This Friday, the Illinois Film Office (IFO) announced that the movie Contagion, which premieres across the country today, has already made a significant economic impact on Illinois due to it partially being filmed in the state.
The IFO has reported that from filming and production alone, the state has brought in $ 12.5 million of revenue while also creating 250 production jobs plus jobs for extras as well.
Warren Ribley, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, spoke about the film’s impact on Illinois: “The economic impact of the production of Contagion is far reaching. The production provided millions of dollars in economic activity in the state and created many jobs for Illinois crew. As we continue our economic recovery, the film industry will continue to be an important part of our efforts to create jobs and grow the economy.”
CBS News reported that Contagion, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh, focuses on how a lethal virus turns into a global scale pandemic. The film also stars numerous big name celebrities, including Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, and Jude Law.
According to the Daily Herald, Contagion filmed specifically in Chicago and several suburbs, including Elgin, Naperville, Skokie, Wilmette, Western Springs, and Waukegan. The production team also took advantage of some of Chicago’s landmarks like Midway Airport and the Palmer House Hilton.
Contagion, which was shot in the late summer and fall of 2010, joins other big filming projects on both the big screen and TV that took place in Illinois last year. Big budget films Transformers 3 and The Dilemma, as well as Fox TV drama The Chicago Code, all used Illinois and Chicago as a setting for the plots.
The IFO currently offers incentives to filmmakers in order to help boost the appeal of shooting in Illinois and using Illinois resources. There is a 30 percent tax credit for money spent in the state, as well as employing Illinois residents for production jobs and extras. Patch.com reported that Contagion had a $ 60 million budget and not only filmed in the U.S. but all over the world to tell the story of a global pandemic.
IFO Deputy Director Betsy Steinberg also emphasized Contagion’s role in Illinois’ film industry by saying, “Contagion played an important role in 2010 becoming a banner year for the Illinois film industry. The increase in television, commercial and independent film production also helped boost the state’s economy. We are making great progress in marketing Illinois as a world-class film location.”
Rachel Bogart provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.
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