2024 Motion Picture Competitiveness Report — Washington State Department of Commerce (October 2025)
Summary
The 2024 Motion Picture Competitiveness Report, an annual report to the Washington State Legislature from the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness of the Washington State Department of Commerce, dated October 2025. It reflects the period from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. The report states that the Motion Picture Competitiveness Program was established in 2006 and that Chapter 270, Laws 2022, extended it through 2030 and increased the funding cap to $15 million a year. Its key findings address the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and its recommendations call for Below the Line training. The closing pages are summary descriptive statistics tables for 2021 - 2024.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
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“2024 Motion Picture Competitiveness Report — Washington State Department of Commerce (October 2025).”
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2024 Motion Picture
Competitiveness Report
Annual Report to the Washington State Legislature Pursuant to
Chapter 43.365. RCW.
October 2025
Report to the Legislature
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND Director Joe Nguyễn
COMPETITIVENESS
v3.5
Acknowledgments
Washington State Department of Commerce
Grace Yoo, Assistant Director, Office of Economic
Development and Competitiveness
Shannon Roach Halberstadt, Creative Economy
Industry Sector Lead, Office of Economic
Development and Competitiveness
Washington Filmworks
Amy Lillard, Executive Director
Julie Daman, Director of Operations & Finance
1011 Plum St. SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
www.commerce.wa.gov
For people with disabilities, this report is available on
request in other formats. If you use Washington Relay,
please call 7-1-1 and ask to be connected to 360-725-
4000.
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 2
Table of Contents
Executive summary...................................................................................................................................... 4
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Key findings or highlights ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Recommendations .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Background ................................................................................................................................................. 5
2024 Motion Picture Competitiveness Program............................................................................................ 6
Washington Filmworks funding assistance ............................................................................................................ 6
Certified and complete statistics ............................................................................................................................. 7
Enhanced incentives ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Film office / rural economic development .............................................................................................................. 7
Implementing the Motion Picture Competitiveness Program................................................................................ 9
Small Budget Production Initiative..................................................................................................................................... 9
Workforce development .................................................................................................................................................... 10
Above-the-Line Education Forum (Narrative Film) ....................................................................................................... 10
Above-the-Line Mentorship Program (Narrative Film) ................................................................................................. 11
FWD Funding Initiative - Round 1 ..................................................................................................................................... 11
Business development ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
Projects funded: July 2023 - June 2024 ......................................................................................................................... 13
Descriptive statistics ............................................................................................................................................... 20
Certified and complete statistics ..................................................................................................................................... 20
Projects surveys .................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Appendix A: Summary descriptive statistics ............................................................................................... 31
Summary descriptive statistics 2007 - 2013 ......................................................................................................... 31
Summary descriptive statistics 2014 - 2020 ......................................................................................................... 32
Summary descriptive statistics 2021 - 2024 ......................................................................................................... 33
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 3
Executive summary
Overview
Washington's Motion Picture Competitiveness Program (MPCP) was established in 2006 (Chapter 43.365.
RCW) to attract and retain film industry investment in Washington. Chapter 270, Laws 2022 extended the
program through 2030, provided enhanced incentives, established workforce development initiatives, and
increased the funding cap for the MPCP to $15 million a year.
This report reflects the period from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, includes an annual list of recipients
awarded financial assistance from the prior year, and the board's progress towards the goal of funding
assistance provided to motion picture productions located or filmed in rural communities and to motion
picture productions that tell stories of historically underrepresented communities. It also includes information
on workforce development, career-connected learning, and business development activities. Washington
Filmworks, the private non-profit organization that manages the MPCP, provides the data and certified and
complete statistics required for this report.
Key findings or highlights
National industry impacts
The Writers Guild of America strike (May 23, 2023 - September 27, 2023) and the SAG-AFTRA strike (July 14,
2023 - November 9, 2023) continued into this fiscal year and had devastating impacts on film production in the
United States. The University of Michigan Journal of Economics suggests that the strikes cost the
entertainment industry $5 billion nationwide, while Moody’s reported that the new union contracts will cost
studios an additional $450M - $600M annually.
Washington's film market assets
Despite national and international challenges in the film industry, Washington has significant marketable film
industry assets. Our state's Motion Picture Competitiveness Program includes incentives that are unique to the
industry, including our Small Budget Production Initiative (SBPI), and enhanced incentives for filming in rural
Washington or telling the story of a historically underrepresented community.
Washington invests in film workforce development, focusing on historically underrepresented communities
and building a future pipeline of job creators in the creative economy.
Like many businesses across the United States, Artificial Intelligence is impacting the global film industry.
Given Washington State’s unique technology assets, the state is well positioned to capitalize on the
opportunity.
Recommendations
Significant progress has been made in the Above-the-Line program to support emerging Washington
filmmakers through educational and mentorship opportunities. Similar investments of time and workforce
development dollars focused on Below the Line training (i.e., crew members) will be essential moving forward.
Additionally, more direct marketing to projects that are focused on telling the story of underrepresented
communities is necessary.
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 4
Background
Photo courtesy of Washington Filmworks, Motion State / Ryan Brien 2024
The Motion Picture Competitiveness Program (MPCP) was authorized in 2006 to attract and retain film
industry investment in Washington (Chapter 43.365. RCW). Chapter 270, Laws 2022 increased the funding cap
for the MPCP to $15 million a year. The legislation includes several other provisions that expand and
strengthen the statewide film industry, including:
• Additional incentives for projects filming in rural jurisdictions and for films that tell stories of
historically underrepresented communities
• A workforce development mandate to better support people from underrepresented communities
• Support for small budget productions creatively driven by Washington residents
• Extended sunset date of the program to 2030
This report reflects the period from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, and is required annually to the
Legislature pursuant to RCW.43.365.020 (12):
By December 31, 2022, and annually thereafter, the department on behalf of the board, must report to the
legislature on the approved MPCP. This report may include information required in the survey established
in RCW 43.365.040. At a minimum, the report must include an annual list of recipients awarded financial
assistance from the prior year with total estimated production costs, locations of each production, and the
board's progress towards the goal of at least 20 percent of its funding assistance provided to motion
picture productions located or filmed in rural communities and 20 percent of its funding assistance
provided to motion picture productions that tell stories of historically underrepresented communities. The
report must also include information on workforce development, career-connected learning, and business
development activities, including whether they have been scaled up in size from the previous year and how
they are meeting the goal of supporting people from historically underrepresented communities.
Washington Filmworks is the private non-profit that manages the MPCP and an array of resources supporting
the creative industries. Its mission is to create economic development opportunities by building and enhancing
the competitiveness, profile, and sustainability of Washington’s film industry. Washington Filmworks provides
the data, and the certified and complete statistics required for this report by RCW 43.365.030(12), which must
include at minimum:
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 5
• Annual list of recipients awarded financial assistance from the prior year with total estimated
production costs, locations of each production.
• The board's progress towards the goal of at least 20 percent of its funding assistance provided to
motion picture productions located or filmed in rural communities and 20 percent of its funding
assistance provided to motion picture productions that tell stories of marginalized communities.
• Information on workforce development, career-connected learning, and business development
activities, including whether they have been scaled up in size from the previous year and how they are
meeting the goal of supporting people from marginalized communities.
• Must allocate funds for training and job placement for marginalized communities as follows:
• (a) For fiscal years 2023 and 2024, a minimum of $500,000 for each fiscal year; and
• (b) For each fiscal year on or after July 1, 2024, a minimum of $750,000.
2024 Motion Picture Competitiveness Program
Washington Filmworks funding assistance
The mission of Washington Filmworks is to create economic development opportunities by building and
enhancing the competitiveness, profile, and sustainability of Washington’s film industry. Washington
Filmworks offers two funding assistance programs:
1) Production Incentive Program (PIP) This program is designed to support larger budget productions that
provide health and retirement benefits for Washington cast and crew. To qualify for funding assistance, a
production must meet the following in-state spending minimum thresholds:
$500,000 for motion pictures
$300,000 for episodic series
$150,000 for commercials (filming in rural counties)
2) Small Budget Production Initiative (SBPI) Designed to invest in emerging Washington filmmakers by
providing an early-stage funding commitment and funding assistance for motion picture content. The
motion picture budget must be between $20,000 and $1,000,000 and have a minimum of two Washington
residents in the positions of director, producer, screenwriter, or lead actor.
If a qualified production meets spending thresholds of $500,000 for motion pictures, $300,000 per episode for
episodic series, and $150,000 for commercials, and if filming in a rural county or if the production tells the
story of a historically underrepresented community, then the production may qualify for Enhanced Incentives.
Washington Filmworks also provides the services of the statewide Film Office, support for filming in rural
Washington, and several workforce development programs for the film industry.
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 6
Photo courtesy of Washington Filmworks, Tim Travers and the Time Travelers Paradox, 2024
Certified and complete statistics
RCW 43.365.040 requires Commerce to provide specified summary statistics as follows:
(6) The department must use the information from this section to prepare summary descriptive statistics.
The department must report these statistics to the legislature each even-numbered year by September
1st. The department must provide the complete annual surveys to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review
Committee, which shall perform a review as required under RCW 43.365.050.
During this reporting period of July 2023 - June 2024, Washington Filmworks provided $2,727,807 in funding
assistance to five PIP projects and two SPBI projects, resulting in over $7.8 million in qualified spending within
local communities. These productions also hired 1,034 Washington residents.
Enhanced incentives
Of the funding assistance paid out in this period, 7.85% of the funds went to projects qualifying for the
enhanced incentive for filming in a rural community as defined RCW 43.365.010. These projects filmed in
Clallam, Grant, Grays Harbor, Kittitas, Mason, Pacific Skamania, Whitman and Yakima counties, reaching 30%
of rural counties in Washington.
Two projects approved for funding assistance indicated that they were telling the story of an underrepresented
community. However, neither of these projects completed principal photography during this reporting period.
Additionally, four features that identified as telling the story of an underrepresented community were
conditionally approved under the SBPI, but did not raise their full funding and are currently on hold.
Film office / rural economic development
Washington Filmworks provides the services of the statewide Film Office, and the newly established Rural
Economic Development Department, which supports filming in rural jurisdictions. These services continue to
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 7
drive significant economic development opportunities across the state that are not included in the Motion
Picture Competitiveness Program reporting.
The following are examples of the variety of projects that Washington Filmworks has supported within this
reporting period that did not receive funding assistance from the organization:
• Toyota Commercial (Location Managers Guild Award Winner for Best Commercial)
• Washington State Lottery Commercial
• Beach Front Bargain Hunt (HGTV)
• Wild Crime (ABC News)
• Station 19 (ABC)
• Army Commercial
• Hoka Commercial
• Netflix Documentary
The total economic impact of both incentive and non-incentive driven projects can be difficult to quantify, as
non-incentive driven projects are not required to provide budget information. Last year, the film office launched
List Your Project, an online tool that will help the organization better understand the impact of these non-
incentive driven projects. Washington Filmworks continues to develop the tool to collect more impactful data
to share in the future.
Photo courtesy of Washington Filmworks, Bottlecap / Barbara Brown, 2024
Washington Filmworks’ Rural Economic Development Department works with rural jurisdictions to identify key
assets necessary to support film in their community. This includes identifying key locations for filming,
designing a film permit, and working with local elected officials to better understand the positive economic
impact of film in their community. In addition to presentations at the Associations of Washington Cities and
the Washington Association of Chamber Executives, Washington Filmworks staff also visited Port Townsend,
the Cascade Loop, Kittitas County, and the Tri-County Economic District.
The Film Office and the Rural Economic Development Department work together to ensure that both
communities in the state and production companies benefit from their services. As part of their work, they
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 8
facilitate quarterly meetings from the film liaison network. With more than 150 film liaisons across the state
(and growing), this group is committed to serving as a bridge between Washington Filmworks, the local
community, and film productions. Quarterly meetings focus on topics such as how to work with a professional
location manager, a discussion on best practices, and a presentation on how to engage your community in the
film industry.
Additionally, the Film Office and Rural Economic Development Department convene local professional location
scouts for quarterly meetings with key Washington State agencies that often work with high-impact
productions, for example, the Department of Corrections. And for the first time in its history, Washington
Filmworks partnered with film liaisons in Walla Walla to co-host a familiarization tour where location managers
were able to meet local leaders and tour a variety of locations, including Waitsburg, the Palouse, and some
private homesteads.
Dedicated staff time and resources were employed during the reporting period to expand the Location
Database, a publicly searchable resource for filmmakers around the globe. Washington Filmworks added 150
new locations; 51% of which were in rural counties. There are now more than 3,000 locations in the database.
The film office used these assets to create over 53 location packages for potential clients such as Amazon,
MAX, NBC Universal, and Tyler Perry Studios.
This fiscal year Washington Filmworks also enhanced its Production Directory, an important tool used by the
Film Office to demonstrate to potential clients the depth of local crew and production resources in the region.
During the reporting period, Washington Filmworks added 97 local crew and 36 local businesses to the
Production Directory, a free resource for all resident crew and businesses.
Washington Filmworks received grants this fiscal year from the State of Washington Tourism, the Port of
Seattle, and the Department of Commerce to develop additional marketing assets to showcase the diversity of
locations in Washington. Using the dollars to hire professional drone operators, still photographers, a
videographer, and a film editor, Washington Filmworks captured over 50 locations in all seven regions of the
state, which will be used as the centerpiece for a national marketing campaign next fiscal year.
Implementing the Motion Picture Competitiveness Program
Chapter 270, Laws of 2022 enables Washington Filmworks to better support the film industry by providing
career-connected learning opportunities and workforce development initiatives. To meet the program's goals,
Washington Filmworks initiated a business plan to market the state as a destination for motion picture
content. Washington Filmworks continues to work with the film industry and community partners to design
impactful new programs that will set the industry up for success and help build the future of film in
Washington.
Small Budget Production Initiative
The SBPI is designed to support emerging resident filmmakers with early-stage funding commitments and
funding assistance on projects budgeted between $20,000 - $1 million. These smaller budget productions
provide an excellent training ground for emerging above-the-line talent (cast, director, producer, screenwriter)
and below-the-line crew who work in collaboration on a professional film set.
Between May 2023 and June 2024, 30 projects were approved for funding assistance. Of those projects, 16
went into principal photography and two have already completed production. These projects include short
films, narrative and documentary features, and episodics. There were 14 conditionally approved projects that
did not raise the required funds within the allowable six-month window, so funds held in reserve were
relinquished, and funding assistance was made available to other eligible applicants per RCW 43.365.020.
Details about the two completed projects can be found below under Projects Funded.
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 9
Workforce development
Photo courtesy of Washington Filmworks, Jess Schwab, 2024
Statute requires that Washington Filmworks invest a minimum of $500,000 in workforce development
opportunities focused on underrepresented communities in FY 2024. These workforce development funds
have been transformative for the film industry as emerging and professional creatives are often categorized as
non-traditional workers and as such do not qualify for traditional funding models supported by the Workforce
Development Board.
As it relates to the statute, Washington Filmworks has adopted the definition of career-connected learning to
guide the workforce development initiative, which includes career awareness and exploration, career
preparation (e.g., training), and career launch (e.g., job placement).
To support this new initiative, Washington Filmworks launched its workforce development department, FWD
(pronounced ‘forward’). FWD is a community-informed approach to creating statewide plans, programs, and
resources to build the depth and breadth of the Washington film industry workforce while supporting and
amplifying efforts to ensure the workforce is diverse and inclusive and that pathways are equitable and
accessible.
Above-the-Line Education Forum (Narrative Film)
Washington Filmworks strategically chose to launch an above-the-line workforce development program to
train directors and producers as these individuals will be Washington State’s future job creators in the motion
picture industry. Launched in September 2023, the above-the-line education forum for narrative filmmakers
focused on job training. There were 112 applicants from 49 cities across Washington State. A cohort of 30
emerging Washington State directors and producers representing 17 unique cities across the state
participated in a 12-week educational forum. Over the course of the program, 30 film industry professionals
presented on topics such as working in Washington, legal basics, financing, and marketing / distribution.
A post program survey taken by every participant reflected the following:
• 100% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the program will help them move their film career
forward
• 100% increased their financing skills and knowledge
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 10
• 97% increased their legal basics skills and knowledge
• 97% increased their production skills and knowledge
• 97% increased their marketing & distribution skills and knowledge
• 83% increased their budgeting skills and knowledge
Film is well known to be an industry in which careers rely on relationship networks, and as such, relationship
building between participants proved equally valuable during the 12-week program. Cohort participant Ronnie
Kabuika shared this:
The practical insights and learning experience have significantly enhanced my skills and knowledge,
making me feel more equipped to tackle the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in my filmmaking
journey. The connections I’ve made with like-minded and talented filmmakers have been profoundly
impactful.
Above-the-Line Mentorship Program (Narrative Film)
Participants that successfully completed the education forum were invited to apply for one of five mentorships
to further develop a long-form, live-action narrative project by working with a film professional in Washington
State and a film professional from a major production market such as Los Angeles, New York, and San
Francisco. Mentorships are six months long and participants selected for the program were able to invite a
creative partner working on their project to participate.
Director of Workforce Development, Audra Laymon, talked to dozens of people when Washington Filmworks
was designing the program, and remains deeply committed to mentorship opportunities for the film industry,
stating:
There is not one person I have spoken to in the film industry that has not told me about the mentor that
helped them. This is how this industry works. It works from folks helping each other by passing it on, by
paying it forward. We need mentorship programs like this because it's the lifeblood of the industry.
Five filmmakers were selected in May 2024 for the mentorship representing Clark, King, and Spokane counties.
FWD Funding Initiative - Round 1
In direct response to community feedback, Washington Filmworks launched the FWD Funding Initiative, a
program designed to invest in film industry workforce development efforts servicing historically
underrepresented communities through the disbursement of funds to Washington-based businesses.
In the inaugural round of funding, 26 proposals representing 11 cities across Washington were considered.
The total requested funding for all proposals was $570,410. Five businesses (or 19% of applications) were
funded, and $49,000 was distributed in four counties. The applications awarded funding in Round 1 were
focused on industry job training and job placement opportunities:
Film Crew Academy, Seattle | Power P.A. Course Scholarship Program
This program offers job training, resources, and support to individuals from historically underrepresented
groups. The Power P.A. Course delivers comprehensive virtual training modules covering various aspects
of production assistant roles, empowering participants to launch their careers in the film industry.
In fiscal year 2024, funding helped sustain the scholarship program for the virtual Power P.A. Course.
Northwest Film Forum, Seattle | ACTION! Narrative Apprentice Program
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 11
This program targets emerging filmmakers who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, and/or living with
disabilities, providing them with one-on-one job training and mentorship from industry professionals.
Through a structured five-phase program, participants gain hands-on experience in film production,
culminating in a premiere screening at the local Sightings Film Festival.
In fiscal year 2024, funding supported the Seattle-based ACTION! Narrative Apprentice Program.
Wahkiakum West Television, Rosburg | Rural Quickstart Production Program
This program combines job training and placement with the goal of offering residents of Wahkiakum and
Pacific counties paid education in film and television production. Its aim is to tackle the existing worker
shortage in the region. Participants will produce seasonal tourism commercials, short form interview
programs, and narrative content.
In fiscal year 2024, funding supported the launch of the Rural Quickstart Production Program in Rosburg.
The Shyan Selah Foundation, South King County | Artist Workshop
These workshops raise awareness of careers in the film industry among students aged 14 - 25 in South
King County, with a focus on underrepresented communities, including Black and brown youth, and those
from low-income households. The workshops aim to expose participants to various career pathways in the
film industry.
In fiscal year 2024, funding supported the production and delivery of one virtual Artist Workshop.
Perfect Attendance Productions | We F.E.W! (Filmmakers of Eastern Washington) Training Experiences,
Spokane
The training provides weekend workshop experiences determined by community input and led by industry
professionals, covering film set skills including grip and electric; lighting theory; and cinema camera
operation.
In fiscal year 2024, funding supported one month of training workshops in Spokane.
During fiscal year 2024, Washington Filmworks also opened the submission window for Round 2 of the FWD
Funding Initiative.
Washington Filmworks staff participated in several opportunities to raise awareness of film industry career
opportunities. The following are examples of places where Washington Filmworks presented or participated in
events around the state where career awareness was included:
• Arts & Heritage Day
• AWB Hill Climb (Olympia)
• Creative Districts Annual Gathering (Chewelah)
• Creative Economy Career Day (City of Seattle)
• Educational Institutions (Seattle University, University of Washington, Seattle Film Institute)
• Film Festivals (Seattle International Film Festival, Tacoma Film Festival)
• IATSE 488 Meeting (Statewide)
• Rainier Club (Seattle)
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 12
Business development
Washington Filmworks defines business development as pursuing strategic opportunities by cultivating
partnerships and other commercial relationships, as well as identifying new markets. During the reporting
period, Washington Filmworks made several sales trips to Los Angeles to host filmmaker dinners and meet
executives from studios such as Paramount, MGM Amazon, and Netflix. One trip specifically was planned to
attract commercial productions to take advantage of the enhanced incentive for filming in rural Washington.
This year, Washington Filmworks also joined the Location Managers Guild International, presented to its
members about the incentive, locations, and crew, and connected with the Washington State chapters of the
American Advertising Federation.
Please also refer to the section titled Film office / rural economic development for further information about
business development strategies employed in Washington State.
Projects funded: July 2023 - June 2024
Title: Model Year Production Release for CFMOTO (Commercial)
Official Website
Filming Dates: August 2, 2024 - August 8, 2024
Where to See: NA
Filming Locations: Elma, Olympia, Shelton, Tacoma, Twin
Synopsis:
Whether you’re a new rider or season vet, CFMOTO creates a scene and story for you and your team. How We
Ride is an epic journey through the world of CFMOTO. In this adventure we take potential customers to the
edgy world of the NK underground, to the bright and colorful culture of Papio Moto Mob.
This Journey will be like no other CFMOTO experience. Model Year 2024 will encompass 12 different
motorcycles. Capturing stunning footage from the city of Tacoma to the mountain roads of Lake Cushman, up
to the ocean highways in Neah Bay, and finally to the unique looks of Ridge Motorsports Park and Satsop
Business Park.
Notable:
The Minneapolis based Rally Studios was looking for a state that could provide a wide array of different terrain
to showcase the new line of motorcycles. While Rally Studios had never filmed in Washington State, the crew,
locations and incentive helped pave the way for the production.
Director and Owner of Rally Studios Anthony Jaska set a high bar suggesting that, “We came up to Washington
to attempt to create something that’s never been done for CFMOTO America. We wanted to find a place that
had multiple themes and looks and styles for each of their models.”
Producer Matt Roussin shared, “Trying to find a lot of (location) diversity in one place was hard but when we
looked at Washington we found a lot of different diversity. Finding the locations was fun. We went to the
Filmworks website. They had a database that made it really easy to choose.”
CFMOTO - Behind the Scenes
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 13
Title: Going Home - Season 2 (Episodic Series)
Official Website
Filming Dates: February 2023 - April 2023
Where to See: Pure Flix
Filming Locations: Airway Heights, Rosalia, Spokane
Synopsis:
Charley Copeland is a hospice nurse who sees her role as a gift from God as she helps shepherd people from
this life to eternity. In season 2, work takes a more personal turn for Charley and the other hospice nurses as
Charley explores GriefShare to manage her own loss, Janey finds a new love interest, and Tamara manages
serious health issues.
Reviews:
“Going Home stands alone in the annals of medical programs.” — The Spokesman-Review
“Will tug at your heartstrings as well as lift your spirits” — FOX 13
Notable:
Pure Flix is a streaming service that offers faith-based, family-friendly shows and returned to Spokane for the
second season of Going Home. The online streamer suggests that the show portrays dynamic, relatable
relationships that are focused on healing and forgiveness and also helps audiences understand that there is
no ‘right’ way to grieve.
Show Runner / Creator Dan Merchant believes that “One of the things that is hard about facing death is that it
begs the questions of what are you doing with your life. And that’s a hard one for people.” Washington's own
Cynthia Geary (Northern Exposure) stars in the series as Charley Copeland and suggests that this level of
authenticity plays a lead role in the series saying to the Seattle Times, “All of the hospice stories (in Going
Home) come from stories that people have told our creator. Dan is very meticulous about making sure we’re
portraying real stories and things that have really happened…What we do in the show is we really make an
effort to make it real and positive but also an entertaining show.”
Going Home: Season 2 - Behind the Scenes Video
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 14
Image courtesy of Washington Filmworks, Duplass Brothers Productions, 2024
Title: Penelope (Episodic Series)
Official Website
Filming Dates: September 14, 2022 - October 31, 2022
Where to see: Netflix
Synopsis:
A 16-year-old girl who feels alienated from contemporary civilization is pulled into the uncharted wilderness
and starts to build a new life for herself there.
Locations for filming: Arlington, Index, Kenmore, Kirkland, Monroe, North Bend, Seattle, Skykomish, Snohomish,
Snoqualmie
Reviews:
“Penelope paints a stunning picture of Washington State’s exquisite terrain, a testament to Nathan M. Miller’s
cinematographer.” Variety (Miller is also a longtime Washington Resident.)
“It’s refreshing to see an indie TV series forge its own identity” IndieWire
“The Breathtaking Penelope Is Like Nothing Else on TV” TIME
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 15
Notable:
Megan Stott (Little Fires Everywhere) has the title role in the independently made episodic series Penelope
which was picked up by Netflix after its debut at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival’s Episodic Pilot Showcase.
The project is a Duplass Brothers Production and played as an Official Selection at SXSW Film Festival in
Austin and SeriesFest in Colorado.
When Writer, Director, Producer and Washington resident Mel Eslyn was asked why the story needs to be told
now, she shared, “We are living in an age of technology, and I’d argue too much of a reliance on technology.
There is a collective longing for a simpler time. I think so many of us have escape fantasies, to leave it all
behind. There is a primal calling in all of us to go back to nature. Technology, social media, collective
depression, and the pandemic — I believe all have played into this calling. (Give me the Backstory: Sundance
Film Festival 9/24/24)
Megan Stott has been nominated for a 2025 Independent Spirit Award for Best Breakthrough Performance in a
New Scripted Series.
Penelope - Behind the Scenes Video
Title: Tim Travers & The Time Traveler’s Paradox (Feature Film)
Official Website
Filming Dates: November 30, 2022 - December 21, 2022
Synopsis:
It is called the Time Travelers Paradox. In which a scientist creates a Time Machine and kills their younger self.
So now a man who should not- cannot- exist, somehow does. That is the Paradox, and Paradoxes are
impossible. And the man who has created it, is Tim Travers. A reclusive mad scientist whose stated mission in
life is to stand alone with God at the end of time and tell the bastard off. In the course of his adventure, Tim
Travers will take on the mercenary gang whose stolen plutonium powers his machine, challenge an Alex
Jones-esk podcast er to a battle of wits, create a black hole, meet the one woman alive crazier than him, clone
himself, destroy the universe, Make a new one, and maybe- Just Maybe- learn to love himself at last.
Locations for filming: Spokane
Reviews:
“A wild ride that consistently punches above its weight” The Mercury News
“Most sci-fi could only hope to kill so many doubles with such verve” The Seattle Times
Notable:
Tim Travers has been celebrated as an independent film success winning awards at the Cinequest San Jose
Film Festival (Best Feature Comedy) and Phoenix International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival (Best Sci Fi
Feature) as well as being nominated for a Golden Raven at the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film.
It also played at seven additional film festivals including the Seattle International Film Festival.
Spokane has long been a supporter of independent film in part because of its ability to help train emerging
talent on these lower budget film sets. Spokane resident Jason McKee is a product of that environment as he
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 16
came up through the ranks over the years. “I started as a PA and I’ve worked my way up and now I am
directing and editing and doing visual effects. I have my own company, Modefx, because of it,” said McKee.
“We would not have that without low budget to medium budget filmmaking, it allows the people from the
ground level to rise through the ranks and continue to make future projects and employ other people.”
The commitment to both studio and independent projects has helped Spokane emerge as one of two
production centers in Washington State. Director Stimson Snead remarked to Washington Filmworks on set,
“We are doing a film that for all rights should be a 35-day shoot and we are doing it in just 16 days, and
incredibly we are on budget and schedule. I have spent this entire production process in shock at the speed at
which they get stuff together, the efficiency of it. I am not here to help them; I am here because they are
helping me.”
Tim Travers - Behind the Scenes Video
Title: True to Nature (Commercial)
Official Website
Filming Dates: September 16, 2024 - September 20, 2024
Where to See: NA
Locations: Bainbridge Island, Chimacum, Coupeville, Langley, Mt. Vernon, Poulsbo, Port Townsend, Sedro-
Wooley, Suquamish,
Synopsis:
True to Nature is a campaign for State of Washington Tourism aimed at attracting out of market tourism into
under visited areas in the state.
Notable:
Produced by Seattle based production company Wondercamp, this project received a bronze Adrian Award
honoring excellence in travel marketing.
This project took advantage of the rural enhanced incentive with 80% of their principal photography days
taking place in Island, Jefferson, Kitsap and Skagit counties.
True to Nature - Behind the Scenes
Small Budget Production Initiative
Title: Inheritance (feature film)
Official Website
Filming Dates: October 4, 2023 - October 29, 2023
Location: Bainbridge Island
Synopsis:
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Estranged sisters Lucy and Paige reunite to bury their father, becoming entangled in the complicated web of
their past as they realize that they have inherited more from their father than just money.
Reviews:
“An authentic indie drama that tackles the messy realities of family, betrayal, and redemption” — Film Threat
“A powerful narrative that delves into the core of human relationships and emotional resilience” — Overly
Honest Reviews
Notable:
Director, producer, writer Rachel Noll James joined Washington Filmworks at their Annual Industry Update in
2023 to talk about the SBPI. “It’s the first time I’ve applied for a program like the SBPI here – or anywhere
actually – for a feature film. It was really wonderful to get not only the financial support but then the
connection with Washington Filmworks. The support I felt from this new community that I’ve been joining as
an artist in Bainbridge AND THEN having that extra money. The funding just gave us a little bit more breath to
bring on that extra crew person or to make sure we had that extra week of post to really make the film be what
it needs to be. I think it’s a fantastic program.”
The film has played at 6 film festivals in the United States and won the Skallywag Award for Best Narrative
Film at the Lake Charles Film Festival and also won the Audience Choice Award at the Poulsbo Film Festival.
Title: Bottlecap (short film)
Official Website: NA
Filming Dates: September 20, 2023 - September 21, 2023
Synopsis:
Bottlecap A dedicated teacher finds herself entwined in the lives of two of her students with life altering
results.
Locations: Gold Bar
Notable:
A veteran script supervisor in Hollywood, Barbara Brown needed something to do during the union strikes of
2023/2024 and discovered the script for Bottlecap when participating in the Cascadia International Film
Festival in Bellingham, Washington. At a Washington Filmworks event, she told us about the journey of making
the film: “I was going crazy when we had two strikes going on in Hollywood, so none of us were really working.
And I just needed to do something creative. And so, the Bottlecap story stuck in my head, and I just thought,
well, life is a risk and I'm just going to produce and write and direct this myself. I have really fallen in love with
shorts. I'm used to telling stories in a longer format, so it was a challenge, but it was a good one.”
Bottlecap played at several national and international film festivals including:
Official Selection, Korea International Short Film Festival
Official Selection, The Women’s Film Festival
Official Selection, International New York Film Festival
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Official Selection, Manhattan Film Festival
Official Selection, Post Alley Film Festival
Between July 2023 and June 2024, Washington Filmworks approved an additional two feature films, 213
Bones and Train Dreams as well as two commercials. Because these productions had not yet finished with the
completion package review process, the descriptive statistics and additional information is not included in this
report.
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 19
Descriptive statistics
Certified and complete statistics
Attached as Appendix A are summary descriptive statistics for all productions that have been approved for
funding assistance, completed principal photography, and been reviewed by Washington Filmworks through
June 30, 2024.
Projects surveys
In order to recognize the accountability and effectiveness of tax policy, the Legislature requires that each
qualified production approved for funding assistance submit a survey detailing the economic impact of the
production. In cases where the qualified production submitted a post-production completion package, a
second survey was submitted. Attached as Appendix A are summary descriptive statistics for all productions
that have been approved for funding assistance, completed principal photography, and have been reviewed by
Washington Filmworks through June 30, 2023. Below is a list of projects by fiscal year that have submitted
surveys, and the following are definitions for terms referenced in the project list:
• Feature refers to a feature film.
• Commercial refers to a commercial advertisement.
• MOW refers to a Movie of the Week/episodic series.
• Episodic refers to a series for television or streaming media that consists of a season of episodes.
• Post refers to the post-production survey to capture post-production expenditures.
• Innovation Lab Project refers to projects approved through the Filmworks Innovation Lab program.
• SBPI refers to projects approved through the Small Budget Production Initiative
• Short refers to a single project with a running time of less than 40 minutes
Projects by fiscal year
2007
Project name Project type
“The Holidays” Feature
Lipitor Commercial
2008
Project name Project type
“Diamond Dog” Feature
“Little Dizzle” Feature
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Project name Project type
Mervyn’s Commercial
“Letter to Bill Gates” MOW
“The Golden Door” Feature
“True Adolescents” MOW
“Travelling” Feature
WA Lottery Tumbling Commercial
2009
Project name Project type
“Finding Bliss” Feature
“Alicia’s Book” Feature
“Norman” Feature
“The Whole Truth” Feature
“World’s Greatest Dad” Feature Commit/Commercial
“Dear Lemon Lima” MOW
“Give ’Em Hell, Malone” Feature
Hyundai Commercial
Mervyn’s LP Commercial
“Oy Vey My Son Is Gay” Feature
BECU Commercial
“Wrong Turn at Tahoe” Feature
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Project name Project type
WA Lottery Frisbee Commercial
“The Whole Truth” Feature
2010
Project name Project type
Banner Bank Commercial
“$5 Cover” Feature
Target Commercial
“The Ward” Feature
Campbell’s Commercial
Chevrolet Commercial
“The Details” Feature
“The Joneses” Feature
“The Big Bang” Feature
MS in Store Commercial
MS Sherlock Commercial
Xbox360 Lips Commercial
“The Hit List” Feature
Coors Commercial
“Late Autumn” Feature
Catch 22 Commercial
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2011
Project name Project type
MS Natal Commercial
“Knights of Badassdom” Feature
Toyota Running Footage Commercial
Evergreen Commercial
“Grassroots” Feature
“The River Sorrow” Feature
Xbox Commercial
Bank of America Commercial
WA Lottery Celebration Commercial
Chevy Silverado Commercial
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Commercial
Bridgestone Commercial
Ben Bridge Commercial
Green Squirrel Commercial
“Camilla Dickinson” Feature
Navy Spirit Lake Commercial
Chevy Crossroads Commercial
WA Lottery Beneficiary Commercial
WA Lottery How to Play Commercial
WA Lottery Joust Commercial
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 23
Project name Project type
“Thunderballs” MOW
Xbox Play Commercial
2012
Project name Project type
“Safety Not Guaranteed” Feature
Humira Commercial
Cathay Pacific Commercial
MS Xbox Kinect Commercial
“Fat Kid Rules the World” Feature
“21 and Over” Feature
“Mine Games” Feature
“Eden” Feature
Xbox 360 (042012) Commercial
“Safety Not Guaranteed” Feature
Humira Commercial
Cathay Pacific Commercial
MS Xbox Kinect Commercial
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 24
2013
Project name Project type
“You Can’t Win” Feature
“Touchy Feely” Feature
“One Square Mile” Feature
Ford Summer Sales Event Commercial
Xbox (062012) Commercial
99 Tigers Commercial
“Admissions” Feature
Glad Commercial
Bank of America Commercial
“A Bit of Bad Luck” Feature
“Deep Burial” Feature
“Lucky Them” Feature
Green Mountain Coffee Commercial
American Family Insurance Commercial
“One Square Mile” Post
2014
Project name Project type
“Different Drummers”, Prod/Post Feature
“Laggies”, Prod/Post Feature
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Project name Project type
“Seven Minutes”, Prod/Post Feature
“The Architect” Feature
“West of Redemption” Feature
KIA Commercial
Sugar Plum Commercial
WA Lottery (Royale) Commercial
Samsung Commercial
WA Healthplan Finder Commercial
“The Maury Island Incident” Innovation Lab Project
“Touchy Feely” Post
“A Bit of Bad Luck” Post
“You Can’t Win” Post
“Deep Burial” Post
2015
Project name Project type
“Z Nation,” Season Episodes 1-13 Episodic
“Captain Fantastic” Feature
Toyota Running Footage Commercial
Alaska Airlines Commercial
JP Morgan-Chase Commercial
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Project name Project type
Subaru Commercial
“The Architect” Post
“Box Walk” Innovation Lab Project
“Rocket Men” Innovation Lab Project
2016
Project name Project type
Nissan Commercial
Bank of America Commercial
Ford Commercial
“Z Nation,” Season 2 Episodes 1-15 Episodic
“Rancho Rosa” Episodic
“West of Redemption” Feature Post
“Salish Seas” Innovation Lab Project
“Salish Seas” Innovation Lab Project Post
“War Room” Innovation Lab Project
“Strowlers” Innovation Lab Project
“Automata” Innovation Lab Project
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2017
Project name Project type
“Z Nation,” Season 3 Episodes 1-15 Episodic
“Polae” Innovation Lab Project
“Wallflower” Innovation Lab Project
“This Brute Land Virginia” Innovation Lab Project
2018
Project name Project type
“Z Nation,” Season 4 Episodes 1-13 Episodic
“Tabitha Witch of the Order” Innovation Lab Project
Untitled “Grey’s Anatomy” Spinoff Episodic
2019
Project name Project type
“Z Nation,” Season 5 Episodes 1-13 Episodic
“Language Arts” Feature
2020
“East of the Mountains” Feature
“Home Sweet Home” Feature
“Three Busy Debras,” Season 1 Episodes 1-6 Episodic
“All Those Small Things” Feature
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“East of the Mountains” Feature
“Language Arts” Post Production
2021
Project name Project type
“All Those Small Things” Post Production
2022
Project name Project type
“Boon” Feature
“Three Busy Debras,” Season 2 Episodes 1-10 Episodic
“Midday Black Midnight Blue” Feature
“Year of the Fox” Feature (Partial) †
“Going Home” Season 1 Episodes 1-6 Episodic
2023
Project name Project type
“Dreamin’ Wild” Feature
“Penelope” Episode 1 Episodic
“Year of the Fox” Feature (Part 2 of 2)
2024
Project name Project type
“Penelope” Episodes 2 8 Episodic
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Project name Project type
“Tim Travers and the Time Travelling Paradox” Feature
“Going Home Season 2” Episodes 1-6 Episodic
“True to Nature” Commercial
“Model Year Product Release CFMoto” Commercial
“Inheritance” SBPI Feature
“Bottlecap” SBPI Short
† This survey encompasses only Fiscal Year 2022 project expenses. The balance of the project was reported in
Fiscal Year 2023.
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 30
Appendix A: Summary descriptive statistics
Appendix A includes summary descriptive statistics for all productions that have been approved for funding
assistance, completed principal photography, and been reviewed by Washington Filmworks through June 30,
2024.
Summary descriptive statistics 2007 - 2013
Category FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013
Projects That Have Completed
Principal Photography and
2 8 14 16 22 9 14
Completion Packages Have Been
Reviewed
Verified Total Qualified Spend Per
$1,047,031 $6,704,051 $15,808,957 $18,387,627 $13,465,933 $10,899,713 $9,435,555
Review
Total Funds Distributed $203,665 $1,337,810 $3,205,607 $5,516,288 $3,992,689 $3,119,780 $2,570,383
Total Washington Hires 94 1,162 2,590 1,804 2,048 1,868 1,470
Total Non-Washington Hires 40 141 575 311 332 250 229
Salary range totals for Washington residents
Category FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013
Up to $30,000; starting 2013, up to
93 493 364 843 211 223 765
$15 per hour
From $30,000 to $60,000; starting
1 54 412 488 512 354 287
2013, from $15 to $30 per hour
Over $60,000; starting 2013, over $30
0 145 270 209 316 221 418
per hour
Benefits jobs
Category FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013
Up to $30,000 46 315 138 2 52 160 126
From $30,000 to $60,000 1 41 324 155 244 247 278
Over $60,000 0 138 111 85 182 221 360
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 31
Summary descriptive statistics 2014 - 2020
Category FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020
Projects That Have Completed Principal
Photography and Completion Packages 11 8* 9** 4*** 3**** 2†
Have Been Reviewed
Verified Total Qualified Spend Per
$9,688,254 $11,109,475 $12,450,689 $8,689,410 $7,600,534 $8,857,697 4††
Review
Total Funds Distributed $2,649,530 $3,366,665 $3,366,763 $2,943,560 $2,572,400 $2,999,472 $6,290,396
Total Washington Hires 1,294 2,491 2,696 2,025 1,806 2054 $1,977,847
Total Non-Washington Hires 211 429 748 542 530 663 859
Salary range totals for Washington residents
Category FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020
Up to $30,000; starting 2013, up to
619 1,023 963 722 340 577 272
$15 per hour
From $30,000 to $60,000; starting
270 831 995 726 513 519 353
2013, from $15 to $30 per hour
Over $60,000; starting 2013, over $30
240 637 738 577 953 958 234
per hour
Benefits jobs
Category FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020
Up to $30,000 118 60 17 3 10 1 9
From $30,000 to $60,000 256 744 755 654 289 277 139
Over $60,000 378 500 668 549 936 927 225
* For reporting practices, Washington Filmworks counts “Z Nation” Season 1 with 13 individual episodes as one project.
** For reporting practices, Washington Filmworks counts “Z Nation” Season 2 with 15 individual episodes as one project.
MOTION PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2024 32
*** For reporting practices, Washington Filmworks counts “Z Nation” Season 3 with 15 individual episodes as one project.
**** For reporting practices, Washington Filmworks counts “Z Nation” Season 4 with 13 individual episodes as one project.
† For reporting practices, Washington Filmworks counts “Z Nation” Season 5 with 13 individual episodes as one project.
†† For reporting practices, Washington Filmworks counts “Three Busy Debras” Season 1 with 6 individual episodes as one project
Summary descriptive statistics 2021 - 2024
Category FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 Totals
Projects That Have Completed Principal Photography and
0 5††† 2†††† 6 139
Completion Packages Have Been Reviewed
Verified Total Qualified Spend Per Review $116,212 $11,428,202 $8,449,173 $7,808,259 $168,237,168
Total Funds Distributed $31,241 $3,751,735 $2,561,020 $2,727,807 $48,894,262
Total Washington Hires 4 1,676 921 1,034 27,896
Total Non-Washington Hires 0 196 183 242 5,748
Salary range totals for Washington residents
Category FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 Totals
Up to $30,000; starting 2013, up to $15 per hour 0 31 44 20 7,603
From $30,000 to $60,000; starting 2013, from $15 to $30 per hour 0 575 589 283 7,742
Over $60,000; starting 2013, over $30 per hour 4 1070 308 731 8,029
Benefits jobs
Category FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 Totals
Up to $30,000 0 4 3 2 1,066
From $30,000 to $60,000 0 156 52 30 4,642
Over $60,000 4 1020 250 669 7,223
††† For reporting practices, Washington Filmworks counts “Three Busy Debras” Season 2 with 10 individual episodes as one project and “Going Home
Season 1” with 6 individual episodes as one project.
†††† Penelope is being counted as one project but had 8 episodes across two reporting periods.
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