Film Alliance of Iowa Meeting Today

Film Alliance of Iowa Open Meeting, With Guest, Iowa Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr.

January 8, 2011

About one hundred members of the Iowa Film Family attended a meeting organized by the new Iowa film organization, the Film Alliance of Iowa. The meeting was held in a meeting room in the Iowa Historical Building in downtown Des Moines.

Panel members included Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr., who is the staunchest supporter of filmmakers in Iowa. Others were Suzie Gorrell, Film SE Iowa; Becky Gruening, Des Moines Film Commission; and Doug Miller, Quad Cites Film Coalition.

Des Moines TV coverage of this meeting may be available on their web sites: WHOTV-13 (NBC), and KCCI TV-8 (CBS).

Those attending this important meeting included actors, make-up and hair artists, transportation crew, producers, union leaders, casting directors, craft services providers, and more. It was like being on a movie set again as friends were reunited, with hugs and smiles in great abundance. A film family reunion that warmed many hearts, including my own.

Senator Dotzler began the meeting by saying, “A good idea is a good idea all of the time”, meaning the Iowa film program that enjoyed huge public support at the beginning and then suffered when Iowa's outgoing Governor Culver axed the film program when abuses of the tax incentives surfaced.

The senator said his fellow legislators became inclined to avoid any involvement with the movie program, owing to the widespread media coverage of abuses and upcoming trials of those moviemakers who took unfair advantage of the tax incentive program. He said the majority of Iowa lawmakers didn't even want to talk about the situation.

Senator Dotzler said film production here keeps creative Iowans from leaving the state, and that having creative thinkers is important for Iowa's culture. He said the Film Alliance of Iowa is a good vehicle to help re-invent the resumption of film production here.

He said it is essential that Iowa legislators be convinced that there will be a good return for the taxpayers' investment in the tax incentive program. The senator also said although lots of legislators are presently against it, with good planning and with a concerted effort they could be convinced to change their minds. He believes we can learn from the failure of the film tax incentive program and bounce back to make a model film bill. He said we would not get a film bill this year, and that it'll be a two year process, meaning 2012 and not later than 2013.

The senator said we must have an Iowa film office set-up this year. Presently, there is no film office and all film matters are clogged with delayed trials of a few moviemakers who didn't fairly report their film-related expenses, and also the delayed trial of former Iowa Film Office director, Tom Wheeler.

Incoming governor Terry Branstad wants to dismantle the IDED and put film matters into the Iowa Cultural Affairs Department, somehow using a combination of private and public entities to manage filmmaking here.



Becky Gruening told the crowd that the Iowa Film Office had been underfunded. She suggested dedicating a budget of $500,000 per year for the Iowa Film Office for two years, and then allow it to be self-sufficient. A staff of three personnel would be needed and a positive public relations campaign would be essential to bring movie producers back to Iowa.

IMPA President, Kent Newman asked Senator Dotzler about the present status of court cases related to movies made here and wondered where things stand. The senator said he only knew what he saw in the press, and that the Iowa Attorney General has been tight-lipped about these cases and that all cases are moving slowly, but not just film-related cases, but all cases.

Becky Gruening told the crowd that although at one point the Iowa Attorney General said there were 100 film projects still coming, the fact is that every single one is dead. An information sheet was shared with everyone detailed this. She also said that despite allegations that Iowa faces a one hundred fifty million dollar tax liability related to films, there is nothing... the moviemakers are gone.

Make-up and hair stylist Andrea Politte spoke-up, and suggested that an entertainment lawyer be added to the film office staff. She said it will come down to marketing to help get things back on track. We're the laughing stock in Hollywood and need to become knowledgeable and competitive. She said people loved having movies made here and that we need to stick together as a united group, and that there is power in numbers.

Senator Dotzler agreed with Andrea and said legislators legislate by the polls, then design a campaign to fit those public opinion polls. He said public opinion is vitally important and that they drive legislation.

Kim Busbee spoke, saying she knows of seventy-two movie industry personnel who have moved out of Iowa and that we must counteract the smear campaign regarding our filmmakers' problems by use of solid facts. She said people were supportive of filmmakers here and that filmmaking is big business, and that we can learn from the mistakes made in film offices of other states who have experienced problems of their own.

Senator Dotlzer said there are thirty new faces in the Iowa legislature and that the film bill is a bipartisan one, meaning there could be no finger pointing regarding any of the bill's problems.

Susie said Florida had a film tax credit program, then it didn't, but now they're back with lots of big shots behind it all.

Kent said the IMPA has an on-line Film Production Guide. When the Iowa Film Office was alive, it was the keeper of this guide.

Teamsters Union representative Matt Ballard told the panel that pass-through companies pulled in workers from others states and that we need to use Iowans instead. He said there are ten thousand Teamster members in Iowa. Susie said the IFA would ensure that Iowans are indeed used first.

Jay Villwock said everyone in the room should talk to people, get involved, meet with state legislators. Doug said a petition should be created with all present at the meeting signing it and more, and then presenting this petition to key legislators. He also said we need to speak with a single voice.


Andrew Erickson (hope this is the correct spelling..) said someone needs to be on site when movies are made, an auditor with film expertise who is certified to oversee the daily activities of a film.. This way, questions regarding any problems could be answered on site and not delayed, such as waiting to take matters to the film office.

Senator Dotzler said the Iowa Film Office exists under a bill and that something can still be done with it. He reiterated that tax dollars appropriated to filmmakers need to show a good bang for the buck. He said we need to maintain strong checks and balances and portray Iowa appropriately.

Gene L. Hamilton