Name: Jeff Crow
City: West Seattle
Briefly describe your work: Property Master and Art Director for feature films, commercials, music videos, and photography.
How long have you been in this industry? Over 25 years in total and 11 years in Washington State. My first feature film was in 1992.
Why is Washington State a great place to film?
The sheer diversity of landscape: the Pacific beaches, the San Juan Islands, the lush green of the west side rolling foothills, the dramatic Cascades and its glacier capped “Ring of Fire” volcanoes, and the vast farmlands and wide sweeping prairies east of the mountains. From the big city swagger of Seattle, with working ports and waterfront, to whistle stop western towns of the Palouse, there is something for everyone here.
What do you enjoy most about the work that you do? About being on set?
No two days are ever the same, and I’ve been privileged to have access to amazing locations most people will never see. My time on set varies from job to job, but working with the rest of the crew to make a scene visually work is something I always enjoy about working in that environment. I thrive on figuring out solutions to all the unexpected problems that inevitably occur during the process of shooting.
What kind of financial benefits have you seen or experienced from the incentive in your greater community?
Being a department head, whether I’m working with tiny independent film budgets or the larger scale budgets of television series like Z Nation, has allowed me to directly witness how money is spent and spread across this state. Sourcing props and set dressing is almost always kept in state. Local purchases, rentals, even free items acquired for shooting have positive effect on local economies, as buyers fan out across the state to find that perfect prop or set dressing for a scene.
What would you like legislators to know about the incentive renewal?
The incentive has allowed me to stay in Washington State to work. Its benefits radiate out from the production in ways that are sometimes hard to fathom. There is a very talented, creative, film community here that is hungry for work and needs this incentive to continue in Washington State.
What would happen with your film career and life if it were to go away?
I would either have to move away from Washington to stay in film, or switch jobs to a less creative endeavor.