More Than a Festival

ReadingFilmFEST makes Greater Reading a destination for film production

By Tracy Schott, ReadingFilmFEST

Movie buffs are likely aware that Reading has a film festival each year. ReadingFilmFEST attracts filmmakers from around the globe, inspires local audiences and garners the support of dozens of business sponsors and arts grantors. The festival has gained recognition as “The Filmmakers’ Film Festival” and has been voted a TOP 100 festival in a field of more than 6,000 worldwide by filmmakers. ReadingFilmFEST celebrates Greater Reading as an arts and cultural destination and will return Oct. 27 to Oct. 30.

But ReadingFilm is much more than a festival. Founded in 2006 by late actor Michael Constantine, screenwriter Letty Hummel and producer Santo Marabella, ReadingFilm was created to promote Greater Reading as a destination location for film production. Since its inception, ReadingFilm has been supported by the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA), Pennsylvania’s Americana Region and Berks Arts Council, which served various roles as fiscal agents. Last year, ReadingFilm became established as an independent 501(c)(3).

ReadingFilm’s mission is to grow the local production community, support film productions through location scouting and connecting them with production resources, and market Greater Reading as a film destination location. This year is pivotal for the organization with local, state and federal grants being targeted to ensure ReadingFilm’s sustainability as an economic driver for the community.

Since its inception, ReadingFilm has supported dozens of local and visiting film productions, produced a short film to market the region, created a film festival and a high school film competition, hosted numerous community events, supported local artists and helped Pulitzer Prize winner and Tony nominee Lynn Nottage and Emmy winner Tony Gerber create “Sweat” and “This is Reading.”

Impact of Media Production on Local Economies

Film production is a huge economic driver in the communities that have capitalized on its potential. In 2020, a year when the

pandemic literally shut down production for months, the industry accounted for nearly $234 billion dollars of the U.S. economy. That economic impact has grown each year and is expected to nearly double by 2030. Jobs in the film production sector are 50% higher paying than the national average. Most of the people in the industry are small businesses with under 10 employees.

Film is good business for local economies. A major motion picture can infuse up to $250K each day into the local economy, while a TV show can generate $150K a day in local spending. These benefits are not confined to the production community. A global study shows that 66.9% of film budgets are spent outside of the film production sector. The spend on ancillary services impacts many sectors of the local economy, including hospitality, food service, construction, transportation and real estate.

While the bulk of film production has traditionally happened in Los Angeles and New York City, states around the country are learning the value of investing in the film industry. Pennsylvania is no exception. Since 2004, the state has offered a 25% to 30% tax credit to qualifying productions. Pennsylvania’s latest budget included a 30% increase in film tax credits, raising the cap to $100 million!

What does this mean for Greater Reading? Opportunity!

Berks County offers filmmakers a plethora of location choices, a new film studio (Reading Film Studios located at Canal Street), easy access to major cities in the Mid-Atlantic, and significant savings on goods and services over larger cities in the region. Benefits to Greater Reading go beyond the economic impact. Film production infuses communities with excitement and pride, can drive retention of the workforce, and serves as a draw for tourism.

ReadingFilm is an important component of Greater Reading’s renaissance as an economic and artistic force in the region and is proud to be a member of GRCA.

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