Dear legend of screen and dojo,

We're sorry to bother you, but Alaska is in the middle of what some people are calling “an arms race” among states trying to attract filmmakers through state subsidy, and it could really use your help.

According to Internet lore, you're capable of numerous implausible and even impossible feats. We've heard that you can roundhouse kick a $10 bill into 200 nickels, can divide by zero, and have counted to infinity -- twice. We've even heard that you can order a Big Mac at Burger King and get one. Since diversifying Alaska's economy is apparently a similarly difficult challenge, we thought you'd deem it worthy of your intervention.

With you on its side, Alaska would be unbeatable in the fight for movie industry favor. And if you decide you can't help, at least then we'd have a better idea of when to throw in the towel. We know you don't feel concern -- you just cause it -- but we're worried and slightly confused about the debate brewing for Alaska's very young film industry.

You may not know this, but the state of Alaska offers millions in transferable tax credits to film productions that make movies and TV shows in Alaska. In practice, productions usually qualify for reimbursement by the Alaska Film Office for around one-third of their budgets. The state doesn't disclose what kinds of expenses are being reimbursed, nor does anyone divulge who's buying the credits after they're issued (three guesses, though). But over the three years since the program has been in effect, the state has given out around $13 million in subsidies, and Outside film crews say it's a key reason they choose to film in Alaska. Undoubtedly, there has been a big increase in TV shows and feature films being made in Alaska since the subsidy program began.

Which plenty of Alaskans think is great. For decades, we The Concerned were dismayed to see Alaska's unique scenery and people stuck being depicted by inferior body doubles. We always used to imagine how much more awesome the TV show “Northern Exposure” would have been if it had been produced in Talkeetna, Wrangell or Cordova. We're not members of the glitterati, but we have to believe there's no way it gets shut out in the 1991 or 1993 Emmy Awards in that case.

At any rate, as glad as we are that the full glory of Alaska is finally being shown as it actually appears, and performance-inclined Alaskans are finally getting a chance to build their resumes without leaving state, we're also concerned that the program is artificially growing an industry that won't be able to sustain itself if the state money dries up. After all, it's not like Ship Creek warehouses are filling up with sound stages and CGI skunk works.

Reportedly, one study counts Alaska's incentive program as the most lucrative in the nation. And with other states battered by the recession beginning to scale back their film programs, it looks like Alaska's comfortably in the lead. But not all states are scaling back; some are boosting their incentives. Alaska's program has a sunset clause that requires it to be renewed by the Legislature, and its continued existence will be under debate next session.