Washington Post Fails Asking Why D.C.-Based Emmy Shows Not Lensed in District

Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright star in D.C.-based, Baltimore-shot 'House of Cards.' The Netflix show received nine Emmy nominations. Photo by Melinda Sue Gordon – © Melinda Sue Gordon / Knight Takes King Prod.

The Washington Post wrote recently about the impressive list of Emmy-nominated shows based in the nation's capital that weren't actually filmed in the District of Columbia -- "House of Cards" and "Veep" were filmed in Baltimore; "Homeland" was shot in Charlotte; "Scandal" lensed in Los Angeles; and "Political Animals" was filmed in Philadelphia.

But The Post fails to ask the most important question: Why weren't these D.C.-based shows actually filmed in Washington's city limits? The fact is that places like Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and California simply offer better incentives for production crews looking to save as much money as possible to stay within budget.

Another factor in productions choosing not to film in the District has to do with challenge of obtaining permits to shoot near landmarks like the Washington Monument and Capitol Building.

While the city council has discussed putting together a competitive incentives package to lure productions, nothing so far has been passed. Until D.C. gets serious about D.C.-based productions actually shooting in the city, states like North Carolina with its 25 percent tax incentive will gladly stand in for the national capital.