Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Breaking Dawn Rumours Continue

With Bella Swan's house being taken down rumours have begun once again. I get rumours, that is how people express their ideas and discover truths, what pisses me off are the people who state things as facts... like, Breaking Dawn is confirmed to be in Portland BECAUSE Bella's house is being taken down....

assume much?

Truth be told, (read New Moon Movie Companion, or see numerous Chris Weitz interviews) Bella's house was scheduled to be taken down between New Moon and Eclipse but wasn't.

A security at Bella's House told me a different production used it between New Moon and Eclipse and that is why they simply wrapped it, fenced it and paid a security to sit there 24 hours a day instead of tear it down and put it back up. Now, with winter coming, weather and cost of security for months on end is not as feasible an option...

Today a security said it was simply being "taken down to be stored until the next flick" when I asked where that flick would be he said he didn't know.

I decided to look at the facts... I've included my opinion based on these facts, but please don't think my opinion is based on "insider info" I truly do not know where Breaking Dawn will be filmed at this point...

Money

If you want to read about BC Film Commission Tax Incentives Read Here By comparison, the Oregon State Film Incentives are available to Read Here

Oregon has the benefit of no sales tax, in addition to a higher % incentive that is cash rebate not simply n the form of tax credits.

To Summarize:

Oregon
  • 20% of your Oregon-based goods and services
  • additional cash payment of up to 16.2% of wages paid to production personnel
  • cash rebates as opposed to tax credits.

    British Columbia
  • basic PSTC tax credit is 25%
  • regional tax credit of 6% outside Vancouver area, but still in BC (includes Lower Mainland)
  • Distant Location tax credit of 6% added to the regional tax credit outside Lower Mainland region (Beyond Whistler, Hope etc.)
  • Digital Animation/Visual Effects tax credit of 15%
  • Also a Canadian Federal tax Credit of 16% for foreign productions within BC

    I think I would need an accountant and/or a stonger knowledge of how the budget of a film works to award points for either or here... also to consider is the exchange rate, which could be anything by the time they start filming.

    Resources

    Then there are the resources... what is here and there?

    The BC Film Commission lists numerous studios ranging from 1,000 sq. ft. to more than 120,000 sq. ft. Their website boasts "Purpose Built, warehouse conversion, FX and broadcast stages – BC’s comprehensive studio complexes ensure that every manner of facility is available to meet the full scope of potential production requirements."

    By comparison, Oregon's site states "over 300 feature films and television projects under our belt, as well as hundreds of commercials, Oregon is more than just another pretty face. We’ve got hundreds of experienced crewmembers and a host of production support services at the ready to get your project off the page and onto the screen"

    My thoughts on this one is that Vancouver scores a point for more resources, although L.A. has sound stages and studio's more plentiful than Vancouver.

    Locations

    Breaking Dawn will likely use more studio shots than location shots so the arguement that certain houses or locations are here or there seems moot. Furthermore, both Portland, (and all over Oregon and Washington) as well as Vancouver have vast, greenery and forests ideal for outdoor location shots.

    Time

    Some say February's Olympics are a reason to not shoot in Vancouver, however, unless they are re-casting Edward (*gasp* never!) They will have to work around his filming schedule which includes "Unbound Captives" and "Bel Ami" Not to mention other cast that may have filming happening between flicks.

    Conclusion

    I hate assuming.... which is why I decided to look at the facts... I truly do not know where Breaking Dawn will be filmed at this point... Here, Oregon, Washington, it doesn't matter. What is important is it WILL be filmed... and that is exciting enough for me :-)
  • 7 comments:

    QuiltNut Creations said...

    if they take it from Vancouver, the coolest thing would be for them to film it actually IN Forks

    Echo said...

    thanks for the research and putting everything into perspective. i know i was too "aw maaan!" to think straight!

    glad i got to see the swan residence before it was taken down. even though the security wouldn't even let me slow my car to take a good long look! =( i must look scary or something.

    and...portland simply means...ROADTRIP! excellent.

    Anonymous said...

    Did Summit finally an official announcement about "Breaking Dawn"?

    Anonymous said...

    What? You mean to tell me that tax breaks expand business opportunities (which means more JOBS)???? Nooooooo. It can't be.

    Even if it is true, I'm surprised that "progressive" Hollywood would even consider a tax break when making business decisions. After all, the government needs our tax dollars to "help people", and being almost uniformly "progressives" Hollywood wouldn't never deprive sainted government of it's income, would it?

    BTW, could you please, oh please, tell President Obama about this tax break thingy?

    Mandy's Mind said...

    No announcement has been made yet this is just my own ponderings and research - - -

    The Johannesen said...

    BTW, to add to your good conclusions there is a brand spanking new film studio that is being finished up here in Portland and would be ready by the time Breaking Dawn is ready to film (A little plus for Portland). The other Portland plus is they already have the Cullen house here which they had trouble trying to shoot the scenes in New Moon to match the original house. Well, most of BD takes place in the Cullen house so they wouldn't have to worry about matching anything. And the house in empty right now (drove by it a few weeks ago) so that would be perfect. Only things is they would have to shoot the backyard scenes in a different location because the backyard is a gully down to a city park.
    Anyways I'm obviously from Portland and hope they come back. But I must say BC is very beautiful. So I'm cool with whatever makes the best movie.

    Diane said...

    I'm from Carver OR, they filmed the cafe scene in Twilight right down the street from me. The film crew is back now, can't wait to see what's going on.