Lawrence.com

Topeka — Deborah Anderson is still getting a foothold on her duties as the new director of the Kansas Film Commission.

She knows what lies ahead is unpredictable: Hollywood writers may strike, reducing the likelihood of movies being made for television or the big screen. Competition is stiff for film projects, particularly because many filmmakers are taking their business to Canada.

But that doesn't scare Anderson, who took over the post April 2. She has a clear mission of what must be done to boost the state's profile as a prime location for feature films, documentaries, music videos, made-for-television movies, commercials and industrial films.

"Our goal is to attract as many major films to the state as possible and introduce the country to the state. We're still perceived as being flat, and we have the Toto and Dorothy image to overcome," she said.

No feature film has been shot on Kansas soil since 1999's "Ride With the Devil," Ang Lee's film about the skirmishes along the Kansas-Missouri border during the Civil War and William Quantrill's bloody raid on Lawrence. Still, the film industry continues to bring money into the state.

In 2000, the revenue from film production by out-of-state companies totaled $1.7 million. Revenue from in-state productions equaled $11.4 million. Additionally, jobs were created for Kansans as extras or members of the technical crews.

"It makes a huge impact and we're just not aware of it," she said. "A high-end commercial for a department store might bring in $300,000."

Anderson said the state film commission receives daily calls from commercial filmmakers asking about possible locations in Kansas. Recently, a commercial film involving the oil, gas and racing industries wrapped up three days of filming in Wichita. Several documentaries also are being made in the Wichita area, and a number of independent projects are under way throughout the state.

Kansas does not require filmmakers to have a permit so it's impossible to track every film project in the state.

Not requiring a permit is one of the state's strengths, Anderson said. Other strengths include a sales tax reimbursement program; diversity of landscapes and architectures; location fees that are less expensive than those on the East and West coasts; low cost of living; reasonable hotel rates; and the cooperative nature of the film commission and Kansans.

Still, Kansas must compete against places like Vancouver, British Columbia, which has enough film crews available to shoot 19 movies at the same time and offers filmmakers an abundance of funding sources. Plus, she said, the exchange rate allows U.S. filmmakers to get about $1.30 in Canada for every U.S. dollar.

While the commission wants filmmakers to bring their projects to Kansas, it also wants those making movies to learn about the state and its history and people.

"We also are encouraging the development of some Kansas stories and to look at these stories (as projects) to be filmed," she said.