Oregon Public Broadcasting

Governor Ted Kulongoski met with four TV and movie companies Monday -- in an effort to highlight Oregon’s thriving film industry.

The state’s Production Investment Fund is limited to $5 million a year. That fund gives money back to movie businesses that shoot in Oregon. But so many shows are being filmed here that Kulongoski wants the legislature to increase the limit to $7.5 million.

Michael Shamberg is producing a movie at OHSU about finding a cure for a disease. He says location and a good talent pool brought him here, but that the money was the decider.

Michael Shamberg: “Our story was originally set in New Jersey and Boston and New York. And when we saw how great it was here, we made the decision to set the entire story here. So we’re not pretending it’s somewhere else we’re showing Portland as Portland. As great as it is to shoot here. We looked around at the incentive programs. This was by far and away the best program and that will always win the day.”

Kulongoski says investing in the movie business doesn’t cost the state -- quite the reverse, he says, it makes the state money.

A study by ECONorthwest found that for every $1 million spent by a production company, $1.1 million is generated for local businesses and workers.