Oregon Governor's Film and Video Office Announces Major Investment in Oregon

Electric Entertainment & TNT’s hit Television Series “Leverage” to Shoot In Oregon

February 26, 2009 -- (Salem) – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced that Electric Entertainment and TNT will relocate the hit television series, “Leverage” to Oregon, creating long-term job opportunities and higher than average wages with benefits for Oregonians hired as cast and crew. The series represents a direct investment of millions of dollars and ensures that Oregon is in for a record year in film and television production.

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“The decision to locate in Oregon is a clear indication that our incentive programs are working. State support for film and television creates jobs and brings a big return on investment for Oregon taxpayers,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Our Office of Film and Television stands ready to provide the producers of Leverage the one-stop shop they need to make the second season of “Leverage” a success.”

“We’re delighted to be bringing ‘Leverage’ to Oregon,” said Electric Entertainment Founder and ‘Leverage’ Executive Producer, Dean Devlin. “From our initial scouting of locations to making the final decision to move the production, we have found the cooperation and assistance from everyone at the Governor’s Office of Film & Television to be extraordinary. The officials from the city of Portland and those at the state level have also been outstanding. We are so impressed by the wide variety of locations available to us and we look forward to bringing our ‘Leverage’ family to Oregon for our second season.”

Oregon has been able to attract more production to the state through the Oregon Production Investment Fund and Greenlight Oregon. In 2003, Governor Kulongoski and the Legislature created the Oregon Production Investment Fund, which offers a financial incentive to qualified productions. In 2005, Greenlight Oregon was created, giving the state’s film office a package of incentives that has been instrumental in making Oregon a serious player in the competition for major film and television productions. These productions create jobs and generate millions of dollars in economic activity.

Gordon Sondland, chair of the Board of Directors for the Governor’s Office of Film and Television added, “In times like these it is beneficial for the state to create successful programs like the OPIF program which immediately stimulates spending in Oregon. The film and television sector is certainly growing in Oregon and the industry can help Oregon’s economy recover.”

An economic impact analysis shows that these incentives are directly correlated to a reverse in the downward trend of out-of-state productions coming into the state. The 2007 study, compiled by EcoNorthwest, shows that out-of-state production spending in Oregon has increased 117% over 2005.

“Leverage”, starring Academy Award® winner Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People), is a high-octane drama series about a team of thieves, hackers and grifters who join forces to take revenge against those who use power and wealth to victimize others. The series is executive-produced by Dean Devlin (Independence Day, TNT’s The Librarian), John Rogers (Cosby) and Chris Downey (The King of Queens) and comes to the TNT network from Devlin’s Electric Entertainment. Shooting will begin in late spring and locations will be used throughout Oregon.

Source: Oregon Governor