JUNEAU -- Though a new television cop show in the works is set in Alaska's largest city -- and even features the working title "Anchorage" -- film industry insiders in the state say it's nearly certain the series won't be shot in its namesake locale.
Calling the city of Anchorage "one of the most dangerous cities in America," studio IM Global Television has brought on executive producers with experience in Alaska to develop the show, which is based on the work of a longtime sergeant with the Anchorage Police Department's Vice unit.
Despite the strong ties to the Last Frontier, those in the film industry here aren't optimistic the show will actually be produced in the state.
"It's highly unlikely that a series would be shot in Alaska without film incentives," said Carolyn Robinson of SprocketHeads, a local film production services company.
Gov. Bill Walker has already suspended the state's film incentive program, which also provided subsidies for television productions, including Alaska's ubiquitous reality shows.
"Anchorage" is not a reality show, but a scripted police procedural, and scripted TV shows are considered the holy grail of film and television industry economic development. Since a program can be renewed to run year after year, it can provide months of steady work for production employees and help build further film industry infrastructure.
"A TV series is something that would be really welcome here," said Bob Crockett, general manager of Piksik, a NANA-owned production and location services company.
State Sen. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, is a longtime opponent of film incentives. Senate Bill 39, a piece of legislation to repeal the film tax program sponsored by Stoltze and a number of other lawmakers, passed the Senate by a vote of 14-6 and the House of Representatives 23-17 earlier this year. But those in the industry have mounted a lobbying campaign to urge Gov. Bill Walker to veto the bill.
The program's advocates say they want the program to remain on the books in case state finances turn around.
Robinson likened the decision facing Walker to reports that former Gov. Jay Hammond regretted eliminating Alaska's income tax statute, rather than just reducing its rate to zero. That would have meant it could have been more readily reinstated, should a need arise.
Alaska should keep the film program, she said, in case Alaska can again afford to develop that industry here.
Even with the obvious advantages Alaska has as a location for a TV series called "Anchorage," it's unlikely to happen without incentives, Robinson said.
"It used to be all about locations, but after about 10-15 years ago it's all about incentives," Robinson said.
"When (productions) come in they can spend millions of dollars and they're looking at the best (financial) climate to come in and bring their project and be successful," Crockett said. "When you eliminate that, they look elsewhere."
A previous Alaska-set TV series, "Men in Trees," was actually shot in Canada, with the production company buying what is known as "locator" footage to make it appear as if it were shot in the state.
Robinson said that "Anchorage" producers Jane Fleming and Mark Ordesky worked on the feature film "The Frozen Ground," which was shot in Alaska and starred Nicolas Cage and Vanessa Hudgens.
That's when they came in contact with the state, leading to "Anchorage."
That show will be based on the experiences of Sgt. Kathy Lacey with the Anchorage Police Department's Vice unit, according to film and TV industry trade press. Lacey, who recently retired, will serve as a consulting producer for the program.
Only initial production information has been released so far, with no information yet about which network might broadcast the series or whom it would star.
Walker spokesperson Grace Jang said the governor has not yet decided whether to sign or veto Senate Bill 39, which has yet to be transmitted by the Legislature to the governor's office.
The lobbying campaign supporting the program has been notable, she said, though far less than this year's big issues of Medicaid expansion and school funding.
"It would be unfortunate if a program called 'Anchorage' isn't shot here," Jang said, while acknowledging that decisions about shooting locations for that specific show are unlikely to be affected by a decision on Senate Bill 39.
Stoltze did not respond to phone calls left with his office this week and last week.