Kentucky’s New LEX Studios Film Incentives and More
Posted on: Aug 01, 2024
Photo Credit: Tim SaboMany states in the U.S. offer film incentives. The trend began in Louisiana in 1992. There are currently 38 states with incentives of some type, but many reduced their offerings after the Great Recession to save money. Kentucky’s 30 to 35% refundable tax credits rank among the top incentive packages, but the state lacked adequate production facilities until recent years.
If you’ve been in the entertainment industry for a minute, you know many states in the U.S. offer film incentives to use their area for shooting projects. Enter LEX Studios, which is the state’s largest film and production facility and boasts more than 50,000 square feet of production space.
A Brief History of LEX Studios, Kentucky
LEX Studios opened for business in Lexington this June. I worked at LEX Studios as an associate producer for a courtroom show called Relative Justice, and I am blown away by the renovations that have occurred. Louisville-based Infinity Productions built the courtroom set into one of the screening rooms, where it remains today. LEX Studios studio manager Tim Sabo relocated from Los Angeles to Lexington to run the studios, and he filled me in on all the updates.
Sabo said the studio is now adaptable to any scenario. It could be a base camp for a film that needs to use the offices upstairs, which can be segmented to the needs of the production.
The building has three different stages, ranging from about 3,500 square feet to 5,800 square feet, plus three dedicated green rooms with live feeds, showers and connected makeup rooms with rinse sinks. There’s a dedicated wardrobe room, props room, gear room, a holding area and a control room. Sabo believes the studios would be perfect for game shows. Crew can enjoy the dining area that is always set up in what was once the theater concessions and lobby. Conference rooms and communal meeting space are also beneficial.
While LEX Studios came to be through Wrigley Media Group, the two are separate entities. The studio is up for rentals, while Wrigley offers production services to incoming productions, such as setting up a production LLC, applying for incentives and accounting. This can be helpful to visiting productions when they need someone familiar with the state.
Kentucky’s Push for Entertainment Industry Growth
The studio has repeat business, films and a network unscripted series. Everything at the studio qualifies for incentives, and there isn’t much nitpicking over small line items like tables and chairs. Sabo’s happy to just throw stuff in if there’s no added cost to them. LEX Studios also helps develop and train crew in the state through education and mentoring.
There are other groups and studios building up the Kentucky entertainment industry as well, like Women in Film Kentucky and 502 Film, which helps productions find crew, accommodations, vendors and other resources. A meetup group called LAX/LEX for Los Angeles transplants and The Louisville Film Society host networking meetups and screenings.
OHD Studios offers a smaller facility with a 3,500 square foot drive-in stage with an infinity wall and a second smaller green screen cyclone stage with gear rentals available for production. The facility, located in nearby Louisville, has offices, a kitchen, a small conference room and dining area. Like LEX, OHD Studios has also been collaborative and focused on getting more productions to and from Kentucky.
Local Entertainment Industry Workshops in Kentucky
Workshops from the above groups and events like Below the Line screenings and table reads, pitch sessions and screenplay competition, hosted by my company, She Dreams Content Development and Production, strive to connect with the industry, offer additional networking and continue to develop talent in Kentucky.
At the table reads, actors and screenwriters come together with film industry professionals to read original local scripts out loud, so actors and writers can develop their talents. Pitch sessions allow writers, filmmakers and others to pitch their concepts and projects to a professional panel and receive feedback on their pitch decks in front of a live audience. More colleges and high schools are offering media or film programs as well.
Big plans are underway for the long abandoned former Louisville Gardens Arena in Louisville. River City Entertainment Group plans to transform the building into a $65 million studio and soundstage facility with 40,000 square feet divided into 4 stages and other spaces. This is an idea that has been circulating in Louisville for at least 10 years, but the deal was approved for incentives and funding in 2022.
While Los Angeles and New York are still major hubs for production, it’s clear that the industry is evolving. Some other states like New Mexico, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Louisiana may have incentives and facilities, but Kentucky is rapidly positioning themselves to become a favorite with their refundable tax credit and investments into facilities and resources.
Tim Sabo began his career in the early ’90s in Chicago, producing two low-budget horror films, Small Towns Are Murder and Blood Bath in Psychotown, both released by Troma Entertainment. Moving to California, he contributed to revivals of The Biggest Loser and Legends of the Hidden Temple. Tim also spearheaded various marketing campaigns, including projects for Sleep Number Beds and Plantronics, and managed social media for True Religion Brand Jeans. Before joining LEX Studios in Lexington, Kentucky, Tim produced the Palm Springs International Film Festival and led marketing for KZG Custom Fitted Golf Clubs.
Jessica Mathis (AKA Divinity Rose) is an award winning screenwriter/performer/producer from Louisville, Kentucky. She is the CEO of She Dreams Content Development and Production, which focuses on female forward projects in comedy, docustyle and genre entertainment.
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