Perhaps best known for playing the blood-soaked, telekinetic prom queen in "Carrie," actress Sissy Spacek came to the state Capitol in Richmond yesterday to play a different role -- lobbyist.
Spacek, who won an Oscar for her role in playing Loretta Lynn in the 1980 film, "Coal Miner's Daughter," lent her star power to legislation designed to encourage Hollywood to produce more films and television shows in Virginia.
"I just think that it's time for Virginia to get a piece of the pie," said Spacek, who resides in the Charlottesville area with her husband, art director Jack Fisk.
Spacek and Fisk joined Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling -- the son of a coal miner -- and Rita D. McClenny of the Virginia Film Office to pitch approval for House Bill 861 and Senate Bill 257, which would provide tax credits and grants to new television and film productions in the commonwealth.
Gov. Bob McDonnell has also proposed providing $2 million for the Governor's Motion Picture Opportunity Fund to lure productions to Virginia.
"I'm excited about these tax incentives," added Spacek, who was later honored on the floor of the Senate and House of Delegates. "I want to get on the short list."
Currently, Virginia's Motion Picture Opportunity Fund is only $200,000, ranking the commonwealth last among the 42 states that offer incentives. The Film Office said that since 2006 Virginia has lost 12 major film projects to other states, with a $367 million economic impact.
Bolling said film production in Virginia would return $14 for every $1 invested. The industry employs 4,000 Virginians.
"This is a great place to make movies," he said, citing the 2007 production of the critically acclaimed HBO mini-series, "John Adams." "But we've got to be able to compete."
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement