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Idaho wants a slice of Hollywood’s millions – Task force hopes state can emulate strategies that worked elsewhere

The small-town dreamers in the 1987 film "Promised Land" were supposed to be Idahoans.

But when first-time director Michael Hoffman chose his location, he picked Utah.

There just weren’t enough skilled workers to complete a film crew in Hoffman’s home state.

This past year, Jared and Jerusha Hess managed to pull off their own small-budget first film, and "Napoleon Dynamite" is bringing unlikely attention to quiet Preston.

The town’s monthly Web site hits just jumped from 45,000 to 400,000. In June, Preston will throw its first ever "Napoleon Dynamite" festival.

The ever-more-mobile film industry is shopping for locations, and states and countries are scrambling to bring in these dollars. Experiences in states like Louisiana and New Mexico have shown that concerted efforts to land more film investments can mean hundreds of millions of dollars spent and tens of millions in local payrolls.

Now, some local filmmakers and legislators are trying to make sure Idaho gets its share of this big Hollywood money and to boost the small industry of camera and sound operators, directors and producers already here.

"I think Idaho could become attractive to the film industry," Hoffman said. "No question."

Katherine Jones / The Idaho Statesman

Full Story: http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050605/NEWS01/506050357

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