Film Wisconsin Office Awarded $1 Million in Tax Credits to 6 Productions

A Denecke TS-3 clapperboard in use during the shooting of a film for O2. (Mattbr/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 BY)

Jocelyne Berumen and her husband photograph quinceañeras.

One night, after documenting a special celebration, they asked themselves what would happen if a quinceañera was suddenly overrun by zombies. Berumen, a filmmaker based in Green Bay, decided to expand that idea into a short film about the divide between second or third-generation immigrants and their grandparents or other family members.

“So we kind of combined the idea of a quinceañera being overrun by zombies with the loneliness that our grandparents feel because they don’t feel connected to us anymore,” Berumen said.

Cue “Mis Undead Quince,” a short film where “a rebellious teenager and her Spanish-speaking grandmother must bridge generations and cultures to survive an undead invasion during a quinceañera.”

The project, which is in the pre-production stage, is one of the first productions awarded film tax credits from the new Film Wisconsin office. The office was established this year through the state biennial budget, with the goal of offering tax incentives for film and TV productions made in Wisconsin.

Wednesday, the state announced the first six projects to receive funding. Over $1 million in tax credits have been awarded so far, according to a Wednesday statement from the office of Gov. Tony Evers.

“Mis Undead Quince” is receiving nearly $20,000 in tax credits. After she applied, Berumen said she was “shocked” when she found out her project was selected.

“We’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to make a film, like this is actually going to happen,’”  Berumen said. “We were very happy, but shocked for sure.”

The film office is housed within the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Film Wisconsin is in charge of awarding up to $5 million in tax credits annually.

“It’s pretty incredible to think that just a little more than a year ago we were one of only a handful of states that didn’t have a film office, and now today we get to announce that first slate of approved accreditations,” said Anne Sayers, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

Sayers said productions that shoot here in Wisconsin will positively impact the state’s economy.

“At the end of the day, that’s really what it’s about,” Sayers said. “We offer these credits. We want to make sure that that’s bringing many more dollars back into the state.”

Another production that received funding was “Ueck,” a documentary about the late Bob Uecker. Producer Barry Poltermann, a Wisconsin native, said the incentives were a financial boost for the project. He also believes the new tax credits will have positive tourism benefits for the state.

“What place has better locations than Wisconsin,” Poltermann said. “We have such great locations, you know, to show off … and the awareness of Wisconsin nationally is pretty minimal as far as how incredible it is.”

Sayers also mentioned a trend called set-jetting, or tourists travelling to a location because of a TV show or movie. She mentioned “Top Chef” filming a season in Wisconsin and a recent Christmas movie set in Door County.

“And we are actually seeing tourists arrive because they were excited about what they saw on the screen,” Sayers said. “So we know that’s a phenomenon that’s going to continue as we build out this office.”

“Ueck” premiered at the Milwaukee Film Festival, which is run by Milwaukee Film. Susan Kerns, the executive director of Milwaukee Film, is also involved with the advocacy group Action! Wisconsin, which was pushing for the creation of the film office and the tax incentives.

“There are a lot of films, television shows that are looking to have the authenticity that a region, that a city, that a specific space can offer, but they really won’t consider the travel to that place unless there are tax incentives that they can use for their production,” Kerns said.

Kerns said having film tax credits here will encourage filmmakers and creatives to consider Wisconsin when thinking about where to shoot their next project.

“I think it will take a few years to build, and so I’m hoping that the state government and also the community, that everybody kind of sticks with us as we build this,” Kerns said.

A concession stand is open as the Oriental Theatre opens for shows Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, in Milwaukee, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

There are requirements for projects in order to receive the tax incentives, including minimum spend amounts in salaries and wages depending on how long the production is.

“Projects may receive up to $1 million in tax credits per fiscal year,” the statement from Gov. Evers’ office said.  “Eligible production expenses include cast and crew wages, accommodations, costs of set construction and operations, purchase or rental of facilities and equipment, location fees, and other production-related goods and services purchased and consumed within the state.”

Over $1M in film tax credits awarded to 6 productions through new ‘Film Wisconsin’ office was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.