Just as “Water for Elephants” crew members wrapped their two-week shoot in Chattanooga, leaving a $1 million local economic infusion, other television shows and feature films may be knocking at the city’s door.

Two shows in this year’s TAPA Broadway Series — Legally Blonde The Musical and Fiddler on the Roof —will be having Chattanooga launches.

Cast and crew will spend two weeks in Chattanooga working on location to build the shows and launch national tours, possibly leaving more than half a million dollar impact on the local economy during their stay, officials said.

Missy Crutchfield, administrator of the city's Arts, Education and Culture department, said, "This year Education, Arts & Culture and its affiliated Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Film Commission has brought in over $2 million in local economic impact through film productions and theatre alone. And this is just the beginning.

"Through this department and its outreaches, EAC has brought in more than its department budget. In just five years, we have proven ourselves, our worth and value. We have a track record."

Education, Arts & Culture and the Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Film Commission partner with the Tennessee Film, Entertainment & Music Commission — as well as other organizations such as American for the Future of Film and Television (AFFT) — to promote new productions in Chattanooga, including theatre.

“State incentives are key,” said Jan Austin, founder of Americans for the Future of Film and Television (AFFT).

In a recent AFFT presentation, “The Future of Film and Television in Tennessee,” reports other angles of local economic impact:
· Film and Television creates new jobs – There has been an average of 1,000 new jobs created every year by film & television projects alone since 2004. In 2008, over 1,000 jobs were created by film projects such as “Hanna Montana,” “Nothing But the Truth,” Billy: The Early Years,” and “N-Secure.” On a 30-day film shoot, the average earned by crew members is $11,000.
· Entertainment promotes tourism – An example given is the CBS television series “Christy” of which 21 episodes were shot on location in Townsend, Tennessee. Since then, ChristyFest™ draws cast and crew, tourists and enthusiasts alike to the annual festival celebrating the novel, television series, and movies.

“In the end we know we are definitely on the right track and our efforts have already been successful,” Ms. Crutchfield said. “But statewide we need to support the arts as an economic driver, which also means supporting statewide grants and incentives.”

During the same month “Water for Elephants” was setting up business offices for their Chattanooga filming, a national Yamaha commercial was being shot locally as well.

And most recently, a network television pilot and a high-profile Civil War-era film are both scouting locations in the area. And there are a number of other commercials, industrials, and feature films to come, it was stated.

Simultaneously, the film commission has also partnered with Chattanooga State to offer a film production certificate program to build a film production crew base in Chattanooga.

Ms. Crutchfield said, "As film and television projects locate to Chattanooga, theatre is making an impact additionally and for the first time ever TAPA is working with two Broadway show launches in one season."

To learn more about the TAPA Broadway Series visit www.chattanoogaonstage.com

For more information about the Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Film Commission or the City of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture contact Melissa Turner (423) 425-7826 or turner_m@mail.chattanooga.gov.