KOKOMO, Ind. (Aug. 31, 2010) - Bach Morris Technologies Corp., a developer of interactive children's toys and media announced today that it will produce the animated film Whoever Heard of a Herd of Fird? in Indiana with the help of state film tax credits.
Kokomo-based Bach Morris Technologies' film project is estimated to create more than 20 high-skill jobs including, artists, animators and programmers, among other positions. Of the film's more than $2.4 million budget, more than $2.2 million, or 91 percent, is projected to be spent in Indiana.
"I am pleased that Bach Morris has chosen to produce this project in Indiana," said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
Based on author Othello Bach's best-selling 1984 book Whoever Heard of a Fird?, the animated and musical film production Whoever Heard of a Herd of Fird? is scheduled to begin production in the first quarter of 2011 and will be tentatively ready for release in the second quarter of 2012. Whoever Heard of a Herd of Fird? is Bach Morris' first film project.
"We're excited to get to work making this story come to life for children and to be making that happen in Indiana," said Mark Morris, author and chief operations officer at Bach Morris Technologies Corp. "We're an Indiana company and it made good sense for us make this investment in our home community."
Bach Morris Technologies is developing a line of interactive toys based on characters, like Fird, and others from stories authored by Bach and Morris. The toys will listen and speak to users with the goal of promoting positive interactions and situational awareness. In addition, the company will launch a website with downloadable games and stories.
Ball State University's Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts will also provide production, design and simulation services for the film project through its commercial spin-off Immersive LLC, which will be launched in fall of 2010. The Ball State Institute, supported by the Lilly Foundation Inc., is a project based center which connects university researchers and students with industry professionals.
"We are extremely happy that Bach Morris Technologies has selected the IDIA and Immersive, LLC for this exciting joint venture," said John Fillwalk, director of Ball State University's Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts, "The directive of Ball State University's IDIA lab, and now Immersive, LLC, is to design, produce, and commercialize our new media technology development environment for the East Central Indiana marketplace."
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Bach Morris Technologies up to $111,245 under the state's Media Production Expenditure Tax Credit program, based on the company's projected Indiana production costs. Established in 2008 the tax credit provides individuals or entities with an up to 15% tax credit on their qualified in-state production costs.
Whoever Heard of a Herd of Fird? is the latest film to choose Indiana for all or part of its production. Recently, films Transformers 3, Public Enemies and Nightmare on Elm Street were filmed, in-part, in Northwest Indiana.
About Bach Morris
Bach Morris Technologies Corp., an Indiana for-profit corporation, was incorporated on September 21, 2009, to create, develop, patent, and license the intellectual properties and technologies needed to sustain an interactive life skills learning and development platform. On December 9th, 2009, the IEDC certified Bach Morris Technologies Corp. as a Qualified High Technology Business for the Venture Capital Investment Tax Credit program. For more information visit www.bachmorristechnologies.com
About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Mitch Roob serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
