* When Indiana passed legislation in 2015 allowing businesses to refuse services to gay people, then-Gov. Bruce Rauner said he wouldn’t use the neighboring state’s law to try to poach businesses. Rauner said it was a mere “headline opportunity” and not a real one.
New governor, different state, different topic, but an approach focused on a particular industry…
Mixing business with politics, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. J.B. Pritzker are moving to poach some TV and film business from Georgia as that state prepares to sign a rigorous anti-abortion bill that has set off a backlash in Hollywood.
In a letter to studio moguls and others in the entertainment industry, the two local officials joined with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to suggest that Georgia has fallen prey to “reactionary, extremist forces” and that their business would better fit in “hospitable places” like Chicago, Illinois and Jersey.
“We agree the industry should align your values with where you spend your money and boycott states not aligned with your progressive ideals,” the trio wrote. “Our cities and states are home to some of America’s most creative, hard-working and innovative production professionals. While we stand together in defense of the rights of our residents, we respectfully invite you to consider our locations for your future productions.” […]
The measure specifically would ban any abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, something that generally occurs about six weeks into a pregnancy and which, according to pro-abortion-rights groups, would come close to banning all abortions, since women often don’t know for a few weeks that they’re pregnant.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:28 pm:
Poach away. Since when has other states been reticent about trying to lure business from Illinois.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:31 pm:
Gov Kick the Can has a new name. Gov Late Term.
- Anon E Moose - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:31 pm:
Rauner ran an ad of neighboring states’ governors thanking Illinois for being such an awful place. This is fair game.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:32 pm:
Georgia’s filming industry is pretty serious. You’d be surprised how many productions have Georgia as their base.
I’d like to see Illinois poach, the Film Office here in Illinois is top shelf and the productions and films being done here is a credit to the state taking serious that the industry is more than just looking good on tv or a screen.
Tennessee is starting to make inroads too, so if Illinois can be the place Georgia or Tennessee isn’t, then even better.
- illini - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:34 pm:
Georgia, and specifically the Atlanta area, is the second largest market after LA, for video professionals to be employed.
My niece moved to Atlanta without a job, but with an impressive resume from college, a short work history and found work easily.
This effort may pay off for Illinois and Chicago.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:36 pm:
Heres my prediction. Since Hollywood is full of hypocrites they will go where they are offered the best deal.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:38 pm:
I also second poaching away, but the Georgia law is likely unconstitutional, so we better poach before the courts strike it down.
- lakeside - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:42 pm:
Listen, I am as prochoice as they come, but from a comms perspective, I’d have added at least one other issue where Georgia is on the “wrong” side (how hard could it be? Voter suppression for example) to this pitch. The IN pitch would have worked because the discrimination law impacted people for who they are, not a temporary condition like pregnancy. This reads more like, “You know you’re gonna have lots of unplanned pregnancies on set, be prepared” than “vote your values with your feet and your production.” It’s a little weird.
- downstateR - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:44 pm:
Suits me.
- DuPage Guy - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:44 pm:
I think it maybe more of a marketing push than a true poaching attempt. For 4 years everyone had free reign to trash Illinois with no statewide rebuttal. Now you have a Governor promoting as well as cities. Sounds good to me.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:44 pm:
== Heres my prediction. Since Hollywood is full of hypocrites they will go where they are offered the best deal. ==
Try and poach away, but I think BDD is right on the money here.
- Iggy - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:47 pm:
Good thing Illinois and Jersey have that nice warm climate which makes filming year round possible.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:47 pm:
=Gov. Late Term=
Says Blue Dog Trollocrat.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:48 pm:
=Gov. Late Term=
Your new name- Blue Dog Trollocrat
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:51 pm:
===Good thing Illinois and Jersey have that nice warm climate which makes filming year round possible.===
Fake snow and cold for exteriors isn’t great for shows wanting authenticity.
Interiors are a mere soundstage away.
- Terry Salad - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:54 pm:
Young professionals are increasingly choosing to live in places that mesh well with their ideals and lifestyle. Chicago is certainly on that list (not sure about the rest of Illinois). I’l take Chicago over Atlanta any day, even in winter.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:55 pm:
===Good thing Illinois and Jersey have that nice warm climate which makes filming year round possible.===
The Wire - Baltimore MD
The Sporanos - NY/NJ
The “Chicago” NBC trifecta - Chicago
Vancouver…Toronto…
Filming is beyond “perfect weather” locations.
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:59 pm:
PS- when you come here tell your actors not to cause any issues.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:59 pm:
JS ..kinda catchy. I like.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:01 pm:
Please, don’t feed the troll.
- IllinoisBoi - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:03 pm:
Shows set in northern cities greatly benefit from authentic locations. Winter comes around even on TV, and foam snow always looks like — foam.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:04 pm:
Trollocrat. Get it right.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:04 pm:
“reactionary, extremist forces”, funny how words like this are used to describe a bill designed to protect human life rather than take life. But given the prevailing attitudes in Illinois it does make sense to go after the business. Since the majority of the film industry is pro-abortion Illinois would be a good fit.
- A guy - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:07 pm:
==The “Chicago” NBC trifecta - Chicago==
And really many, many more. Don’t know if you left out Empire on purpose or forgot.
Know a few people in production, and they like Chicago a lot. Toronto too. Maybe we can annex it.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:08 pm:
…since a majority of the film industry is pro life. Seems to me that industry led the charge in the #metoo movement as well.
These folks are the benchmark when it comes to morality.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:10 pm:
===Don’t know if you left out Empire on purpose or forgot.===
… considering the issues right now surrounding the production and how the GA and a member is approaching it, odds are I probably did it on purpose.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:54 pm:
===Good thing Illinois and Jersey have that nice warm climate which makes filming year round possible.===
What are these productions that require year-round, outdoor, natural sunlight sets?
You think “Gilligan’s Island” was filmed off Hawaii? It wasn’t even filmed outdoors.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:59 pm:
–Gov Late Term.–
Six weeks is late-term? Good thing you have willful ignorance to fuel the empty hours you spend desperately trolling for attention.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 5:22 pm:
Word- The pilot was filmed in Hawaii-
https://metv.com/lists/heres-where-scenes-from-some-of-your-favorite-tv-shows-were-filmed
Although the series was shot at CBS Studio Center in Studio City, California, the pilot was filmed on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Producers originally considered Catalina Island off the California coast, but decided against it because it had no palm trees.
Legend has it Natalie Schafer only agreed to take the part of the Millionaire’s wife because it meant a free trip to Hawaii.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 5:36 pm:
Pritzker vows to make Illinois most abortion friendly state in the nation…
Love to have that read at my wake.
- Whatever - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 7:43 pm:
==Toronto too. Maybe we can annex it. ==
Piece of trivia: one thing that triggered the enactment of Illinois’ film tax credit was the “outrage” of the fact that the movie musical “Chicago” was actually filmed in Toronto.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 6:39 am:
==Heres my prediction. Since Hollywood is full of hypocrites they will go where they are offered the best deal.==
You mean there is an industry that isn’t full of hypocrites?
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 6:48 am:
Could we have zombies one day walking the streets of Springfield? Um, wait. Nevermind.
- Sad for Illinois - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 8:15 am:
How sick and perverse. People attempting to cash in on the death of the innocent unborn.
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Sayeth the Lord. Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 9:23 am:
==How sick and perverse. People attempting to cash in on the death of the innocent unborn.==
You mean like companies that burn fossil fuels or release mercury. Yes it’s terrible. https://www.theweek.in/news/sci-tech/2018/12/07/Air-pollution-may-pose-serious-risk-of-miscarriage.html
Or do you mean private insurance companies that lobby to prevent universal healthcare which, if implemented would reduced abortions. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/12/AR2010031202287.html.
You are absolutely right. It is sick and perverse.
- Sad for Illinois - Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:20 pm:
“Air pollution may pose serious risk of miscarriage”…
Abortion DOES pose serious risk of death to an innocent unborn.
“Universal health care will reduce abortions”
No, it won’t. But godless people try to sell all sorts of bs to promote their sick and godless agenda.
https://www.nationalreview.com/critical-condition/why-universal-health-care-will-not-reduce-abortion-rates-michael-j-new/