The West Virginia Film Office was not impressed by MTV programming director David Janollari's pitch that the channel's newest reality show, "Buck Wild" will give its "viewers a singular and fun glimpse at this generation's experience as we go into Appalachia to capture the lives of a lovable group of dynamic young people." The office has twice denied the show's applications for tax credit incentives because it's concerned the show will not portray West Virginia in a positive light, reports the Los Angeles Times. The show is set to begin filming next spring in Charleston and Sissonville and will chronicle the lives of recent high school graduates.
The state offers tax credits up to 31 percent for film or television productions, but to qualify the production has to meet content criteria established by the state legislature. Director of the state's Film Office, Pam Haynes, said a production in West Virginia can't portray the state in a "significantly derogatory manner," noting what is considered significantly derogatory is decided by a six-member panel. "Buck Wild's" executive producer, J.P. Williams, of Parallel Entertainment, is a native West Virginian, but representatives from his company and MTV would not comment on this matter.
The Times reports many states have similar content requirements governing filming incentives. A legal provision in Michigan requires any films receiving tax credits to promote the state as a tourist destination; Productions in Texas can't portray the state in a negative light, either; and, in Florida, cries of censorship ended legislative pursuit of barring tax credits for family entertainment that exhibited "nontraditional family values." (Read more)
No comments:
Post a Comment