Taylor Edwin Ashley Credit: Photo c/o Taylor Edwin Ashley

Tampa Bay needs to focus more money, via tax incentives, on local film and television production. In 2016 Florida stopped offering tax incentives for film and television production. “Florida Man,” a Netflix show set in Florida, is filmed in North Carolina. Ben Affleck’s “Live by Night,” a love letter written about the golden age of Ybor was filmed in Georgia.

Local creatives have to choose if they want to work in their industry of choice and move away, or change careers to stay in the Tampa Bay Area. The local economy is missing out. Not only are Home Depot, Chick-fil-A and Hilton missing out, but films and TV shows bring tourism. We’re leaving money on the table.—Taylor Edwin Ashley, Independent filmmaker

To commemorate the leap year, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay asked readers and local leaders to chime in on what Tampa Bay needs to be a better place in four years. These are some of the results of the “What Tampa Bay Needs” survey.

UPDATED 03/05/23 12:55 p.m. Updated Ashley’s title to “Independent filmmaker.”