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Armed with economic development tools, filmmaking now considered an industry.

Article Excerpt
The film industry is blossoming in Mississippi and the future looks bright. In the past 25 years, it has gone from an industry sitting and waiting for Hollywood to come calling to one that is aggressively pursuing the industry, according to Mississippi Film Office director Ward Emling.

"Ten years ago, it was all about importing and even in just the last five years we've come a long way," he said. "Now, we have the tools to help us export and create a strong and deep base of film professional who can work throughout the United States."

The tools he cites are the tax incentive package passed by the Legislature last spring and the Mississippi Film Enterprise Zone being developed in Canton. "The incentives and Enterprise Zone make a great difference. They're the kinds of things that proclaim that the film industry is an industry like any other," he said. "We're building and creating opportunities for Mississippi workers and not just film workers. It has a broad impact and will affect a lot of people."

It's about the jobs

Emling states firmly that he's in the business of economic development and bringing the film industry...

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