HARRISBURG -- Southwestern Pennsylvania legislators joined executives from film offices in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Lancaster yesterday to urge speedy passage of bills that would increase financial grants and extend tax credits to movie companies that decide to make their movies in the state.

"Pennsylvania has a plethora of buildings and places where you can re-create any environment you want" for a movie scene, said state Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park.

He recalled people from one Pittsburgh neighborhood being upset one day when they found some of their streets temporarily off limits to travel and parking. "But then they found out that a movie was being shot there and they were so excited that their neighborhood had been chosen for a film,'' he said.

He and Sharon Pinkenson, director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, recalled some of the well-known films shot in Pennsylvania over the past 40 years, including "Witness," "The Silence of the Lambs," "Girl, Interrupted," "National Treasure," "The Mothman Prophecies," "Philadelphia," "The Deer Hunter," "Wonder Boys," "Inspector Gadget," "The Sixth Sense" and the horror classic "Night of the Living Dead."

Some TV shows have been shot in the state, including "The Guardian" (set in Pittsburgh) and a new show, "The Kill Point," shot in Lawrenceville and Downtown and set to air on Spike TV starting July 22.

Mr. Ferlo has introduced Senate Bill 1008, which would provide a 25 percent tax credit to filmmakers with movie budgets more than $2 million. A companion bill, SB 1007, would increase, from $10 million to $15 million, a pool of grant money available to producers and directors who choose Pennsylvania for their movies. To qualify for the aid, filmmakers must spend at least 60 percent of their total production budget in Pennsylvania.

The film grant program began at $10 million in 2004 but quickly ran out of money as filmmakers took advantage of it, Ms. Pinkenson said. The program provides grants up to 20 percent of production costs for projects costing less than $2 million. Identical bills also have been introduced in the House.

"Over the last few years, Pennsylvania really has emerged as a premier television series and movie-making destination,'' said Ms. Pinkenson. "But if we want to keep the cameras rolling, then we need to create incentives that make our commonwealth an attractive place to do business.''

She noted New Mexico "is selling itself aggressively as a film capital," going from just two film projects in 2002 to 31 movie productions. Much of that growth stems from New Mexico's 25 percent tax credit, which Pennsylvania is now trying to duplicate.