Knock, knock, it’s the creative economy calling.

This economic philosophy came before the Legislature in the form of a pair of young filmmakers pitching a major movie production for Western Maine. They called it, “Tumbledown,” a romantic comedy.

A bill authorizing a tax break for the purported $5 million production died in the Senate, however. The filmmakers, with Farmington roots, had sought the return of $200,000 over four years for their production.

The rationale was simple. Other New England states would have given them that much, if not more, to make their movie there. And in celluloid tradition, the wilds of Maine can be played by others, which happens too often.

“The Mist,” a film adaptation of a Stephen King work released last year, showed stranded supermarket shoppers being sucked away into a gory demise, thanks to a mysterious mist enveloping the town of Bridgton.

Which was portrayed in the film by that great method actor, Shreveport, La.

Cameron Bonsey, who blogs about Maine filmmaking, made a novel calculation after seeing “The Mist” in theaters last year. He wondered what the economic impact for Maine would have been, if every movie based on a Stephen King work were made here.

His conclusion? For the 72 King-based movies he found, Bonsey estimated their total budgets at approximately $1.2 billion. Using industry economic multipliers, he then calculated Maine could have generated $378 million from the King movies.

Even if he’s only half-right, these are thought-provoking numbers.

Advocates still call for greater filmmaking incentives in Maine, despite changes in 2006, due to the stiff competition for movies from other states. There are great arguments for strengthening them.

The first is there’s no reason why Bridgton should be played by Louisiana. There’s no reason, period, for Maine to be portrayed by anywhere else but Maine.

The spectacle of moviemaking, as well, is a welcome disruption. The productions of “Empire Falls” and “In the Bedroom” in the Waterville, Skowhegan and Rockland areas in recent years brought attention, investment and excitement to those communities. A little Hollywood buzz, now and then, is a good thing.

And in Maine, where the prospect of change can be filibustered, moviemaking leaves when the movie wraps. All they leave is the money behind.

Then there’s the creative economy, a centerpiece of Maine economic development. Filmmaking embodies the core of this principle – an industry that is youthful, innovative, and reliant upon Maine’s “quality of place.”

It’s an industry that needs Maine as it is, not wanting to change Maine for its purposes.

By saying no to the young filmmakers, lawmakers missed a good chance to throw support behind an intriguing industry and economic principle.

We hope the film, wherever it’s made, treats Maine kindly.