Spotted, speeding down the night streets of Cambridge: Okoye, the head of the Dora Malaje, the fierce all-woman security force of Wakanda.
That’s the fictional home of the Marvel Studios comic book superhero Black Panther, brought to life in the 2018 global movie blockbuster of the same name. The night filming a couple of weeks ago will be part of the 2022 sequel, “Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever.” Nobody knows how the filming in and around MIT, and in at least one other Boston location, figures into the closely guarded plot. But rabid fans are probably not wrong in speculating that it involves Shuri, the Black Panther’s sister, the brainy scientist who runs the country’s high-tech laboratory. It makes sense she might be checking in with a mentor at MIT, or seeking consultation on her latest futuristic gadget.
Now I can imagine there are many of you not in the least interested in the Marvel Universe featuring superheroes like Black Panther and the dozen or so others like the Hulk, Black Widow and Captain America of the star-studded “Avengers: Endgame.” But if that fictional universe doesn’t grab you, there is the universal appeal of fattening the state’s wallet. Filming the new chapter of the Black Panther story in the Bay State is a "ka-ching!" moment supported by the now-permanent Massachusetts film tax credit. Governor Charlie Baker recently signed off on a legislative compromise in the 2022 budget that requires 75% of the production’s budget or filming days to be spent in the state. I’ve always been a fan of the film tax credit, which also benefits GBH, as a win-win for the state and the local film, TV and streaming industry.
The state’s history and architecture attract legions of tourists and are a perfect backdrop for productions. In the recently released movie, “Free Guy,” actor Ryan Reynolds finds himself living in a video game. Downtown Boston serves as the main setting, while many scenes were shot in nearby locations including Revere Beach and Worcester. Expect more tourists who, like me, love to visit sites where filming took place.
“Free Guy” opened exclusively in theatres with more than $10 million in ticket sales, and then held a top-of-the-box office spot for the second week adding $18.8 million. Obviously, these movies are extremely lucrative for the actors and creators, but they also provide a steady paycheck for the hundreds of production crew members manning the cameras, setting the shooting schedule, dressing the set, coordinating the props, lighting the scene and handling costumes and hair and makeup. Chris O’ Donnell, business manager of the local union that represents motion picture and television production technicians and a host of others told the Lowell Sun, “This isn’t about Hollywood. This is about people’s jobs here.”
And that’s not factoring in additional production spending for local goods and services, which support a myriad of small businesses. Georgia, now known as the Hollywood of the South, used its tax credit to become a favored location for movie and TV productions. The state has earned billions from films like the first Black Panther movie, which, at $1.3 billion, became the third highest-grossing film domestically of all time. But this go-round, because of the Greater Boston Black Panther filming, Massachusetts stands to collect profits that might have been Georgia’s alone.
Now that the Massachusetts tax credit is permanent, I hope the long-time critics will stop sniping about it. With enthusiastic promotion, Massachusetts can use the tax credit successfully to compete. And the state’s investment can be more than offset by a robust schedule of movie and TV productions.
Hollywood on the Charles has a nice ring to it.
