Film commission: Movies mean $3.6m locally

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Published on 10/03/2011 - 10:42 am

Written by Business Journal staff

The Fresno Film Commission estimates film productions have dropped more than $3.6 million into the local economy since the agency was formed nearly four years ago.

The most recent, notable production was "Us and Them," which had comedian Billy Crystal taking over a recent Fresno Grizzlies' baseball game in his role as Artie Decker, a Triple-A baseball announcer. It was one of nine productions hosted by the Fresno Film Commission in the third quarter of this year.

In addition to the $3.6 million direct infusion of dollars into the economy since January 2007 when the Fresno Film Commission was founded, Ray Arthur, film commissioner, said the dollars induced an additional $10.7 million in spending.

The Fresno Film Commission was initially started by the city, but lost its funding at the beginning of January 2010. Then the organization came under the umbrella of the non-profit Creative Fresno.

The Fresno Film Commission is currently working with a returning Los Angeles independent feature film to secure locations for a 20-day shoot in December. It is also working on a local music video and a travel video with the California Travel and Tourism Commission.

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Photo above by Dan Davis Photography
Bill Crystal as character Artie Decker throwing out the first pitch of the Grizzlies game on Aug. 27 as part of the "Us and Them" shoot.