By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph has benefitted from the reinstatement of the state tax credit for making movies in Missouri.
St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman, Christian Mengel, says St. Joseph has attempted to be very open to film production crews.
“Even though that this was a statewide thing, I don’t think every community really saw it as an actual option or potential for themselves,” Mengel tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline, “because I think so many cities and towns, specifically of smaller destinations, when they hear, oh film tax credit, they probably think oh that means Kansas City and St. Louis are going to get all this business.”
A production crew wrapped up about three weeks in both St. Joseph and Savannah for a Christmas-based mystery rom-com that incorporates a lot of local flavor.
Mengel says the producer took an extra step to make the film represent the area more accurately.
“They sent the script writer to basically say, hey, if you’re inspired by anything in particular that fits this location, write it into the script,” Mengel says. “And so, Savannah and St. Joseph basically kind of got written into the script on the front end rather than trying to make the place match what already existed on paper.”
Mengel says producers who read the fine print of the state tax incentive legislation understand they can get an even bigger tax break from Missouri if they move outside Kansas City and St. Louis and if they produce something in an under-served area, such as Savannah.
“It’s considered an under-served community in the grand scheme of the state,” Mengel says. “Andrew County is not Jackson County in any listings in that sense. Not only that, when the film makers looked at Savannah, it’s so much more affordable and accessible and I guess you’d just say friendly, because you have that small town feel. Where if they’re in Kansas City, they’re just another movie production that’s just in the area.”
It is a big deal for this area, though, according to Mengel.
That fine print in the state film tax credit provides a 5% boost for filming in rural Missouri, 5% extra if the production office is located in an under-served area, and 5% if the production team hires local talent.
Mengel estimates 60% of the Christmas rom com was shot in Savannah with the remaining 40% shot in St. Joseph. The movie has a working title of “A Christmystery.” Producers now will attempt to sell the film to streaming services such as Hallmark or Netflix.
The movie shot in December came on the heels of another production shot in St. Joseph this past summer. It also will be shopped around to various streaming services.
The Missouri legislature allowed the state film tax credit to expire. When lawmakers saw movies with a Missouri theme, such as Ozark, shot in other states, they voted to reinstate the incentive.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
