L.A. Producer Aaron Ryder brought Renee Zellweger and the“My One and Only” crew to shoot the comedy in Baltimore thanks to our city’s diverse, chameleon looks and the 25 percent rebate the state offers productions. To sweeten the deal, film productions do not have to pay the 6 percent state sales tax. While some of us welcome seeing our city on the silver screen and delight in celebrity sightings, others don’t see the financial gain for the state.

                       

What’s most misunderstood about film incentive programs? The fact that the states are making more money than they put out.

How? Think of the amount of money that’s coming into the state that we bring. There’s about 60 of us staying in hotels for about two months, eating meals, buying lumber, fuel and all the stuff needed to make a movie. [Additionally, film productions often employ cameramen and other crew members from the local area.]

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That’s the short-term benefit. What about the long-term benefit? Because of the amount allocated a year to filmmakers [in Maryland,] you can pretty much only do one film at a time here, and maybe two a year [total.] The long-term result is if they increase the pool of funds allocated a year, they would have more films consistently here.

The producer title is often mysterious to the average moviegoer. What does the job entail? First, find the material — a script or developing story. Find the money to make the thing — either through a studio or independently. And thirdly, find the elements — the actor, director. Those three are interchangeable. Once all those are in place, I manage them. So it’s putting [a movie] together and keeping it together. Some producers never show up on set. Some are there every day.  — Jessica Novak