43
Youngstown council OKs up to $2M loan to LA filmmaker
YOUNGSTOWN
City council agreed to lend up to $2 million to a Los Angeles production company to film a movie in Youngstown and the surrounding area.
The proposal to lend the money still needs approval from the city’s board of control made up of the mayor, finance director and law director.
The loan requires the filmmakers of “Them That Follow,” the working title of the movie, to guarantee the loan with an irrevocable letter of credit from an accredited bank, said T. Sharon Woodberry, the city’s director of community planning and economic development. The loan includes 0.25 percent interest and must be repaid in 18 months.
The loan won’t be approved until the letter of credit is finalized, she said.
Council approved the loan at a special meeting Thursday.
G-Base Entertainment and Amasia Entertainment LLC, film production companies based in Los Angeles, formed Them That Follow LLC to oversee the movie, which is a coming-of-age dramatic thriller set in Appalachia.
Filming would start in the fall with an estimated 53 production days, Woodberry said.
“The goal is to find scenes in the city proper, and if they can’t, they’ll go into the surrounding areas,” she said. “Also, there are a number of local companies and vendors that can benefit from the making of the film. There will be a lot of services that local companies can provide. They’ve agreed to give Youngstown companies preferential treatment.”
A proposal from the company states Mill Creek Park would serve as one of the primary locations, and filming “Them That Follow” would attract more films to shoot in Youngstown.
The company plans to hire 221 state residents with a payroll of $834,840, according to its application to the Ohio Development Services Agency for a state motion picture tax credit.
The workers would be in the production office and crew, acting talent and extras, and post-production staff, according to the application.
“They’ve agreed to give Youngstown companies and residents preferential treatment,” Woodberry said. “Also, it will generate income tax for the city.”
Fred D’Amico, executive director of the Youngstown Regional Film Commission, said, “We now have a successful film commitment after working the past four years. Movies don’t just happen. It takes a lot of work to get them here.”
Councilman Mike Ray, D-4th, said the city has spoken with about five film companies about making movies in Youngstown in the past two years.
“This company is a good fit, and we look forward to them coming to the city,” he said.