• Home of the gargantuan Mall of America global shopping magnet, and a land of pristine landscapes, Minnesota also offers filmmakers modern urban skylines, pastoral farms, thousands of lakes and watersports, the renowned Guthrie Theater, the Walker Art Center - and a folksy vibe epitomized by native son Garrison Keillor's iconic public radio show "A Prairie Home Companion."
• Last but not least, Minnesota's so-called Snowbate incentive program provides a rebate of up to 25 percent. For a minimum spend of $100,000, the rebate stands at 20 percent. If the spend rises to $1 million or more, the rebate rises to 25 percent. There's a $100,000 compensation cap on non-resident above-the-line talent. Additionally, filmmakers and producers can avail themselves of regional incentives.
• The incentive is available to feature films, documentaries, music videos, national TV programs or series, TV pilots, TV Commercials, internet projects and post-production-only projects. Full guidelines and application forms can be downloaded from the website of the Minnesota film and television office.
• Recent film projects shot in the North Star State include "Wilson" (2017), "The House of Tomorrow" (2017), "A Stray" (2016), "I Am Not a Serial Killer" (2016) and "Dear White People" (2014). The TV series "Lady Dynamite," which began airing in 2016, is also shooting in Minnesota.
