"State has once again become the Hollywood of the Midwest,"

Since becoming governor more than two years ago, Rod Blagojevich has wooed Hollywood like a teenage underdog in a melodrama trying to get the prettiest girl in school to notice him.

He’s held news conferences. He’s passed laws. He’s traveled to California, all with an eye toward getting directors and producers to make Chicago and Illinois a frequent locale for films and TV shows.

And Blagojevich has had some success. But on Monday, the governor plans to take his love affair with Hollywood to the next level by signing legislation extending tax breaks for movie producers and enticing them with greater incentives if they hire more minorities from Illinois to work behind the camera.

The bill-signing is expected to take place in Chicago on the set of "The Break-Up," a romantic comedy being filmed in Chicago and starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston.

Two years ago, the governor signed the state’s first tax-break legislation for the film industry on the South Side set of "Barbershop 2." Since that time, big-name stars such as Julia Roberts, Christian Bale and Nicholas Cage have been spotted about town while filming "Ocean’s 12," "Batman Begins" and "The Weather Man." State officials say the movie industry has since poured more than $144.5 million into the state’s economy.

By John Chase
Tribune staff reporter

Full Story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0507110096jul11,1,6686668.story?coll=chi-business-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true