Best-selling author Daniel James Brown will be in Olympia this Friday for a discussion of his award winning book, “The Boys in the Boat.”

The event is being held to raise awareness about Washington’s film industry. Brown’s book, about the University of Washington’s men’s varsity crew team’s journey to win the gold medal at the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany, will soon be adapted into a film to be produced by the Weinstein Company.

Earlier this session, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, introduced Senate Bill 6027 as a way to attract more film projects to the area by expanding the state’s already available film tax incentive. The bill is strongly supported by Washington’s film industry.

“This book is hugely important to our state’s history. It takes place at the University of Washington and that’s where it should be filmed. It wouldn’t be authentic at all if it were shot somewhere else, such as at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver,” said Kohl-Welles.

Friday’s event is hosted by Kohl-Welles and Senate Bill 6027’s co-sponsors Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, and Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver.

Washington’s film incentive program is the fifth lowest in the country, resulting in many producers filming movies that take place in Washington in B.C. and in Oregon with exterior shots only in Washington. The other locations have much higher incentive programs and as such get the jobs and related revenue.

Friday’s event begins at 12:30 p.m. in the State Reception Room in the Legislative Building on the Capitol campus. All are welcome to attend.

“This isn’t just about film aesthetics,” added Kohl-Welles. “Film and motion picture productions provide a major economic boost to local communities. That’s why I sponsored this bill, to bring more film jobs to Washington.”