Every week on Cinebuds sponsored by Joe Wilde Garage Doors, Kristopher Pollard from Milwaukee Film and Radio Milwaukee’s Dori Zori review movies, tell you which ones are showing in our city and talk with the people who help bring them to the big screen.
The road to getting more film and television projects produced in Wisconsin turned into a freeway in recent years, with the effort picking up speed and ultimately leading to the creation of Film Wisconsin under the state’s Department of Tourism.
The purpose: to thoughtfully distribute $5 million every year in tax credits that drive economic development, invest in Wisconsin’s creative community and encourage tourism.
Cinebuds has gone along for the ride as this aspiration became reality, including a visit almost exactly a year ago with writer/director Nathan Deming and former studio exec Jeffrey Kurz from Action! Wisconsin. The statewide group’s energy led to the creation of Film Wisconsin, which in January asked Mequon resident and Emmy-winning producer Veronica Pope to lead the office.
With almost a year under her belt, Pope joined the podcast to talk about Film Wisconsin’s task of putting the state back on the cinematic map — an effort that has taken significant steps lately with the first wave of supported projects, including a feature-length indie filmed in Eau Claire. She also broke down her 20+ years in TV production, how the tax credit is fueling creation and why seeing movies in theaters stirs up such strong emotions.
