NWA Film Industry Is Growing After 2013 Amendment

When a 2009 Arkansas law was amended in March, the Lost Boys of North Gulley Road were excited. To these boys as well as the rest of the underground acting scene in the area, this meant that more casting calls and auditions were around the corner.

The Digital Product and Motion Picture Industry Development Act 27 of 2009 incentivized production companies to produce, film and cast productions in Arkansas. The new amendment sweetened the existing incentives.

To a small ring of actors, producers, and directors, Northwest Arkansas could be a stepping stone to making it big in Hollywood.

Houston Nutt III, Tristan Thomas and Thomas’s younger brother Cayden Thomas, live in a big two-story bachelor pad on the outskirts of Fayetteville – their Never Never Land. When the aspiring actors aren’t filming their upcoming science-fiction film, “Mayfly,” they’re hanging out on their oversize couch, watching movies, or “studying” as they call it. The three spend the majority of their time with the curtains drawn in almost complete darkness analyzing films to garner knowledge on acting, directing, film editing, and overall production. Throughout the day, their house has multiple visitors – more 20-something males in the local film scene.

“Right now we’re on a Halloween bender. We average about five to six horror movies a day,” Tristan Thomas said.

Their latest was “Hocus Pocus.” In the movie Dani is joking with her older brother’s crush about her Halloween costume. She said that she wished she could wear it, but couldn’t due to her lack of “yabbos.”

“Until Halloween we’re only referring to boobs as yabbos. Every time one of us says boobs we have to take a shot,” Nutt said, referencing the ’90′s favorite.

This carefree attitude is present only on the weekends.

They maintain a healthy lifestyle during the week, frequenting the buffet at Ozark Natural Foods and chugging Kombucha to stay in shape for their roles in “Mayfly,” a movie about a young alien prince marooned on Earth, produced by RotGut Studios.

Nutt and Tristan Thomas moved to Fayetteville after attending The University of Mississippi with the intention of becoming actors. They mentor Cayden Thomas who is still in high school and has similar aspirations.

Nutt filmed another RotGut Studios production in Mississippi, called “25K,” and though he enjoyed shooting in the state, Arkansas seemed more promising for film opportunities, he said.

One such opportunity for budding actors and film crew personnel was the film, “Mud” starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon. “Mud” was filmed in the Arkansas Delta. Around half the crew were Arkansas residents and over 400 locals were hired as extras, according to IMDB.

Before the amendment to the Digital Product and Motion Picture Industry Development Act 27, there wasn’t as strong of an incentive for filmmakers to produce films in Arkansas. Now that the production companies are eligible for a 20 percent rebate from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission on production costs rather than 15 percent, there has been a stir within the industry.

In order for a production company to receive a 20 percent rebate, it must spend at least $200,000 to make the movie and the production must be state-certified. To qualify for the rebate, the project must meet the following requirements: the intellectual property was produced primarily in Arkansas or the creator is an Arkansas resident, at least 75% of the film must be filmed in Arkansas and the production expenses for the optioning or purchase are less than 25 percent of the production expenses incurred in Arkansas.

“Mayfly’s budget is nowhere close to that,” Nutt said.

While “Mayfly’s” budget won’t qualify, the young actors hope that the amendment will spur more acting and production possibilities in the state.

For Jaclyn Marlan, it has.

Marlan, a Pennsylvania native, came to northwest Arkansas to pursue acting. To make ends meet she works the various odd or part-time job in addition to substitute teaching, but her real dream is to hone her craft and move to Los Angeles.

When Marlan walks through a door, people notice. Her tiny frame is overshadowed by her long light blonde hair and vivacious personality. Even the barista at Arsagas couldn’t keep his smile at bay after she sashayed to the counter and asked for the skinniest vanilla latte they could make.

“She has the movie star charisma,” said Heather Fallen, owner of Stage 28 Talent & Casting.

Marlan sat cross-legged on the burlap stool and spoke fondly of her experience over the summer on the set of two feature films – “Valley Inn,” and “Greater.”

“Valley Inn” is a romantic comedy filmed in Hindsville, Ark. Marlan plays Callie Anders, a sassy rodeo queen. Her days on set were long, sometimes involving a wait of up to seven hours after her hair and makeup was done to film a single scene. She enjoyed watching the other actors while she waited, especially Joey Lauren Adams, she said. Her other film, “Greater,” is about a local football star and was filmed in Fayetteville, Ark. Though she only had a small speaking role in the film, Marlan said that one of her scenes took 16 hours to film.

“It was the greatest summer of my life,” she said while bringing her extra skinny latte to her lips.

Marlan used her dainty hands to add emphasis to everything she said. They were constantly in motion, like a conductor’s hands.

After her role as a principal actor in “Valley Inn,” Marlan is now eligible for the prestigious labor union, SAG (Screen Actor’s Guild) and has a credit on IMDB (Internet Movie Database).

“I wasn’t sure that’d ever happen,” Marlan said.

There weren’t the same opportunities in Pennsylvania as there are in Northwest Arkansas, she said. She hopes the film industry will continue to grow and become as well known for its acting scene as Austin, Texas.

The industry is growing and with that, more jobs are being created.

“This industry has created business and job opportunities,” said Chung Tan, Director of Economic Development at Fayetteville’s Chamber of Commerce.

Patrick Shoulders couldn’t find a job until his father made an introduction to the crew of “Valley Inn.”

Shoulders goes to University of the Ozarks in Clarksville and only comes back to Fayetteville, his hometown, for the summer. It’s hard to get a summer job because UA students seem to get to them first, he said. He was thankful to hear that the movie, “Valley Inn,” was filming nearby and that the production team needed extra hands.

He helped out in the art department.

“If it wasn’t for the movie I’d probably be sitting on my parents’ couch watching Workaholics reruns,” Shoulders said.

Tan thinks that the film industry has affected the local economy and helped others in similar situations.

“The filming industry is an emerging industry here and a lot still needs to be done. And a lot has already been done,” Tan said.

The 2nd Annual Seedling Festival held at the beginning of this month is an example of this progress and the economic stimulation the film industry has provided. At the Seedling festivals independent films are screened and advice is offered by industry professionals. In 2010, 50 films from nine countries competed in the festival, according to the Seedling Film Association website.

“The Seedling Festival had people visiting our community, staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, and shopping in the retail stores,” Tan said.

Jules Taylor, Community Events Liaison for Seedling Film, agreed with Tan.

“Seedling Film Association has been growing film in NWA for 5 years and our mission is just that,” Taylor said.