Spike in film & TV production for Chicago

The city of Chicago has seen an increase in production for 2016, hosting a record 2,339 filming days.

The figure represents a rise of 25% from the previous year and comes on the back of last autumn’s statement from the city’s mayor Rahm Emanuel that more than $1.3bn had been injected into the economy from 2011-2015 by TV production alone.

News of the latest production surge comes from the Chicago Film Office at the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), as reported by local news outlet Show Me Chicago.

TV producer Dick Wolf has played a large part in the current boom, with his series Chicago Fire one of four that are due to film locally. 2016 saw nine full-time TV series shooting across the city.

Film contributes significantly too, with 18 features using Chicago for some scenes last year. Big-budget projects like Man of Steel and Transformers: Age of Extinction have further raised the city’s profile to international producers.

Illinois offers a generous 30% tax credit and also has a state film office providing support to incoming projects. For more on filming in the state, head over to our production guide.