Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced that projected film production revenue in 2021 hit a record high of $630 million, shattering pre-pandemic levels in 2019 by $70 million.
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Film production revenues are the costs associated with film, television, streaming, and digital media, which have steadily increased over the past 10 years. Additionally, film permits issued by the City of Chicago have also reached pre-pandemic levels.
“Illinois has always played a special role in the zeitgeist of American culture, and as a state, we’re proud to be on full display during what has become a golden age of film and television,†said Governor JB Pritzker.
“The fact that we have surpassed pre-pandemic levels speaks to the strength of our high-quality filming facilities, locations and initiatives like the film Production Tax Credit.â€
In addition to film revenues statistics, which are collected by the state as part of the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit, the Chicago Film Office at the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) recorded gains in the number of permits administered.
Additionally, in 2021, Chicago Film Office launched a new “Chicago Made†initiative to strengthen Chicago’s TV and film industry — including a workforce development program and public awareness campaign based on recommendations from the City of Chicago’s COVID-19 Recovery Task Force.
In addition to major prime-time programs such as NBC’s “Chicago Fire,†“Chicago Med,†and “Chicago PD†being renewed for an additional season, 2021 also brought new TV productions like “Shining Girls†from Apple TV+ and “61st Street†from AMC Studios.
Major high-profile TV productions and movies were also filmed in Chicago suburbs and rural areas, including HBO’s critically acclaimed series, “Somebody Somewhere,†which was filmed in Lockport. Moreover, 2021 brought new studios to the greater Northeast region of Illinois, such as Legendary Television which filmed “Paper Girls†and “Lightyears†for Amazon Studios primarily on location outside of Chicago.
“In addition to film revenue, every filming project spurs economic development in communities by increasing foot traffic to local restaurants to recruiting local extras and bringing recognition to local landmarks — shown to audiences across the globe,†said Sylvia I. Garcia, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), which houses the Illinois Film Office.
“Every TV and film project here in Illinois brings a flurry of economic activity to our state,†said Sylvia I. Garcia, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which houses the Illinois Film Office. “Every production creates a multiplier effect by increasing foot traffic to local stores and restaurants, recruiting local extras, and hiring our talented crews — and then by making our incredible Illinois landmarks well known to audiences across the globe.â€
Prior to the year 2020, the Illinois Film Office saw more than 10 consecutive years of growth. With the onset of the pandemic and a pause in filming, 2020 experienced a dip, with revenues reaching record highs in 2021.
The Chicago Film Office’s innovative “Chicago Made†workforce development program aims to transform the region’s TV and film workforce by offering job training and placement to Chicago residents ages 24 to 50, primarily from underserved areas of our city, to help meet the industry’s increasing demand for skilled workers.
The “Chicago Made†public awareness campaign showcases the industry’s enormous economic impact, introduces local film workers as neighbors and friends, and highlights the diversity of “reel†jobs available across the city.
The Chicago Film Office issued 1,771 permits for projects in 2021 and ranks first in the Midwest region for production. In 2021, the Chicago Film Office generated more than $300,000 in permit revenue, double the permit revenue from the same months in 2019 and in 2020.
In Lockport, the production of HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere†between the months of May and June 2021 provided over $100,000 in fees, rentals, and purchases to the community and businesses in Lockport, including but not limited to: the City of Lockport, Lockport Township High School, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Shepherd of the Hill Lutheran Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Additionally, 26 Lockport residents were hired as background actors. ■