Public Enemies beats The Dark Knight as the largest film ever made in Illinois

[John Patterson]

The latest blockbuster film to be shot in Illinois, Public Enemies, has broken all records in terms of dollars spent in the state to this point. Chicago screening, The Illinois Film Office states that the movie brought in $46.7 million in revenue to the Illinois economy. The movie, which was filmed last spring and summer, created 1,052 cast and crew jobs for Illinois workers. In addition, 1,786 Illinoisans were hired as extras. Director Michael Mann, a Chicago native, and members of the cast are anticipated to attend tomorrow’s screening. The movie opens to the public on July 1, 2009.

“Having productions like Public Enemies film in Illinois not only provides an opportunity to showcase all Illinois has to offer, but also brings in much needed revenue and helps provide employment for thousands of people,” Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Warren Ribley said. “By strengthening the tax credit, we have held on to our competitive position and are helping to ensure that filmmakers will continue coming here to make their movies.”

Chicago locations filmed for movie include: Victory Gardens/Biograph Theater at 2433 North Lincoln Avenue, Bridgeview Bank at 4748 North Broadway, the Auditorium Theater at 50 East Congress Parkway and Chicago Union Station. Other locations in the state include a house on Arch Court in Joliet, a bluff overlooking a train yard in Lockport, the Palos Hills Forest Preserve in Willow Springs, the Joliet Correctional Center, Stateville Prison in Crest Hill and the Paramount Theater in Aurora. Public Enemies shot for approximately 40 days in Illinois.

The economic impact of Public Enemies could be directly felt by Illinois workers who, in total, received over $23 million in wages from jobs such as set construction, electrical work, make-up and hairstyling, truck driving and acting talent. In addition, Illinois vendors received approximately $23.6 million in sales from the movie. Local companies from security providers to hardware stores and cleaning companies to catering services and automotive shops benefited from Public Enemies’ production needs.

“Public Enemies represents the talent and tremendous effort of the thousands of hard working people in Illinois. A movie of this magnitude, one that pours in approximately $46.7 million to the state, cements Chicago’s reputation as a world class production center,” Illinois Film Office Managing Director Betsy Steinberg said.

The film industry has a sizable impact on the Illinois economy and brings thousands of jobs to the state each year. In 2008, the film industry generated $141 million for the Illinois economy and created 5,392 jobs for Illinois workers, excluding extras.

A number of high-profile films and television series were produced in Illinois in 2008, including: Warner Brothers’ The Informant starring Matt Damon and directed by Steven Soderbergh; Nothing Like the Holidays starring Chicagoan Freddie Rodriguez, Debra Messing and John Leguizamo, produced by native Chicagoan Bob Teitel; and The Beast, a television series starring Patrick Swayze and executive produced by native Chicagoan Steven Pearl.

A strengthened Illinois Film Tax Credit was enacted on January 1, 2009 and offers a 30 percent tax credit to filmmakers for money spent for Illinois goods and services including wages paid to Illinois residents. Previously, the tax credit was 20 percent. In addition, the yearly sunset provision was removed, highlighting our long-term commitment to growing Illinois’ film industry.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is dedicated to advancing Illinois’ reputation as a world-class film destination. The Illinois Film Office, a division of DCEO, promotes and markets the state as an ideal shooting location for films, television shows and commercials. The IFO also promotes and encourages the training and hiring of Illinois residents who represent the diversity of the state’s population.

Screen Magazine