film is eligible for a 25% tax rebate.

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