Is Montana’s Film Industry Be In Big Trouble? Yes
This issue won't go away anytime soon.
Montana Film Industry
It's been a booming business lately.
Montana has seen a surge in new film and TV productions over the past five years.
Productions like Yellowstone, A Montana Story, and others have raised Big Sky Country's profile for movie and TV productions.
It was rare for massive Hollywood productions to come to Montana.
There were a few significant movie productions in Montana in the '90s, like Legends of the Fall and A River Runs Through It, but it became scarce during the 2000s.
Montana has recently made an effort to attract Hollywood movies with tax credits.
That move has provided jobs for thousands of Montanans and gives locals a movie they can be proud to watch when it comes out in theaters or streaming.
There's a problem on the horizon.
Montana Film Industry In Trouble?
The Montana film industry is at a crossroads.
The Livingston Enterprise reports that the incentive tax credits for movie and TV productions have run out.
The Montana MEDIA Act has provided $12 million in tax credits yearly.
Those credits are gone due to long productions like Yellowstone and its spinoffs.
The act was supposed to expire in 2029, but with long TV and massive movie productions, those credits are gone.
Lawmakers are trying to increase the tax credits from $12 million to $30 million a year.
Lawmakers have added to the bill, allowing more benefits when hiring veterans and tribal members.
There could be massive local repercussions if the bill doesn't pass soon.
The Yellowstone Film Ranch in Livingston and Missoula's Media Training Center could close in 2025 without productions coming to Montana.
We hope lawmakers can find a solution soon.
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