Dept. Of Economic Development: Production Of Movies, TV Shows Boosts Frederick’s Economy

‘Boomtown’ being shot this week in Frederick.Frederick, Md (KM) Filming on a production called “Boomtown” is scheduled to take place this week in Frederick. It’s been described as a docudrama about the revitalization of Frederick following flooding in the downtown in 1976.Frederick’s  Director of Economic Development, Richard Griffin, says movies and TV productions provide a boost to the local economy. “For example, it boosts local businesses through tourism because it highlights locations. It can create some temporary jobs for local crew members,”: he says.Griffin says some of this boost in economic activity  comes from film production crews spending money by staying in local hotels, eating in local restaurant and shopping at local stores. “Obviously, the film crews spend money on local services. They have catering, accommodations, oftentimes transportation, equipment rentals,” he says. “All of these are things that they’re sourcing locally, and help provide an economic boost for the community.”But he acknowledges this boost is short-lived because after production ends, the film crews leave Frederick. “However, the film, because it highlights often buildings and locations within a community, often it can attract an influx of tourism,” he says. That’s from visitors who may have seen a film or a TV program produced in Frederick and want to visit see what was shown in the production.He says Frederick has become a popular destination for movie and TV productions, including commercials. “During the course of a year, we usually get three, four or five major productions that come into our community that shoot films,” he says.And there are specific locations in Frederick which serve as the location for filming. “Many times those are on public property. They’re in our parks, sometime they’re in buildings like City Hall,” Griffin says. “We have a lot of court room scenes filmed  in City Hall because our board room looks very much like a court room.”Frederick City Hall once served as the county court house.By Kevin McManus