OWENSBORO, Ky. (WDRB) -- A new era for Kentucky's film industry is underway as the Kentucky Sound Stage officially opened Friday in Owensboro, setting the stage for more high-budget productions to make the Bluegrass state their home.
Gov. Andy Beshear helped unveiled the state-of-the-art production complex, calling it a "blockbuster" moment for Kentucky's film industry.
"Today, we are here in Owensboro raising the curtain on the Kentucky Sound Stage," Beshear said during the opening event.
The facility promises to attract not only local but national and international crews looking for top-tier production resources. The complex will feature studios, sets, recording studios, a 30x11 virtual LED wall, post-production suites and more, giving filmmakers the tools they need for everything from movies and television shows to online streaming content.
"We are discussing productions here in Kentucky that are really large amounts — $20-30 million movies," said Jeremy Winton, a Louisville attorney and co-founder of the Kentucky Sound Stage.
Winton, who teamed up with Hollywood producer Kristy Kilday to launch the complex, pointed to Kentucky's existing tax incentive program as a key draw for the industry.
"Hollywood is hurting because of the writers strike, the actors strike and the pandemic, so they're looking for states to come to with incentives," Winton said. "Kentucky has the best incentive in the country."
The state offers a $75 million annual tax credit for entertainment projects, and in 2024 alone, 77 productions received nearly $68 million in incentives.
"I came here for the incentive," Winton said. "I was like 'I'm going to be here 50% of the time. I'll be in LA the other 50% of the time.' And I just kept not going back."
The Kentucky Sound Stage is just one part of a broader effort to grow the state's film sector. Since the Kentucky Film Tax Incentive program was revived in 2021, the number of companies utilizing the credits has grown, with more movies being filmed across the state, from Louisville to eastern Kentucky and now Owensboro.
"We've seen an increase in productions in Kentucky, and other states are looking up to us instead of looking down on us," Beshear said Friday. "And it feels pretty good to be in that place."
And earlier this week, the Senate Economic Development Committee passed Senate Bill 1, which would strengthen the state's film industry by creating the Kentucky Film Office. The goal of the bill would be to make sure the state "capitalizes on the top-tier incentive program" by streamlining the process to make it easier to get more productions to choose Kentucky.
Twelve productions are already scheduled to be filmed at the Kentucky Sound Stage this year. The influx of projects is expected to bring more jobs and revenue to Kentucky, solidifying the state as a growing hub for the entertainment industry.
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