Friend,
Rhode Island is a special place to live and work. And what makes it is so unique and beautiful – its compact geography, its rich history, its culture and creativity, its diversity of natural landscapes – also makes it ideally suited to the needs of the film and television industry.
In recent years, with great success, we have endeavored to make our state a destination for film and television productions. Thanks to the work of the Rhode Island Film & Television Office under Steve Feinberg and the investments we’ve made in our motion picture tax credit program, the Ocean State has welcomed high-profile projects like HBO’s series “The Gilded Age” and a long list of features – “Hocus Pocus 2,” “Moonrise Kingdom,” “Good Burger 2,” and many more.
These productions do more than generate pride and excitement in our communities. They put our state in the spotlight for a global audience, creating a showcase for potential visitors from across the U.S. and around the world. And they also put Rhode Islanders to work.
This week, we were thrilled to celebrate one of the highest-profile productions yet to visit our state. Some of the biggest names in entertainment – director James L. Brooks, along with stars Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, and Spike Fearn – stopped by the State House as we welcomed the cast and crew of “Ella McCay,” which is filming in Providence. We’ll admit to being a bit starstruck, and we can’t wait to see the final product on the big screen. Chairman Lou DiPalma represented the chamber during the event, highlighting the economic benefits film and television productions have for Rhode Island.
We’re grateful to “Ella McCay” for choosing Rhode Island, and to all the film and television productions that have chosen our state to help tell their stories. By fostering continued partnership and investment, we can continue to shine a spotlight on the Ocean State.
Sincerely, Donny, Ryan, and Val