INSIDE THE AZ LEGISLATURE
In Arizona, we are on the cusp of voting in the 2024 elections. The deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 7th. Two days later, voters who are on the Permanent Early Voter List will begin receiving their ballots in the mail. The final date to vote is Tuesday, November 5.
As a member of the Arizona film community, we encourage you to focus on candidates for the Arizona State Legislature. These candidates need to hear from you while they are on the ballot. When lawmakers convene in 2025, they will remember the advocates who reached out during election season. That is one of the most effective ways we can protect the incentive.
Here is what you can do:
Reach out to the few candidates in your district and let them know you vote and you support the film industry. If you are so inclined, a small donation to their campaign adds extra significance.
Attend forums and events where candidates are appearing and let them know you work in, or support, the local film industry.
Make sure your family, friends, and coworkers are registered to vote. Remember, the last day to register to vote is Monday, October 7th. Register to vote at: vote.gov
Beginning October 9th, urge all of your family, friends, and coworkers to vote.
If you have time, call and/or write candidates in your district and (re)introduce yourself, tell them how you are connected to the film industry. Your story helps them remember you.
INSIDE FILM TUCSON
UK-expat Alex Cox (director of Repo Man, Sid & Nancy) recently reached his Kickstarter goal for his upcoming western which will be filmed at Mescal Movie Set this fall.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming director Michelle Garza Cervera was recently exploring southern AZ with screenwriter Alejandra Moffat for a feature film she's planning to shoot here in 2026. Since her debut film won so many accolades (including four Ariel Awards, which are considered the Oscars of Mexico), we're flattered she's chosen Tucson for a future effort.
INSIDE PHOENIX FILM OFFICE
The Phoenix film industry is starting to see the end of the usual summer production hibernation. The months of June, July, and August are consistently the slowest months for issuing permits with an average of just under seven per month. Contrasted with the busiest months of February, March, and April where we average just over twice that amount, the impact on the local economy can easily be felt.
One of the driving reasons for this is our heavy dependence on commercial projects who are preparing for their spring and summer rollouts compared with the summer months when they are focused on fall and winter (why would LL Bean want to come here for their parka and snow boots collections with this heat???).
On a positive note, we are starting to see larger commercial projects filter into the permit pipeline which should help alleviate the slow summer months. While we expect to see this trend continue, it is important to continually diversify our local production ecosystem beyond these types of projects and market and attract incentive hungry productions to continue to build our local talent base and increase our vendor offerings.
INSIDE INDUSTRY TIDBITS
While things continue to be extremely slow for the whole industry, there are some good signs. Netflix is reporting subscriber growth and we have heard more projects are entering the pipeline.
As reported in Deadline, the film Toads will be filming in AZ in January.
SignalsAZ reports that American Pickers is coming back to Arizona.
ARIZONA PRODUCTION UPDATE
To our knowledge, while a number of projects are in the approval process, as of yet no incentive has been awarded. However, a number of projects are close to submitting their final paperwork.
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