Nevada Film Office

Charles Geocaris, Director

LAS VEGAS, Nv. – Lieutenant Governor of the State of Nevada, Lorraine T. Hunt, today released the Nevada Film Office finalized figures for film, television, commercial and other multimedia production for the calendar year 2000. Revenues totaled $123,477,000 for all projects served by the Nevada Film Office during the 12 month period ending December 31, 2000, and this figure surpasses all previous 12-month periods on record for the State.

Of the more than 600 productions facilitated by the Nevada Film Office during the year, approximately 70% did shoot in Nevada, representing over 2,500 shooting days throughout the State. Forty feature films contributed the largest percentage of revenue at $44,825,000, followed by 136 television productions generating $39,210,000. Approximately 90 commercials accounted for nearly $19 million in revenue, followed by documentaries, corporate and industrial productions that generated almost $9 million. Still photography contributed $7.3 million additional into the State’s production figures, with music videos producing $3.7 million in income to the State. A variety of other projects including shorts and student films comprised the balance of production activity for the year.

"$123 million plus is an increase of more than 140% over the revenues of fiscal year ‘97-‘98, which were $51 million," states Lieutenant Governor Hunt, Chair of the Commission on Economic Development which oversees the Nevada Film Office. "It was at that point that Charles Geocaris was installed as Director of the Nevada Film Office more than two and a half years ago. The first full fiscal year under Mr. Geocaris’ leadership saw a 56% jump in revenues, followed by more than a 42% increase the next fiscal year. He completely restructured the Film Office, taking an entirely new and proactive approach toward increased marketing and advertising, extensive personal outreach to the film, television, music and other multimedia industries, dynamic materials and support products, dedication to client services and straightforward commitment to hard work."

Charles Geocaris, Director of the Nevada Film Office, agrees that the many aggressive measures implemented by the Film Office over the last several years have produced solid results. However, he also attributes much of the exciting growth in Nevada to the extraordinary intergovernmental efforts between the State Film Office, Clark County, the City of Las Vegas, Metropolitan Police, the Nevada DOT and many other entities and municipalities throughout southern and northern Nevada. "The teamwork in our state is exceptional and essential to filming success in Nevada. There is no substitute for strong multijurisdictional cooperation, and we’re seeing unprecedented levels of that in Nevada," says Geocaris.

"Shattering the previous filming and production revenue record in Nevada of $96 million, set in fiscal year ‘95-96, has been our statewide goal for some time, so this is very gratifying," says Lieutenant Governor Hunt. "We are committed to making ‘film friendly’ more than just lip service in Nevada." Although only in the first week of the new year, the Nevada Film Office is currently working on 48 projects already slated to shoot during 2001, including seven feature films due during the first quarter of the new year.

"We are remaining optimistic and enthusiastic about production levels for the upcoming year, but cautious," states Geocaris. "The possible strikes in early summer of 2001 by SAG feature film actors and the Writers Guild of America have the potential to cause production to grind to a halt nationwide, and we would be seriously impacted in Nevada. We will, of course, do everything possible to keep the momentum going and continue to vigorously pursue production. We would be less than prudent, however, if we did not warn our production community to be prepared if these strikes do occur."