Superman comes to Chicago, bringing $30 million with him
By Kate Dries | Sep. 13, 2011
(WBEZ/Kate Dries)
Fake police cars for 'Man of Steel' alongside their CPD counterparts.
Superman is wrapping up his stay in Chicago this weekend, but he received a visit from Illinois Governor Pat Quinn before he left.
The governor was at the set of the new Man of Steel movie in downtown Chicago Tuesday, for a tour and a meet-and-greet with some cast members, including Superman himself, played by Henry Cavill.
Quinn said that the film industry raised $161 million dollars for Illinois in 2010.
"The amount of investment by Man of Steel in the state of Illinois is $30-35 million," said Quinn. "So the investment of the tax credit pays tremendous dividends, it's more than worth it's while."
That money can be attributed to the 30 percent tax credit Illinois offers for money spent on goods and services in-state. Man of Steel reportedly created over 550 jobs in Illinois for crew members, not including those local Chicago actors hired for smaller parts and as extras.
The Quinn administration has included the tax credit as part of their effort to increase revenue from filmmaking in Chicago. Under the governor's administration, the state invested $5 million into the building of Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, where the short-lived show The Chicago Code was filmed. It's been replaced by projects like Boss and The Playboy Club.
Betsy Steinberg, managing director for the Illinois Film Office, said that she spends her time in Los Angeles, "pounding the pavement, trying to get projects" to come to Illinois.
Man of Steel also used the Kendall County town of Plano, outside of Chicago, as the location for their town of Smallville. The interest in Illinois was spurred, in part, by executive producer Charles Rosen, who has a history with the city; he also shot the previous two Batman films here, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, both starring Christian Bale.
Speaking about his visit to the set, Quinn said, "I had a chance to meet Henry, he's our Superman, and he will be a super man, that's for sure."
Source: WBEZ91.5
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