Publication Date
2003
Abstract
California is home to the world's largest movie clusters. It grew out of the need to extend beyond New York's confined environment. The opportunities that lay ahead were carefully planned and exploited. For Western Massachusetts to learn from this example it will have to discover a niche that can be marketed as truly worthy of attracting businesses away from established clusters. This will require a top-down approach from government bodies to ensure that a successful cluster fits wit the New England lifestyle. Current opportunities exist within factory towns that have available old mill buildings and infrastructure. Unfortunately the establishment of a film cluster will require a huge one-time investment by the government to convince others to invest their capital here. In the example of Miami, many different film clusters have developed from the branding of the city. There wasn't a general idea of Miami's film culture until the television program Miami Vice placed the city on the world map.
Both Massachusetts and Miami must work hard to integrate the potential development of film clusters by working hard to secure tax breaks to lure companies away from Toronto. The film cluster there is rapidly becoming established, especially in this depressed economic environment. This will prove to be a stiff competitor, but it is not too late.
Cutting the main costs of taxes, accommodation/living expenses while raising the profile of these regions is the first hurdle to be cleared. Only when this is done will a successful clustering strategy grow.
Pages
Section 3: Pages 1-122
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Comments
The Center for Economic Development at the University of Massachusetts, in Amherst, is part of the Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning Department, and is funded by the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the University of Massachusetts.