Don’t let mistakes lead to cut of film tax credit

It's show business with an emphasis on business. If government becomes enamored with Hollywood, it loses sight of the founding charter of the Iowa Film Office. The Iowa Film Office was created to bring promotional and economic development opportunities and jobs to Iowa communities, Iowa businesses and our skilled and gifted talent and production crew.

In 1986, the Governor's Office and the Legislature established the Iowa Film Office. Its mission was to work with Iowa production companies, our freelance crew and talent and the Iowa Motion Picture Association. Those efforts resulted in entertainment executives focusing on Iowa. Our collective efforts allowed us to capture economic dividends that had profound financial impact on Iowa.

A few years ago, Iowa's film recruitment effort stalled. A grass-roots effort to revitalize Iowa's production industry arose. One person's idea grew to a statewide coalition of community and legislative leaders, businesses, associations and technicians, all focused on creating economic opportunity for Iowans. In 2007, the Legislature wisely chose to approve a production industry tax credit. That visionary legislation energized our production industry and developed jobs in Iowa.

Please do not allow this disgraceful mismanagement (of tax credits) to cause a withdrawal of this visionary legislation. Iowa communities, businesses and talent will pay the price.

Wendol Jarvis

Manager, Iowa Film Office

1986 to 2002

Overland Park, Kan.