Chicago announces record boom in TV production
The city of Chicago has hosted filming on a record number of television shows, producing an injection of more than $1.3bn into the economy between 2011-2015.
By Nia Daniels 2 Sep 2016
The city of Chicago has hosted filming on a record number of television shows, producing an injection of more than $1.3bn into the economy between 2011-2015.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the boost in filming revenue earlier this week, speaking from Cinespace Film Studios.
As reported by local news outlet DNAinfo, Rahm said that in the last year alone, Chicago has seen a two-fold increase in TV shows shooting in the city.
He added that the figures for this year promised to be even higher, continuing to boost local jobs and providing a fillip to neighbourhoods.
Chicago has hosted eight major TV series full-time and two part-time this year alone, which Chicago Film Office officials said was a record number.
The income was effectively more than double that of the 2006-2010 period, which came in at just under $600m, statistics confirmed by the Mayor’s office show.
Officials also illustrated the positive impact of such a production spike with the fact that a single season of one network TV series can spend $30m-$40m locally, often hiring 250-400 local crew and service providers.
Emanuel said of the news: "We are proud that Chicago continues to serve as a destination for filming and commercial activity, due to our talented residents, state-of-the-art facilities, and affordable services — not to mention our iconic skyline and the rich character and diversity of Chicago’s neighborhoods."
There is a state tax credit of 30% in Illinois, adding to the appeal for filmmakers as well as television producers. Recent high-profile movie projects include Man of Steel and Transformers:Age of Extinction.
For more on filming in Illinois, head over to our production guide.
The income was effectively more than double that of the 2006-2010 period, which came in at just under $600m, statistics confirmed by the Mayor’s office show.
Officials also illustrated the positive impact of such a production spike with the fact that a single season of one network TV series can spend $30m-$40m locally, often hiring 250-400 local crew and service providers.
Emanuel said of the news: "We are proud that Chicago continues to serve as a destination for filming and commercial activity, due to our talented residents, state-of-the-art facilities, and affordable services — not to mention our iconic skyline and the rich character and diversity of Chicago’s neighborhoods."
There is a state tax credit of 30% in Illinois, adding to the appeal for filmmakers as well as television producers. Recent high-profile movie projects include Man of Steel and Transformers:Age of Extinction.
For more on filming in Illinois, head over to our production guide.
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