Delmarva man headed to the Oscars

Posted: Mar 02, 2014 5:59 PM EST Updated: Mar 06, 2014 5:43 PM EST

SALISBURY, Md. – The red carpet was packed Sunday, with celebrities and Hollywood insiders heading in to the 86th annual Academy Awards, and out there with them is a local, aspiring filmmaker, Erick Ramos.

WMDT’s Lenita Wesson sat down with Erick before he headed out west to learn about some of the projects he’s working on.

“I’m actually working on two feature films at the moment. One of them is a science fiction thriller, and the second is a psychological horror film. And I have producers currently interested, and I’m just doing a few rewrites,” says Ramos.

According to Erick, the Eastern Shore film community is small, but it’s steadily growing.

VIDEO SOURCE: Shawn Conaway / Informer’s Inc
NEWS SOURCE: http://wmdt.membercenter.worldnow.com/story/24864928/delmarva-man-headed-to-the-oscars

Kevin Spacey Pushes For Votes For Maryland Film Tax Credits

Posted: Mar 26, 2014 5:45 PM EDT Updated: Mar 30, 2014 5:40 PM EDT

MARYLAND – Is Season 3 of “House of Cards” in jeopardy? The hit Netflix show’s first two seasons were filmed in Maryland, but showrunners are refusing to continue filming until lawmakers vote to set aside millions more in film tax credits.

The show has already received $26.6 million in reimbursements for the more than $119 million they’ve already spent. For Season 3, they want another $15 million. So far, the state has only promised $4 million.

It may seem like a lot, but local filmmaker Erick Ramos argues it’s an investment because filmmaking boosts the economy.

“They’re hiring locally. They’re renting vehicles, gas, catering, lumber construction, props, design — all that stuff goes into production and they do all that in state. Getting tax credits and exemptions are very, very difficult. A lot of people have gone down south. Georgia is a good example, where they film The Vampire Diaries and The Walking Dead. They picked those locations because the tax breaks are so much better,” he said.

Last weekend Kevin Spacey met with lawmakers at a wine bar in Annapolis to do what his character does on the show — push for more votes. On Monday, senators approved a bill that would set aside $18.5 million for film tax credits. Filmmakers are now waiting on the House of Delegates to make a move.

NEWS SOURCE: http://wmdt.membercenter.worldnow.com/story/25083077/kevin-spacey-pushes-for-votes-for-maryland-film-tax-credits