Prairie State Production Alliance

May 7th, 2025

The Honorable J.B. Pritzker
Governor of Illinois
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706

Subject: Urgent Reform Needed: Illinois Film Industry at Risk Due to Inequitable Tax Credit Administration

Dear Governor Pritzker,

We first want to thank you for your continued support of the film industry in Illinois, particularly your recognition of the importance of independent productions and their role in driving local economic and cultural vitality. This support has been invaluable to our community, and it’s why we are compelled to bring these urgent issues to your attention.

The Prairie State Production Alliance, a collective of Illinois-based businesses, film workers, producers, and organizations, writes to express our profound concern regarding the dysfunctional administration of the Illinois Film Production Service Tax Credit. This dysfunction is severely jeopardizing the state's potential as a thriving film hub and causing significant economic harm to Illinois residents. 

Illinois possesses a rich cinematic history and all the necessary components to become a leading film and television production center. However, the Illinois Film Office (IFO) has adopted an inconsistent and opaque approach since the 2022 tax credit expansion. This has resulted in:

  • Unequal Treatment: Disparities in processing and review, with smaller, independent productions facing disproportionate delays and scrutiny.

  • Bureaucratic Obstacles: Unprecedented levels of red tape, lack of transparency, and poor communication, which is stalling projects and deterring investment. Duration of reviews have increased by 60%, from an average of 89 days in 2021-2023 to 142 days in 2024.

  • Economic Losses: Millions of dollars in potential wages, local business revenue, and tax revenue are being diverted to other states.

  • Job Losses: Hundreds of skilled Illinois workers, including union members, are losing employment opportunities.

  • Damage to Local Businesses: Caterers, hotels, equipment rental companies, and other local businesses that rely on film productions are suffering significant revenue losses.

  • Erosion of Reputation: Illinois' reputation as a viable filming location is deteriorating, hindering future investment. Per DCEO FOIA data, 25% of Feature Length Narrative Films had their tax credits reduced, despite undergoing review and spending submission by a state-approved third-party accountant.

The film and television industry at large is barely recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and two labor strikes. Meanwhile, there is fierce competition from across the globe to pull productions away from the US. The IFO’s dysfunction acts as a compounding force to make filming in Illinois a nearly untenable situation for local businesses. The ongoing dysfunction has an outsized negative impact on efforts to increase diversity in Illinois’ workforce, a goal that is noted multiple times in your April 15, 2025 press release celebrating the state’s production expenditure. 

The film tax credit is a vital investment in the future of the state. A 2024 SPI Olsberg study demonstrates that for every $1 invested through the program, the benefit to the state economy is $6.81 in terms of additional economic value from direct, indirect, and induced effects. The current IFO practices are squandering this potential and undermining the intended economic benefits of the program.

To rectify this situation and secure the future of Illinois' film industry, we urgently request:

  1. Clear and Transparent Rules: The IFO must publish and consistently adhere to unambiguous guidelines for the film tax credit program.

  2. Equal Application of Rules: The IFO must ensure fair and equitable treatment of all applicants, regardless of project size or background.

Failure to implement these reforms will result in the irreversible loss of film productions, jobs, revenue, and damage to the lives of tax paying Illinois residents and small business owners. We implore the DCEO to take immediate action to restore fairness and transparency to the Illinois Film Office.

Sincerely,

The Prairie State Production Alliance

Signed by:

Don Hatton/CEO/Dashford Media

Scott Greenberg, President, Smash Virtual

Andy Jarosz, director of virtual production, SMASH Virtual Studios

Ilya G. Zlatkin, Managing Partner, Zlatkin Cann Entertainment

Chris McGowan, President, Perth Road Productions, LLC

Chris Charles, President, Very Merry Entertainment

John W. Bosher, Partner, Throughline Films

Stephen Ruminski, UPM/Line Producer

Brittani Ward, Producer, 521 Films

Angie Gaffney, Producer, 521 Films

Kevin McGrail, Producer

Patrick M Wimp, Owner- Digital Hydra LLC

Kate Cobb, Actor and Director -In The Rye Productions

Kevin Bigley, Actor and Producer- In The Rye Productions

Krista Kane, Director

Grant Rosenmeyer, Producer and Actor, Florida Hill Entertainment

Kara Haller, Production Manager

Claire Simon , President/Owner Claire Simon. Casting

Thomas Ciciura, President, 2nd Cine, Inc.

Jack C. Newell , Director and Producer, ZAXIE Media

Marc Ceruti, Developer for Independent Film Technology

Niko Vitacco | Frunchroom Films

Erica Duffy, Founder, Camera Ambassador

Don Hatton/CEO/Dashford Media

Richard Song, Founder, Eleven04

Eugene Sun Park, Co-Executive Director, Full Spectrum Features NFP

Mercedes Kane, Daisy May Films

Jason Matsumoto, Co Executive Director, Full Spectrum Features

Daniel Kolen, Producer and Editor

Tim Toth , Local 476

Danny Kravitz, Writer

Justin Strandlund, Co-founder, 2 East 8th Productions

Pamela Austria, Director/Editor

Cambi l. Cann - Illinois film attorney

Drew Dull, Co-Founder, 2 East 8th Productions

Mark Glassgow, Producer, Chicago Media Angels

Aaron Crippen, Small business owner

Krystin Shimon, Production Coordinator

Ana Christian, Co-Founder/Post Producer/Editor Journeywork Entertainment

C. Ryan Stemple, CSI - Co-Founder / Post-Producer / Colorist, Journeywork Entertainment

Cory Coken, President - Noisefloor ltd

Sarah Caymusic ce, Compass Casting • Casting Director

Kelly Waller, Rock River Studios, Chicago Media Angels. ‘

Suzanne Johnson Producer/actor SB Productions LLC

Bruce Spielbauer, S2 Digital Films

Jerry Vasilatos, President | Nitestar Productions

Jacob Jarvi, Member Manager, First Snow LLC/First Fright LLC

Danny Buday, Director

Jeff Ryan, Music Composer

Ronnie Kwasman - Assistant Director , Invisible Landscapes Productions

Troy Walsh, Owner, Drone Media Chicago

Conan Kwok, Owner, Miyus Productions

J Sten-Kimball , Pfroducer

Charles Mudd, President, Tanchakat Productions

Adam Rockoff, Owner, FlashRock Films

Mike Bove, President Bove Visuals Inc.