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Whose “Fault” is It Anyway?

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The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars” has already begun earning sparkling reviews since opening nationwide on June 6. Adapted from Indianapolis native John Green’s best-selling young adult novel, critics have praised the film for its strong performances and emotionally charged story. Fans have been impressed with the film’s faithfulness to the source material, some even calling it one of the best book-to-film adaptations in recent memory. Green was afforded the luxury of a considerable amount of time on the set with the cast and crew, providing input and making sure they got the details just right…except for one.

Unfortunately, being “on location” for a story set in his home town of Indianapolis meant having to travel over 350 miles east to Pittsburgh.

So how exactly did a film adaptation of a bestseller set in Indianapolis, written in Indianapolis, by an author born in Indianapolis, end up being filmed in Pittsburgh? The answer, of course, is simple: Money.

Pennsylvania is rated “four stars out of five” by Film Production Capital, a tax credit brokerage that specializes in state tax incentives for the film and media industry. Film Production Capital (FPC) was formed in 2003 in Louisiana, the first state to adopt tax incentives designed to attract film makers. Since that time, 38 more states have passed similar laws. Indiana, rated “zero stars” by FPC, has not.

This lack of tax incentives affects both independent filmmakers as well as the larger studios according to Keith Parker, CEO of Indianapolis-based Tornspace Films, LLC: “Currently, the tax laws are not independent filmmaker-friendly; the budget requirements are so high, the majority of local filmmakers will not reap any reward. In addition, big budget, Hollywood-type productions don’t film here because Indiana can’t compete with other states that offer better incentives. This is unfortunate because Indiana has great locations, facilities and talented personnel who are passionate about filmmaking.”

While the particulars of Pennsylvania’s transferable tax credit for filmmakers are a little involved, it ultimately means a studio can recoup anywhere from 10 to 15% of its production costs. For a film like “The Fault in Our Stars,” which has an estimated budget of $12 million dollars, that’s between $1.2 and $1.8 million in savings that can then be put back into post-production and marketing.

When we are talking about a difference of nearly $2 million dollars, filming in Pittsburgh instead of a non-incentive state like Indiana is a no-brainer. As John Green himself said, “It’s not realistic to film the movie in Indianapolis because of tax reasons. And Pittsburgh has an amazing community of really talented film professionals that’s been built up over the last 20 years.”

The final results seen in “The Fault in Our Stars” are a testament to the infrastructure Green refers to. Although an Indianapolis resident would be able to tell the difference, the average moviegoer will not. The production crew did an excellent job of finding locations and designing the sets to give just the right look and feel for the story’s Midwestern setting. Small details such as a retro Rik Smits Indiana Pacers jersey, a Butler University T-shirt, and a North Central High School basketball jersey are just a few of the little touches that can be seen throughout the film.

Much more obvious is the recreation of “Funky Bones,” a sculpture found at the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s 100 Acres Art and Nature Park, which is a prominent feature of two key scenes in the movie. Ironically, the financial savings of filming in Pittsburgh actually made it cheaper to recreate the sculpture than it would have been to film the original in Indianapolis. Given that “The Fault in Our Stars” looks to be a major hit this year, and could even reach iconic status based on its memorable performances, it’s just further salt in the wounds of fans and Hoosier film enthusiasts.

There is proposed legislation to create tax credit incentives for filming expected to be presented to the Indiana General Assembly in the near future. But for “The Fault in Our Stars” it’s too little, too late. To reference the Shakespeare quote that gives the film its title: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves…”


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