Colorado

Colorado could have a $1 billion-plus film industry with better incentives

Published

2 years ago

January 20, 2023

Colorado could have a billion-plus film industry with better incentives

Colorado’s movie business may surpass $1 billion in annual gross sales and develop right into a nationally engaging scene for filmmakers if legislators can decide to providing extra financial incentives, in response to a research launched by the state this week.

Whereas Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah supply wholesome incentives and manufacturing rebates which have made them standard filming places for TV and flicks, Colorado’s program has languished for years with little funding. That might change if the Colorado Workplace of Movie, Tv and Media had a much bigger funds to supply potential purchasers, in response to the research.

“For greater than a decade, Denver and Colorado’s filmmaking artists and professionals have been constructing development and delivering an enormous return to the town and state, regardless of appreciable challenges,” mentioned John Van Wyck, Cine Fe government director and the research’s researcher. “This research exhibits what’s going to change into potential once we begin investing time, consideration and assets to assist them develop.”

The state’s movie incentive program at present affords a performance-based rebate for as much as 20% of certified bills, in response to the Workplace of Financial Growth (COED). To obtain a rebate, Colorado-based initiatives must spend at the very least $100,000, whereas out-of-state initiatives are required to spend $1 million or extra. Initiatives should make use of a majority of Colorado residents of their crew and the spending have to be audited.

“The inducement creates jobs for Coloradans and supplies on common an 18-to-1 return on funding for the economic system,” officers write on COED’s web site. “The movies additionally promote Colorado as a tourism vacation spot.”

This system has come below hearth from legislators prior to now as a consequence of misallocation of funds and what some lawmakers argue is an ineffective and unaccountable system, The Denver Put up has reported. Earlier than the pandemic, the legislature was granting as little as $750,000 a 12 months to the state’s movie incentive fund, forcing the COED to shift cash from different applications to maintain the fund from utterly collapsing and manufacturing crews disbanding due to a scarcity of labor.

It was revived in late 2021, nevertheless, with a report $6 million enhance. However that also makes it lower than aggressive with states that provide as much as 30% in rebates or extra, and which have budgets upwards of $100 million, reminiscent of New Mexico’s program.

Kurt Russell, left, and Samuel L Jackson star in “The Hateful Eight.” Director Quentin Tarantino filmed out of doors scenes for the 2015 movie close to Telluride. (The Weinstein Firm)

“We needed to listen to straight from the filmmaking artists and professionals what their aspirations had been and what challenges stood in the way in which, after which define a path ahead,” mentioned former director of Colorado Artistic Industries, Margaret Hunt, in an announcement. “We discovered that this business represents an unbelievable alternative, each economically and culturally, and the business’s success would profit all Coloradans.”

The research discovered that between 2011 and 2019, employment in Colorado’s movie business grew at a charge of 43% — sooner than the nationwide movie business’s 30% development, and sooner than all Colorado employment development (21%) throughout that point interval.

Nevertheless, “a scarcity of funding in infrastructure, help applications and incentives has made it tough for members of Colorado’s movie business to develop their initiatives, corporations and careers,” the research reported. “These challenges had been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in additional job losses in Colorado’s movie business than within the business nationally, underscoring each the necessity and alternative for Denver and Colorado’s leaders to put money into Colorado filmmaking.”

Highlights embrace:

Business video manufacturing is a brilliant spot, accounting for almost all of development in Colorado’s movie business.
Colorado’s movie business generated greater than $1 billion in gross sales of products and providers, with Denver’s movie business accounting for about 79%, or $727.4 million, of that.
As of 2019, greater than 15,000 Coloradans labored within the movie business. Of these, greater than 8,700 (or 55%) labored within the Denver metro space.

Regaining these is a problem, the research mentioned. The COVID-19 pandemic led to extreme job and income losses in Colorado’s movie business at a higher proportion than each the nationwide movie business and the state’s complete job market, the authors wrote.

Between 2019 and 2021, Colorado’s movie business misplaced 4,092 jobs, and Denver’s movie business misplaced 2,200 jobs. That was the next proportion than each the nationwide movie business and the state’s complete job market. Between 2019 and 2021, the Colorado movie business’s gross sales of products and providers fell 8.4%, from $1.04 billion to $960 million.

“A majority of interviewees instructed us how few jobs there have been and the way onerous it was for them to develop their corporations and careers,” mentioned Michael Seman, assistant professor of arts administration at Colorado State College and one of many research’s researchers. “On the similar time, the financial knowledge confirmed that regardless of these obstacles, Denver and Colorado filmmakers have nonetheless pushed important development in employment and gross sales by their very own ingenuity and creativity,” together with freelancing or beginning their very own small corporations.

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Colorado

Community mourns pilot killed in Northern Colorado small plane crash

Published

4 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Community mourns pilot killed in Northern Colorado small plane crash

Friends of Susan “Sue” Wolber are mourning her loss after her plane suddenly crashed on Saturday morning in Colorado, killing two and injuring one. Wolber was flying a Civil Air Patrol practice mission west of Loveland when her plane crashed before noon on Nov. 23.

Wolber, a longtime pilot, had recently retired professionally but was still staying active in the community and the skies.

William Snodgrass, president of the FNL Pilot’s Association, is a longtime friend of Wolber. He said he was at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport on Saturday when he learned there was a plane that crashed in the mountains nearby.

“I first heard there was an accident,” Snodgrass said. “I knew that Sue was part of Civil Air Patrol and had seen her car. So, I knew she was more than likely flying. I was very concerned. I texted her immediately when I heard and said, ‘I hope you are okay.’”

However, Wolber never replied. Sadly, she had lost her life in the crash, alongside aerial photographer Jay Rhoten.

“I flew with her and we did a lot of things together,” Snodgrass said. So, it wasn’t just the loss of someone in the aviation community, it was the loss of my friend. So, it has been hard for me.”

While it isn’t known, yet, what caused the crash, Snodgrass and others said there was a severe warning for turbulence in the area at the time issued by NOAA.

“There is a thing called mountain wave, which is basically when the winds blow over Longs Peak, or whatever, they drop like a current of water and can create very severe rotors,” Snodgrass said. “If they had been somewhat low to the ground taking pictures, it is possible they were in a down draft that pushed them down into the ground.”

The final details and cause of the crash will ultimately be determined and released by the NTSB.

Snodgrass said Wolber was married and enjoyed riding her bicycle throughout the country and world alongside her husband. He also noted she was very dedicated to uplifting and educating the next generation of pilots, specifically women and girls.

“Her greatest passion was giving back not only to aviation, but she really wanted to encourage women in aviation,” Snodgrass said.

Snodgrass said he would greatly miss her energy, her intelligence and the hugs she was known to give to people as they parted ways.

Dillon Thomas

Dillon Thomas is multi-Emmy Award winning general assignment reporter/MSJ for CBS News Colorado. Read his latest reports or check out his bio and send him an email.

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Colorado

Significant Colorado snowstorm to impact Thanksgiving travel plans

Published

12 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Significant Colorado snowstorm to impact Thanksgiving travel plans

A significant snowstorm will reach Colorado just in time to impact Thanksgiving travel.

If you can get to Colorado’s ski slopes before the storm arrives, you will enjoy some fantastic skiing.

Generally, travel conditions will be worse in the mountains and tapering to the Eastern Plains.

Here are details regarding the impending storm, according to the National Weather Service as of Monday morning:

Here is where and when winter storm warning is in place

Winter storm warning: 3 a.m. Tuesday to 11 p.m. Wednesday with total snow accumulations between 10 and 20 inches for most areas, including the Front Range mountains; Park and Gore Ranges, including Rabbit Ears Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, Medicine Bow Range, mountains of Summit County, Mosquito Range and Indian Peaks Wilderness. Road closures and very difficult travel conditions expected. Call 511 or visit cotrip.org for travel conditions.

Timing of the snowstorm and how it will impact travel

Tuesday morning: Light to moderate snow begins for areas above 9,000 feet. Rain showers for lower elevations along the I-25 corridor.
Tuesday afternoon/night: Heaviest snowfall expected to happen during this time in the mountains, especially above 10,000 feet, with mountain travel difficult over mountain passes. Light snow begins for areas above 7,000 feet with rain/snow mix possible for I-76 and I-25 corridor.
Wednesday morning: Colder air arrives with lighter snow. Accumulation on roads could impact travel on the Eastern Plains and Palmer Divide.
Thursday (Thanksgiving): Slick roads likely as roads freeze overnight, otherwise chilly and mostly dry.

Here are forecast snowfall totals for Fort Collins area and statewide

Wide snowfall total ranges are due in part because of when rain may turn to snow.

Larimer/Weld counties

Fort Collins: 0-3 inches
Loveland: 0-4 inches
Wellington: 0-2 inches
Windsor: 0-2 inches
Greeley: 0-2 inches
Berthoud: 0-4 inches
Estes Park: 1-11 inches
Red Feather Lakes: 2-9 inches
Virginia Dale: 0-6 inches
Cameron Pass: 12-26 inches
Bear Lake (RMNP): 8-20 inches
Milner Pass (RMNP): 11-25 inches
Buckhorn Mountain: 1-9 inches

Other Colorado cities

Denver: 1-2 inches
DIA: 0-3 inches
Boulder: 1-2 inches
Castle Rock: 4-6 inches
Colorado Springs: 2-3 inches

Colorado mountains/ski areas

Steamboat Springs: 12-18 inches
Winter Park: 18-24 inches
Vail: 12-18 inches
Aspen: 8-12 inches
Breckenridge: 6-13 inches
Breckenridge ski area: 15-34 inches
Copper Mountain: 13-28 inches
Keystone ski area: 13-26 inches
Eisenhower Tunnel: 15-30 inches
Berthoud Pass: 14-31 inches
Loveland Pass: 14-27 inches
Vail Pass: 13-25 inches
Grand Lake: 7-15 inches
Rabbit Ears Pass: 15-26 inches

Here is a look at the Fort Collins forecast for Thanksgiving week

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 46 degrees, south-southeast wind 3 to 7 mph and low around 23.
Tuesday: 30% chance of rain/snow mix until noon, then chance of afternoon rain, with little to no snow accumulation. Partly sunny, with a high near 49, southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday night: 70% chance of precipitation. Rain likely before 11 p.m., then rain and snow likely. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible. Cloudy, with a low around 29 and northwest wind 3 to 6 mph.
Wednesday: 50% chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39, north wind 7 to 14 mph, gusting to 21. 30% chance of snow before 11 p.m. Low around 16.
Thursday (Thanksgiving Day): Sunny, with a high near 39 and low around 15.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 42 and low around 18.
Saturday (CSU home football game): Sunny, with a high near 40 and low around 15.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 39.

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Colorado

'Thanksfest' giving back more than a meal to Colorado Springs families in need

Published

20 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

'Thanksfest' giving back more than a meal to Colorado Springs families in need

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – This weekend was Thankfest, an event started by Vaughn Littrell, to give back to families in need. This year 250 families got all the ingredients they needed for Thanksgiving and more.

The families were chosen ahead of time through the CPCD Head Start Program. They help serve our community’s most vulnerable children and families.

The giveaway was a chance for families to come down and do some shopping for free. It was more than just getting food, families also received all the kitchen tools they would need to cook too.

It wasn’t just food either. Clothes and shoes were also available for those who needed them.

“Some of our families are in really, really bad situations. They need they need help. You know, and it’s this is a this is a tangible way that we can do something. We can’t do everything, but you can do something. We’re excited to be able to bless these families,” Vaughn Littrell told KRDO13.

Vaughn says he started the giveaway with just a few families. He says he knows what it is like to struggle, and wants the giveaway to keep growing so he can help more people.

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