ARIZONA FILM INSIDER - MARCH 2026

ARIZONA PRODUCTION UPDATE

Arizona Creative Economy Day

This Tuesday, March 31st, is Arizona Creative Economy Day at the State Capitol. It’s a full day of working with our state leadership on the importance of our Creative Economy, and yes, film jobs are part of the Creative Economy. This is a great opportunity to share your story with legislators and help them understand how important the creative industries are to our State. The event starts with a light breakfast at 8:30AM, our industry will be recognized on both floors, the House and Senate, at 10:00AM, then face-to-face meetings with legislators from 11AM to 5PM, the day ends with a closing reception at the Flinn Foundation. It’s $75 for the whole day. For more information and to register, visit here. Hope to see you there.

INSIDE THE AZ LEGISLATURE

New Appointment in LD3

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has unanimously appointed Cody Reim to fill the Legislative District 3 vacancy left by former Representative Joseph Chaplik who resigned to run for Congress in CD1.

While a single appointment does not immediately shift the broader legislative landscape, changes in membership can influence committee dynamics, floor votes, and caucus priorities, particularly as we move into the later stages of session. We will continue to monitor how this transition may impact conversations relevant to Arizona’s film and production industry, especially as key policy and budget discussions take shape.

Committees Wrap, Budget Season Ahead

As we approach the end of March, the Legislature is entering a major transition point. This week marks the final opportunity for bills to be heard in committee in their chamber of origin. In response, committee agendas have grown significantly longer, and floor calendars continue to expand as lawmakers work to move legislation before deadlines.

Once committees conclude their work, the Legislature will shift into the “hurry up and wait” phase of session. During this time, activity slows on the surface while negotiations around the state budget begin to take shape behind the scenes.

There are already indications that lawmakers may take an extended “spring break” in April before returning to engage in more formal budget discussions. A key milestone will be the Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) meeting in mid-April, which will provide updated revenue projections for the state. These numbers are critical, as they set the framework for budget negotiations and determine the level of available funding for various priorities.

Despite it being an election year, there is no indication that these will be short negotiations. Constitutionally, a balanced budget must be agreed upon by June 30th.

As always, we will continue to track developments closely and keep the Coalition informed as the legislature transitions into budget season.

INSIDE FILM TUCSON

The producers of a recent Honda commercial approached us when they needed (1) metropolitan pizzazz, (2) awe-inspiring desert vistas, and (3) a casual dining/shopping district with a warm southwestern feel.

"We got you," we said (but in a much more professional manner).

The filmmakers were dazzled by the variety of looks we have, and had their minds blown (but in a much more professional manner) when they learned that both our City and County film permits are fee-free.

For those keeping score, their location choices were: (1) downtown Tucson, (2) Tucson Mountain Park, and (3) Old Town Artisans.

INSIDE PHOENIX FILM OFFICE

With Spring Training in full swing, Phoenix is entering one of its busiest production windows of the year.  Baseball continues to be a major driver this month, with national brands capturing athlete content and seasonal campaigns tied to the start of the season.  These shoots typically move fast, and our sunny weather makes Phoenix a reliable backdrop for everything from endorsements to travel‑and‑tourism pieces.

Beyond baseball, the broader spring rush is underway as companies look to secure warm‑weather locations for their spring and summer product launches.  This annual surge brings a familiar side effect: tightening crew availability.  But it also means steady work for locals, strong spending with vendors, and continued momentum for Greater Phoenix’s production ecosystem.

March is always a high‑energy period for our market, and with nearly 60% of our usual March inquiries already in the scorebook by the middle of the month, this year is shaping up no differently. Let’s play ball.