Ore. filmmakers want more Hollywood dough

SALEM, Ore. - Filmmakers were at the capitol on Tuesday asking lawmakers to approve two bills aimed at bringing more Hollywood dollars to Oregon.

One bill would offer incentives to small, independent filmmakers and the other would extend the amount of time that projects filmed in Oregon would be eligible for tax breaks.

"If you think about the geographic diversity - from the Willamette Valley, to the coast, to Eastern Oregon and the mountains - we have everything," said Kevin Curry with Lyon Films.  "And we should be able to compete with places like Vancouver and Florida and Michigan and places that are getting productions right now."

In 2007, out-of-state products that filmed in Oregon spent roughly $41 million while they were here.  That is money that went directly to hotels, restaurants, hardware stores and other local businesses.