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:
Clear and Transparent Rules: The IFO must publish and consistently adhere to unambiguous guidelines for the film tax credit program.
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:
Aaron Crippen - Owner, Creative Action Arts
Adam Rockoff - Owner, FlashRock Films
Amir George - Creative Executive, Blank Gaze Filmworks
Ana Christian - Co-Founder/Post Producer/Editor, Journeywork Entertainment
Andy Jarosz - Director of Virtual Production, SMASH Virtual Studios
Angie Gaffney - Producer, 521 Films
Ashley Flowers - Producer, Handkerchief Films
Brad Podowski - Owner/Producer, BP Video Production
Brittani Ward - Producer, 521 Films
Bruce Spielbauer - Owner, S2 Digital Films
C. Ryan Stemple, CSI - Co-Founder/Post Producer/Colorist, Journeywork Entertainment
Cambi L. Cann - Partner, Zlatkin Cann Entertainment
Carrie Ruckel - Multimedia Content Production Manager, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Charles Mudd - President, Tanchakat Productions
Chris Charles - President, Very Merry Entertainment
Chris McGowan - President, Perth Road Productions
Claire Simon - Owner/Casting Director, Claire Simon Casting
Conan Kwok - Owner, Miyus Productions
Cory Coken - President, Noisefloor
Daniel Kolen - Producer/Editor
Danny Buday - Director
Danny Kravitz - Writer
David Marienthal - Executive Producer, Happy Medium Ventures
Don Hatton - CEO, Dashford Media
Drew Dull - Co-Founder, 2 East 8th Productions
Emma Thatcher - Writer/Director
Erica Duffy - Founder, Camera Ambassador
Eugene Sun Park - Co-Executive Director, Full Spectrum Features
Grant Rosenmeyer - Producer/Actor, Florida Hill Entertainment
Gustavo Martin - Writer/Director/Producer/Location Manager
Ilya G. Zlatkin - Managing Partner, Zlatkin Cann Entertainment
J. Stern-Kimball - Producer
Jack C. Newell - Director/Producer, ZAXIE Media
Jacob Jarvi - Writer/Director
Jason Matsumoto - Co-Executive Director, Full Spectrum Features
Jeff Ryan - Music Composer
Jerry Vasilatos - President, Nitestar Productions
John W. Bosher - Partner, Throughline Films
Julia Finder - Freelancer
Justin Strandlund - Co-Founder, 2 East 8th Productions
Kara Haller - Production Manager
Kate Cobb - Director/Actor, In The Rye Productions
Kelly Waller - Executive Director, Rock River Studios/Chicago Media Angels
Kevin Bigley - Producer/Actor, In The Rye Productions
Kevin McGrail - Producer
Kory Stewart - Director/Editor
Krista Kane - Director
Krystin Shimon - Production Coordinator
Marc Ceruti - Developer for Independent Film Technology
Mark Glassgow - Producer, Chicago Media Angels
Matt Kitchen - VFX Supervisor
Mercedes Kane - Founder, Daisy May Films
Mike Bove - President, Bove Visuals
Niko Vitacco - Co-Owner, Frunchroom Films
Pamela Austria - VFX Coordinator
Patrick M. Wimp - Owner, Digital Hydra
Raul Benitez - Film Programmer, Midwest Film Festival and Chicago Underground Film Festival
Richard Song - Founder, Eleven04
Ronnie Kwasman - Assistant Director, Invisible Landscapes Productions
Sarah Cayce - Owner/Casting Director, Compass Casting
Scott Greenberg - President, SMASH Virtual Studios
Stephen Ruminski - Owner/UPM/Line Producer, Silent Radio Pictures
Suzanne C. Johnson - Producer/Actor, SB Productions
Ted Reilly - Executive Director, Chicago Media Angels
Thomas Ciciura - President, 2nd Cine
Tim Toth - Member, Local 476
Troy Walsh - Owner, Drone Media Chicago