Senate Bill 1 — a number marking the legislation as the chamber's lead bill this session — would create what's called the Kentucky Film Office. The goal: To woo film and TV makers to the commonwealth.
"We are an untapped region."Lisa Brin, FilmLEX
It's a bill Senate President Robert Stivers hinted at early in the session, saying the body was poised to put some attention on the film industry, "which has had a lot of play here lately in Fayette County, Menifee County, Jefferson County, Northern Kentucky."
Though the push to get the coveted Sundance Film Festival moved to Louisville failed, Stivers said it was "not for lack of effort."
The proposed office would be tasked with formulating incentive packages and bringing together state resources to capture the attention of an industry normally fastened to the coasts, with a Kentucky Film Council deciding who's eligible for the incentives.
The film centered bill comes out just a few months after VisitLex launched its own new spin off known as FilmLEX, a marketing hub focused specifically on selling Lexington and Central Kentucky as ideal locations to set up the cameras.
"We are an untapped region," FilmLEX head and industry veteran Lisa Brin said in October. ."And we will serve as really that connective tissue to the local community."
It remains to be seen whether a more enticing economic climate can pull in film and TV makers. FilmLEX isn't aiming for blockbusters necessarily, instead focusing on $1 million to $10 million feature productions.
But the Kentucky Film Office could be shooting for more films like 2017's arthouse favorite "The Killing of a Sacred Deer," "Carol," starring Cate Blanchett, or spy thriller "Kingsman: The Secret Service" — all of which are listed on IMDB as having shot at least some scenes in Kentucky.
