Film incentive bills aimed at boosting production in NM

A pair of bills signed into law by New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez are designed to give a boost to the state’s already booming film industry.

A measure signed Friday expands the state’s film incentive program to allow qualifying television pilot episodes to receive additional rebates.

Television productions currently qualify for a 30 percent tax rebate on direct expenditures if they film at least six episodes. The new law would allow pilots to receive that level of rebate.

New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis tells the Albuquerque Journal (http://bit.ly/1On99Lk) that filming a pilot here could lead to local series production.

A second bill Martinez signed allows film companies to assign their tax rebates to banks on a one-time basis in order to get upfront loans.