Rantoul upstart studio recipient of Illinois Soundstage film grant

RANTOUL — A Champaign County-based upstart film studio was a recipient of a grant from the State of Illinois oriented toward film production last month.

A press release on February 28 revealed that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $10 million in grant funding for local film studio infrastructure projects. The funding is part of a grant program called the Illinois Soundstage Program.

One of those recipients was Flyover Film Studios, which was a recipient of $1.1 million in grant funds.

“The demand for film production space in Illinois is growing every day,” said Gov. Pritzker in the February 28 press conference. “Congratulations to the grantees of the new $10 million Illinois Soundstage Capital Grant Program. I know I speak on behalf of the people of Illinois when I say that we cannot wait to see what you create.”

“The film industry has strong roots in Illinois, and now we are actively encouraging upward expansion and increased diversity. Through tax credits, grants, and training programs, we hope to make space for more perspectives in the field,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. “The Illinois Soundstage Capital Grant will directly benefit production teams, who in turn will benefit local economies. How better to share the beauty of our state than by bringing Illinois to people’s screens through film?”

The goal of the Illinois Soundstage Capital Grant Program is to fund studio infrastructure projects to bolster Illinois’ rapidly growing streaming, TV, and film industry. The grant funds can be used for building and modernizing soundstages and production space which will help attract large-scale projects to Illinois while simultaneously bolstering business for local vendors and businesses and creating employment opportunities.

The Land of Lincoln has seen tremendous growth in the film industry due to the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit (FPTC). The FTPC is a 30 percent tax credit on qualified expenditures, including production spending and salaries. There is also an additional 15 percent allowance on salaries for people residing in economically disadvantaged areas. Illinois does not currently have a cap on film and television tax credits, programs that were extended through 2033 by Pritzker.

The tax credit has resulted in a $6.81 return on investment for every dollar spent on the incentive. As a result, $3.6 billion in economic activity was developed between 2017 and 2022.

The Illinois Soundstage Capital Grant Program funding opportunity was made available to nonprofit organizations, education organizations, and for-profit organizations throughout the state through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

“We are proud and excited to be the recipients of this state grant to help build Flyover Film Studios in central Illinois, furthering the reach of the film industry and its economic impact to our region,” said Jennifer Shelby, President of Flyover Studios.

“Illinois is a haven for the arts, and we must continue to support its stature in our local communities. I am thrilled we are taking the necessary steps to secure this support through the Governor’s Illinois Soundstage Program — especially in our local community of Champaign — putting the state in a well-suited position to improve local film and art initiatives,” said Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana). “Local artists and art organizations contribute to a community’s vibrant and diverse cultural landscape. It is with great pride the city of Champaign is receiving this funding to ensure that this type of art remains accessible to all members of the community.”

Flyover Film Studios is a collaboration of local filmmakers Luke Boyce and Brett Hays, Shelby of Shatterglass Films, Dustin Hoke of Dustin Hoke Services, and Rob Stern and Sarah Sharp of The Line Film Company. The collaboration has been in existence since 2022.

I interviewed Jennifer Shelby later that day to learn more.

Jake Leonard, Heartland Newsfeed: Is that news release correct that you are building your operations in the Champaign/Urbana area?

Jennifer Shelby, Flyover Studios: That is correct information – to be exact, our operation is in Rantoul, Illinois on the property that was formerly the Chanute Air Force Base – now owned by the Village of Rantoul. So yes, in Champaign County and just 15 miles north of Champaign/Urbana.

JL: Outside of the $1.1 million you are receiving in grants, how else would you be seeking funding for projects being produced by Flyover Studios? Would you be seeking traditional means of financing like most studios do, or would you pursue raising funds in the same manner that studios like Legion M have been doing for some time, securing equity investments from individuals through platforms like StartEngine?

JS: We are actually working with a legal firm called Red Rock Securities Law and will be rolling out a securities offering in the very near future. Investors will be able to buy in for as little as $250 per unit. It will be a great way for people to get a peak behind the curtain of soundstages, and to be in on this project on the ground floor.

JL: Once things are established, are there already projects in the queue for production?

JS: We are always working to bring projects to the area. We have a lot to offer right now for productions in that we have an array of sets, plenty of space, a full crew of people, wardrobe, props, the ability to custom build a set, and with the help of our local film office at Experience Champaign-Urbana, the ability to introduce productions to locations that will allow filming to take place. We are ready and able to work with films, music videos, commercials, anyone that needs the use of a standing set, for instance, professors that might want to film lectures. The list of entities we can work with is limitless.

We are currently building a set for a game show and we have several other discussions that are ongoing, but I am not at liberty to discuss any specifics at this time. I will tell you that we have shot four movies since the pandemic, countless commercials, music videos, and short films – and that is all before our first soundstage has been completed.

More information about Flyover Studios can be viewed here or by emailing Shelby at [email protected]. The complete audio from the press conference is below.

Listen to “PRESS CONFERENCE: Illinois Soundstage capital grant program” on Spreaker.

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