Hollywood, Indiana

To most Hoosiers, the blinding lights of Hollywood are merely a twinkling dream in the mind’s eye.

This doesn’t necessarily have to be the case, but Indiana’s lack of tax incentives for film production crews makes filming here a burden on the budget.

This admittedly cosmetic topic has come to the spotlight as production begins on the film adaptation of John Green’s best-selling novel, “The Fault in Our Stars.”

Green, who has resided in Indianapolis since 2007, set his novel in our state’s capital.

The story follows two young teens who fall in love after encountering one another at a cancer support group. It has sold nearly 1 million copies since being published almost two years ago.

But instead of being able to film “The Fault in Our Stars” in Indianapolis, the production is based in Pittsburgh, where it will be more affordable to film.

By filming in Pittsburgh, the film is able to increase its production budget by 10 to 15 percent.

I realize that our state isn’t a beacon of filmmaking and notoriety. But consider some of the great films that have been made here.

“Hoosiers,” the story of an Indiana high school basketball team, was filmed in various locations in our state by an Indiana University graduate named David Anspaugh. 

The same director filmed some scenes of “Rudy,” the true story of a Notre Dame football player, in Indiana.

The baseball classic “A League of Their Own” was partially filmed down in Evansville, where my stepdad was able to throw a ball around with Tom Hanks’ son, Colin. He also heard Madonna was a huge diva, but I don’t enjoy that story as much.

And let’s not forget “Breaking Away,” the Little 500 classic filmed here in Bloomington.

So maybe Indiana isn’t a cinematic staple the world over, but we’ve had some cute little sports gems filmed here. People know films like “Hoosiers” and “Rudy” have Indiana roots, and that should be a source of state pride.

But seeing as Indiana is one of 11 states not to offer tax incentives to filmmakers, it isn’t likely we’re going to be attracting any major film productions anytime soon.

“The Dark Knight” was partially filmed in Chicago, and “The Dark Knight Rises” was filmed in Pittsburgh.

Those major urban hubs were able to represent Gotham City given the tax breaks Illinois and Pennsylvania offer.

When people know one of their favorite films was shot somewhere, they will travel to see it and bring outside revenue into that area.

Many companies in North Carolina offer tours to people wishing to see locations where 2012’s “The Hunger Games” was filmed.

This brings tourists willing to drop hard money into the state to see where Katniss
braved trackerjackers and evaded her fellow tributes.

Legislation could be passed next year to introduce production tax breaks to Indiana, and we can only hope that maybe the next great blockbuster will be filmed in our backyard.


— wdmcdona@indiana.edu
Follow Opinion Editor Dane McDonald on Twitter @W_DaneMcDonald