Meet One of the Key Republicans Championing a Federal Film and TV Tax Credit

Hollywood is stereotypically seen as an industry beloved and supported by liberal politicians, but the current push for a federal film and television tax credit is complicating that typical portrait.

Even before President Donald Trump ordered Congress to “get this done!” on Aug. 31, a few key conservative backers of the incentive idea, working alongside Jon Voight, unions and studios alike, emerged in the legislative branch, U.S. Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA) among them.

A 38-year-old freshman Congressman representing an area of Georgia that stretches from the suburbs of Atlanta to the border with Alabama, Jack is in some ways a natural ally to the industry. His district includes Trilith Studios, the sprawling production complex in Fayetteville that has hosted Moana, Superman and multiple Marvel shoots in past years, but was impacted by the latter Disney-owned brand’s recent relocation of major shoots to the U.K.

Jack is also, as The Hollywood Reporter learned in a recent interview, a movie props collector. In his possession include several props from his favorite TV show, Entourage, the credit card that Daniel Craig’s James Bond swiped in 2006’s Casino Royale (a gift from Pawn Stars’ Rick Harrison, Jack is careful to note, before he was elected to Congress) and a business card used by Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes in Thunderbolts*, which was filmed in part at Trilith.

“As you may recall, he [Barnes] served as a congressman in Thunderbolts, so I have his congressional business card,” Jack says.

Make no mistake, Jack is also an unambiguous Trump-era Republican. Before being elected to the House, Jack served as Trump’s political director during and following his first term in the White House, then joined the office of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as a close advisor. Main issues listed on his re-election campaign website include ending illegal immigration, cutting taxes, supporting American energy including oil and gas and ending “the weaponization of justice” against former President Joe Biden’s “perceived enemies.”

To understand his interest in a federal tax credit, THR sat down with Jack at his office in Capitol Hill’s Longworth House Office Building, once the domain of former President Lyndon B. Johnson when he was a House representative. Jack explained what the film and television production caucus will do, responded to criticism of the federal tax credit and revealed how he plans on getting more Republicans on board.

Why did you decide to take a leadership role in creating and film and television caucus as well as supporting the tax incentive?

Well, first and foremost, I am proud to represent Trilith Studios, one of the largest movie production studios in the country. And it’s very special for my district because it not only has generated many, many jobs across my district from craftsmen to carpenters to electricians, but it also is a source of pride for many of us. Many of the movies we see on the big screen are filmed literally in my backyard, so to speak. I grew up in Fayette County, live in Peachtree City, and many of these movies were produced at Trilith Studios in Fayette County. Unfortunately, we’ve seen over the last three to four years, a mass exodus of film production to other countries. I’ve been told, unsure if this is the specific statistic, but I’ve been told that at its peak, occupancy on the lots was 98 percent or close to 100 percent when they were filming Avengers: Endgame. And today occupancy is extremely low, perhaps in the single digits. So it certainly has made an impact on my district and I’m eager to revitalize American film production. I, like President Trump, believe that our country is well served by having a robust film production industry.

From everything I’ve heard, you’ve been interested in the incentive idea for a while. Why is an incentive important, in your view, as opposed to more punitive measures like tariffs?

Well, I will say from the outset, I have long supported an all-above approach because I think ultimately our common shared goal is for American film production to flourish. And if a punitive measure and action is the most constructive way to achieve that, then I would be supportive of that. If it’s incentives to film in states and generate jobs and grow the economy of communities and states we represent, then I’m also supportive of that. But it seems that, including the President, many have agreed that an incentive would be the most constructive way to achieve this goal. But that having been said, I will never take any option off the table.

I’m curious what you’ve heard from constituents in your district about the phenomenon of production moving out of the country and the impact it’s had on them.

Well, frankly, many of those affected are people I interact with and engage and they’re now onto second, third or fourth careers, and the common theme across many of those interactions with my constituents is they wish they were back filming movies. And though I’ve never been involved in movie production, as somebody that’s been involved with politics for some time, I can understand the excitement that’s connected to making a film and seeing it on the big screen and having that pride and having a community be excited about some of the locations at which films were made. So I certainly hear it from my constituents as it relates to them wishing they could be back in the movie industry and wishing they had the stability that they enjoyed many years ago. And I’m eager to deliver wins for my constituents as any member of Congress should be.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal editorial board came out with a piece that questioned the tax incentive, calling it “handouts for Hollywood.” What is your response to this kind of criticism?

Well, I certainly respect their perspective. I think that, as I mentioned before, an all-above approach is the most constructive way, I think. I should reread their editorial, but I suspect that they too share the objective that we all have, which is to ensure we have a robust film industry in America. We view that as a soft power export, a cultural export. We certainly want Americans to enjoy American film as they grow up just as you and I did when we were growing up. So I respect their perspective and ultimately we’ll watch this legislation continue to move and grow within the United States Congress. And ultimately I think it’s up to our constituents to convey to us what they determine as necessary for a robust film industry, especially in many of these districts where film has made a big impact. So I think you can go around each congressional district and see district impact by film production in previous years.

Turning to the caucus now, I’m curious what some top items on the agenda might be for that group.

Well, I think first and foremost, you’re going to see an effort to educate members about the benefit. We saw the study that you reported on yesterday. Those are very encouraging numbers, $250 billion projected over eight years to generate growth in the American economy, over 140,000 jobs to be created. And frankly, the best legislation comes out of very informed members of Congress debating issue sets. And we have thousands of issues on Capitol Hill in which we deal with every month. So I am eager to partner with our caucus members to educate members of Congress about the benefits of film production. And I can speak to it from my own congressional district as to how it’s been beneficial for my own.

There are a lot of caucuses out there. What sort of pragmatic things can a caucus accomplish in this case?

It can be an opportunity, especially as we break for the election, for members who are interested in the topic. The caucus is a wonderful way to learn more about the topic and we’ll have quite a few weeks before Congress returns to session. So I’m hopeful that members want to join the caucus or take interest in the caucus. And though there are many caucuses, the effectiveness rate of caucuses is usually connected to the engagement level from the leadership.

How do you plan on convincing your Republican colleagues who may not come from states where there’s a ton of production to get behind this idea?

First and foremost, I think the underlying effect on the economy, $250 billion over the next eight years if we see movement and action on this topic, is persuasive. I think the President has very much laid out the case as well that he thinks it’s a national security priority for us to ensure that American entertainment is made by Americans, filmed by Americans, produced by Americans. So I think there’s certainly an element of that as well, but ultimately it’ll be incumbent upon not just members of Congress that are interested in it like myself, but also it’s important for constituents to chime in. And by the way, I think if you go around many districts across the country, there are going to be stories — maybe it was 10 years ago, maybe it was 15 years ago — but a movie being filmed in a certain area, maybe that had a big impact that members of Congress today should know about.

Favorite movie?

The Godfather.

Favorite TV show?

Entourage.

What are you watching right now, if you’re watching anything?

Well, a lot of college football and a lot of professional football. I love The Odyssey. I saw it a few times this summer.

I was going to ask; I read that you were a Christopher Nolan fan.

Big time. I saw Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which was good. I’m not currently watching a show, but I often re-watch… if you’re inclined to include this, I was a massive fan of Lost way back when. But I saw By Any Means this past weekend, and I’m a big fan of Mark Wahlberg.