GOVERNOR MOORE ANNOUNCES IMPACT OF ‘LADY IN THE LAKE’ PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND FILM INDUSTRY
BALTIMORE, MD (July 9, 2024) — Governor Wes Moore today announced the impact of the upcoming limited series Lady in the Lake, which is scheduled to be released on Apple TV+ on Friday, July 19. The production created 1,132 Maryland jobs; utilized goods and services from 2,456 local businesses; and paid for more than 32,000 hotel room nights at local lodging establishments—generating more than $100 million during its production in Maryland.
“Our administration is unafraid to make big bets on the industries we can lead in – and that includes the world of entertainment,” said Gov. Moore. “By asserting Maryland’s leadership in television, we will create jobs, drive growth, and unleash our state’s full potential. We’re very thankful for Apple’s and Fifth Season’s investment in Maryland, and we hope to continue this fruitful relationship for years to come.”
Created and directed by Alma Har’el and based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Maryland author Laura Lippman, Lady in the Lake takes place in 1960s Baltimore. An unsolved murder pushes a housewife and mother to reinvent herself as an investigative journalist which sets her on a collision course with a hard-working woman juggling motherhood, many jobs, and a passionate commitment to advancing Baltimore’s Black progressive agenda.
Lady in the Lake’s production team started scouting Baltimore in November 2021 and began shooting in May 2022, filming throughout the region for three and a half months. Production utilized the Maryland Film Production Activity Tax Credit, an incentive of the Maryland Film Office that helps attract productions to film on-location in the state and provides refundable tax credits for certain costs incurred during filming.
“I want to thank Apple and Fifth Season, our team at the Maryland Film Office, and our partners at the Baltimore Film Office for all their hard work during this production. That time and dedication has resulted in an impressive investment in our state,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson. “We look forward to seeing the final product when it hits streaming services next week.”
The series stars Academy Award winner Natalie Portman (Black Swan, The Other Boleyn Girl, Thor), Moses Ingram (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Queen’s Gambit), and David Corenswet (We Own This City).
Produced by television studio Fifth Season with Crazyrose and Bad Wolf, Lady in the Lake is executive produced, written and directed by Har’el alongside producing partner Christopher Leggett. In addition to starring, Portman serves as executive producer alongside producing partner Sophie Mas. Crazyrose principal Nathan Ross and the late Jean-Marc Vallée also serve as executive producers, and Julie Gardner executive produces for Bad Wolf America. Layne Eskridge, Amy Kaufman, Boaz Yakin, and author Lippmann also executive produce.
“Baltimore is one of the best cities to film in,” said Baltimore Film Office Director Debbie Donaldson Dorsey. “Our crew, actors, city agencies, and local businesses all contributed to Lady in the Lake, and we are looking forward to seeing 1960s Baltimore in this new limited series.”
About the Maryland Film Office
The Maryland Film Office aims to attract productions to film on-location in the state of Maryland, as well as support the state’s local film community. The office’s goal is to make the process of filming in Maryland as easy as possible, by providing location scouting and pre-production research, in addition to acting as a government and community liaison throughout film production. For more information on available tax credits, visit marylandfilm.org.
About Maryland Commerce
The Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State’s many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit commerce.maryland.gov.
