by KYW's Tony Romeo

Governor Ed Rendell believes the level of production activity in Pennsylvania vindicates his push for state film tax credits. 

The governor (in file photo above) took more than a little heat for his support of film tax credits, but he says he and his state film office director now make sure lawmakers know how they’re working out:

“A huge success. And I want you to know that Jane Shecter and I send the legislature every newspaper article -- from Pittsburgh, from Philadelphia, from suburban newspapers. It’s probably produced beyond even my optimistic projections. It’s been a huge success, in revenue, in jobs created, in indirect jobs.”

According to figures provided by the Rendell administration, in the fiscal year coming to a close -- the first fiscal year that the $75 million in film tax credits were available -- the total film production in the state has topped $300 million. 

In the previous fiscal year, when there was only a $10-million film grant program with a $2-million cap per film, production topped out at only $97 million. 

What does that mean for Philadelphia? Governor Rendell talked about just that one day last month:

“Philadelphia, in one day, had Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Morgan Fairchild, it had all these stars in the city in one day, and that adds general reputation of the city as a place to live, a place to visit, a place to recreate in.”

The Rendell administration says film production this year supported 4,000 jobs statewide.