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28 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 2019 Made in Connecticut Film, television, and media companies are on the rise By Sarah Wesley Lemire In 1987, a little-known actress with a big smile arrived in the quaint village of Mystic to make a movie about pizza; it went on to put them both on the map. Since then, Julia Roberts has become one of the world's biggest celebrities and the pizza joint featured in the film remains a star in its own right, attracting fans who still come to enjoy "a slice of heaven" more than 30 years later. While "Mystic Pizza" is among the most recognizable films made in Connecticut, it's far from the only one. Since the 1940s, dozens of films have been shot in the state, including "War of the Worlds," "Revolutionary Road," and "Amistad," as well as a bevy of digitally animated features produced by Greenwich-based Blue Sky Studios – including the popular "Ice Age" series. Along with feature films, there's also been an uptick in independent and made-for-television movies produced by local filmmakers, including Synthetic Cinema, Shadow | Vale Productions, and Goodnight Film. And those numbers continue to grow as an increasing number of production and media companies establish roots in Connecticut, taking advantage of the state's tax incentives, diverse locations, and expanding digital media scene. Beyond film, television giants like ESPN, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., and NBCUniversal also call Connecticut home, along with an impressive array of other media companies. All good things, according to Connecticut Office of Film, TV & Digital Media Director George Norfleet. "Over the past years, through leveraging our tax incentives, we've been able to really establish a nice critical mass of companies that all are employing lots of people due to their proximity to New York, and leveraging our tax incentives. We've got a nice industry that is emerging," he said. It's an industry that generates a considerable amount of revenue. According to a report released in March by the Motion Picture Association of America, the distribution and production of motion pictures and television programs nationally generated $177 billion in total wages, supported 2.6 million jobs, and contributed $229 billion in sales to the overall economy. The industry includes more than 93,000 businesses in total, located in every state in the country. Most are small businesses, with 87% employing fewer than 10 people. The industry is also competitive on a global scale, producing $17.2 billion in exports and a positive trade balance in every major market in the world. Here at home, film, television, and digital media companies spent nearly $400 million ($423,967,894) in Connecticut in 2018 and, cumulatively, more than $1.3 billion ($1,327,717,891) over the last five years, in addition to providing thousands of local jobs. Stamford-based NBC Sports Group, part of NBC Universal, broadcasts high-profile sports events like the Olympics. Photos courtesy of NBS Sports Group. NBC operates out of a state-of-the-art, 300,000-square-foot facil- ity that is home to multiple sports delivery channels. DIGITAL MEDIA & FILM SECTION SPONSOR