Local Actor Dustin James Landing Film Roles Thanks to Arizona Tax Incentives

Arizona tax incentives are helping local Arizona actors get a chance to work on Hollywood projects.

(PRWEB) April 23, 2008 -- When Director John Herzfeld (HBO's 'Tales from the Crypt) began filming a new movie-of-the-week for SPIKE TV in February, about an elite, secret Los Angeles police force called S.I.S (Special Investigation Squad), the cameras rolled not in Tinseltown, but in Mesa, Scottsdale and Phoenix. Film production tax credits offered by the state of Arizona, it turns out, are helping lure more and more such projects to the desert.

"These tax incentives are helping me, as a local actor, work on these bigger feature projects," said Dustin James, an Arizona native, local actor and national voiceover talent who landed a villain role in S.I.S. Indeed, James previously landed a part in 'Kids in America,' a college comedy shot in Arizona in 2007 starring Topher Grace, who played Eric Forman on the eight-year run of "That '70s Show."

For the SPIKE TV project, James read scenes with Domenick Lombardozzi, who for the last six years played Detective Thomas 'Herc' Hauk on the Emmy-nominated HBO series 'The Wire.'

"We read together, on set, in front of the crew," said James. "That was a new experience for me." James landed the role of Bowen, a miscreant who has the know-how to pull off a major diamond heist in downtown LA.

The 21-day shoot included locations in Mesa (Bowen's house), Scottsdale (the heist-target jewelry store at Scottsdale and Shea), and downtown Phoenix (an abandoned building that doubled as an exterior for the jewelry store. James, who is based in Scottsdale but spends half of each month in L.A. for his acting roles and voiceover work, was on set for nine days.

"I tried to do something different with the part," he said. "Rather than just reading the character breakdown as the writer (Herzfeld) envisioned, I tried to bring some of my arbitrary choices and qualities to the character."

'Kids in America' is slated for release this year. There is no scheduled air date yet for S.I.S.

About Dustin James: Born in Phoenix, James received his creative imprint early as the son of a professional guitarist and well-respected talent agent. After the guitar at age five, he picked up drums at seven, acting by 12, and dancing throughout adolescence. At 17, he launched his professional creative career by studying acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. James has lived and worked as an actor in both New York and Los Angeles with a determined resolve to the creative arts. Along the way, he acted in episodes of Law and Order and One Life To Live and performed in the 20-year revival of Torch Song Trilogy. In 2006 he starred in the feature film Redemption and in 2007 landed a supporting role in the new Universal Feature Film Kids in America starring Topher Grace. Dustin kicked off 2008 filming the new SPIKE TV movie S.I.S. playing the role of Bowen, and edgy hood who initiates the diamond heist.

Visit his Dustin's Website at www.dustinjames.us or contact Sheila R. Rose at (949) 838-4271 to schedule an interview.

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