FILM LEADERSHIP IN MASSACHUSETTS
Finally!
Last Tuesday, there were two interesting and contrasting occurrences. On the front page of the City section of the Boston Globe was an article about the confusing state of affairs around the state film office. Joanna Weiss, who wrote the article, and with whom I had talked, did a good job of covering the turf, and it did not only reflect the confusion but the fundamental silliness of the situation. And it is clear that the problem is in part due to the lack of leadership or interest from the top; i.e., Romney.
Cut to the first meeting of the Massachusetts Production Coalition that evening, the best attended, best organized gathering of the film making professionals I've attended in the past 25 years. It was a meeting about leadership, organization and power, specifically around the O'Brien bill that would create tax incentives not only for productions that come into Boston, but also for producers who are making films in Massachusetts. The bill will have a hearing at the State House at ll:00 am this Tuesday. The bill provides incentives for out of state productions to use Massachusetts crew, and provides incentives for producers who spent $250,000 a year in the state. True, that is hard for documentary filmmakers, and investors get ignored, but it is a beginning.
What was impressive was the preparation for the meeting by John Rule, Chris O'Dennell and others. Lyda Luth of the LEF Foundation was one of the speakers. In the audience were Liane Brandon, co-founder of New Day Films, Bill Aydelott, producer of John Sayles first film, Ben Achtenberg of Fanlight films, editor Loren Miller, cinematographer Tom Robotham, media publisher Carol Patton, legendary filmmaker Jan Egleson, emerging filmmaker Kris Britt Montag. I could go on. But the meeting attracted fewer wannabes and actors and more true industry professionals than any other I have attended.
What is clear is that the legislators have little awareness of the film and video community, and that they need to be educated. Romney does, too. It will probably, with enough organization, be easier to reach the legislators.
During the well run Q&A, someone asked about the film office mess. The answer was that that is irrelevant until there is a cohesive tax bill that could both benefit filmmakers outside and inside the state. It seems that Robin Dawson has exited from the competition to take on the even more daunting task of running the Boston Film Festival, one of the worst run festivals in the country and one of the most irrelevant.
But John Rule and company deserve plaudits for the work they have done. Based on what I experienced Tuesday night, all of us who struggle to make a living in film and video might benefit, but only if we help the cause.
Last week, I wrote about the lack of leadership
Last Tuesday, there were two interesting and contrasting occurrences. On the front page of the City section of the Boston Globe was an article about the confusing state of affairs around the state film office. Joanna Weiss, who wrote the article, and with whom I had talked, did a good job of covering the turf, and it did not only reflect the confusion but the fundamental silliness of the situation. And it is clear that the problem is in part due to the lack of leadership or interest from the top; i.e., Romney.
Cut to the first meeting of the Massachusetts Production Coalition that evening, the best attended, best organized gathering of the film making professionals I've attended in the past 25 years. It was a meeting about leadership, organization and power, specifically around the O'Brien bill that would create tax incentives not only for productions that come into Boston, but also for producers who are making films in Massachusetts. The bill will have a hearing at the State House at ll:00 am this Tuesday. The bill provides incentives for out of state productions to use Massachusetts crew, and provides incentives for producers who spent $250,000 a year in the state. True, that is hard for documentary filmmakers, and investors get ignored, but it is a beginning.
What was impressive was the preparation for the meeting by John Rule, Chris O'Dennell and others. Lyda Luth of the LEF Foundation was one of the speakers. In the audience were Liane Brandon, co-founder of New Day Films, Bill Aydelott, producer of John Sayles first film, Ben Achtenberg of Fanlight films, editor Loren Miller, cinematographer Tom Robotham, media publisher Carol Patton, legendary filmmaker Jan Egleson, emerging filmmaker Kris Britt Montag. I could go on. But the meeting attracted fewer wannabes and actors and more true industry professionals than any other I have attended.
What is clear is that the legislators have little awareness of the film and video community, and that they need to be educated. Romney does, too. It will probably, with enough organization, be easier to reach the legislators.
During the well run Q&A, someone asked about the film office mess. The answer was that that is irrelevant until there is a cohesive tax bill that could both benefit filmmakers outside and inside the state. It seems that Robin Dawson has exited from the competition to take on the even more daunting task of running the Boston Film Festival, one of the worst run festivals in the country and one of the most irrelevant.
But John Rule and company deserve plaudits for the work they have done. Based on what I experienced Tuesday night, all of us who struggle to make a living in film and video might benefit, but only if we help the cause.
Last week, I wrote about the lack of leadership
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home