A promised $2 million incentive payment from the District to a major movie studio remains largely unpaid six months after filming wrapped, sparking concern that an overly complicated bureaucracy might drive future productions away.
The agreement between Columbia Pictures Inc. and the District, signed April 3, stipulated that the James Brooks production “How Do You Know?” remain in D.C. for 14 weeks, spend $8.5 million, and provide internship training for city residents. The District, in return, agreed to transfer to the production company $2 million out of the Film DC Economic Incentive Fund.
Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson, the movie’s stars, were regulars in the District last June as filming moved between Adams Morgan and K Street. Now months after production ended, the city still owes Columbia $1.4 million.
The D.C. Council will consider emergency legislation Tuesday, offered by Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans, authorizing release of the outstanding payment once the Office of Motion Picture and Television Development certifies that Columbia met its commitments.
“It’s all about making sure the industry feels comfortable and confident, that we are true to our word and it will come back and do business here,” Kathy Hollinger, film office director, told The Examiner.
Hollinger said there is no angst between Columbia and the District, though the two are in regular contact.
“We need to get [Columbia] paid before people start bad mouthing us in Hollywood,” said Jeff Coudriet, clerk to the council’s finance and revenue committee, which Evans chairs.
The District’s production incentive, enacted in 2007, was inspired by a shift away from often expensive on-location filming. But the city’s original incentive was not competitive with other jurisdictions, offered little to filmmakers and included “far too many restrictions,” Hollinger said.
A more aggressive, more generous program adopted by the council last summer, she said, sends the statement, “Hey, D.C. is open for business.”
“We are trying to make it easier for the industry to be in D.C., film in D.C. and film in D.C. longer,” Hollinger said.
The problem for Columbia, apparently, was that its agreement with the District was negotiated at the same time the city was phasing out its original incentive, but before the new program was approved. It doesn’t meet the current or former rules, complicating the effort to settle the bill.
Columbia Pictures did not returns calls and e-mails for comment.
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