Purpose
The purpose of the Northwest Illinois Film Office is to promote the Northwest Illinois Region through the development of film, video, and multimedia production; acting as liaison between local governments and communities with production entities by educating, setting standards of professionalism; serving as a clearinghouse for production information; and proportionally increasing the economic impact of the industry throughout the region.
Mission
To increase and maintain film and video production taking place in the Northwest Illinois Region, and to proportionally increase the economic impact of the industry on the region. To provide coordination and leadership while serving as the liaison between agencies, services, businesses, and the film production industry. The Northwest Illinois Film Office will work closely with the Illinois Film Office to attract film and media projects to the Northwest Illinois Region.
Why?
Because the film and video business generates large amounts of clean, and in many cases sustainable, economic growth through the hundreds of millions of dollars spent annually for "on-location" production. A studio-based feature film can spend upwards of $250,000 per day in a local economy and a large national or international television commercial can generate local spending of up to $1 million in less than two weeks.
In 2016 the film industry generated $499 million in estimated Illinois spending, a 51 percent increase over the same period 2015. This added to the 18 percent increase that was seen in 2015. The Illinois Film Office worked with 345 television, commercial and film projects that generated 13,377 non-extra job hires over the course of 2016.
The economic impact generated by productions can positively impact local hotels, car and truck rental, catering, barricade rentals, local cast and crew, and a host of other local businesses. Finally, film production can help generate sustained growth in tourism when a region or community is featured in a successful film.
Further, production companies in the film, television, and multimedia industry consider film commissions a valuable partner and resource. Often the presence and level of development and resources offered by a film commission determines whether production companies will consider bringing production to a particular region. This highly competitive environment makes a film commission an economic necessity as well as an integral ingredient in attracting this "clean industry" and its ensuing revenue to a region.
The Northwest Illinois Film Office will help to facilitate on-location filmmaking within our region by offering production companies a complete range of pre-production services through a central contact point. Our office will provide accurate and timely information regarding local film procedures, permits, and guidelines. Our office will also serve as a liaison between governmental departments and agencies, facilitating connections with local communities and arrangements for filming on public property. The Northwest Illinois Film Office will also serve as a general resource and clearinghouse for information throughout the region and assist with the following services: site location photography, location library, regional scouting services, liaison with government departments/agencies, and logistical information regarding crew, talent, facilities, stages, equipment, and support services.