The new HBO political drama "Game Change," about the 2008 John McCain-Sarah Palin presidential ticket, exemplifies everything that is wrong about Washington, D.C. as Hollywood's favorite storytelling subject but least favorite filming location. This blog and other news sites have documented the stunning lack of film incentives and massive amounts of red tape that leave location scouts with a sour taste for shooting in The District.
"Game Change" was primarily shot in Baltimore, Maryland along with Wilmington, Delaware and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The only time the film's stars set foot in the Nation's Capital was for the premiere at the Newseum. It is bizarre that a political film had its red carpet premiere in Washington but decided not to shoot there.
But can you blame Playtone producers Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman for saving on production costs by shooting in Maryland, a state that offers generous tax credits and rebates?
It's just a shame that Charm City has to stand in for the Nation's Capital time and again because The District is so unfriendly to film shoots. It would have been a big economic boost having Julianne Moore, Ed Harris and Woody Harrelson here in Washington for the "Game Change" film shoot.
Perhaps one day change will come to Washington in the form of more aggressive film incentives and a streamlined permitting process.
Here is the trailer for "Game Change."
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