Lee Thomas Article ..Dreaded Tax Credits

This article is taken from another person's blog: Moderated by Rick Badie A popular film industry tax credit has led some to call Georgia the Hollywood of the South. The director of the state film office calls the tax incentive a necessity in a competitive market. A tax analyst suggests it’s time for all states to roll up the red carpet and end subsidies for such a profitable industry. Tax incentives fuel filmmakers’ interest By Lee Thomas Last week, the Georgia Department of Economic Development released the state film office’s fiscal year 2012 economic impact numbers for the film industry — $3.1 billion. The state is currently hosting 32 film and television shows, from home improvement shows to scripted dramas and major feature films. In February 2007, we had one project filming here: the MTV reality show, “Yo Momma.” The economic impact for that fiscal year was $244 million. How did the state’s film and television industry grow over 1,100 percent in five years? First, by having a proactive legislature and governor who supported the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, a tax credit incentive of up to 30 percent for projects. Canada started offering incentives for entertainment projects in the late 1990s. Louisiana started the first competitive domestic incentives in 2002. We lost business to both of them. In 2005, when a biopic of Georgia’s native son, Ray Charles, was filmed in Louisiana, legislators decided enough was enough. Today, a market must offer incentives. Studios’ accounting departments dictate which states can be considered for projects. The tax incentive savings are typically rolled back into the budget, raising the spending level. The influx of cash into the economy is widespread. Georgia’s real estate market has been buoyed by shows that rent warehouses, offices, homes and apartments. The film business supports hotels, restaurants, rental car facilities and so on. More than 60 new businesses have expanded or located in Georgia since 2007, from major sound stages to production support companies. These companies are here because the level of business warrants it. They do not get the film tax credits. The film and television industry has provided tens of thousands of jobs to Georgians, not only in technical positions, but also as caterers, production assistants, painters, hair dressers, etc. A 2011 study indicated that for every dollar the state spends on tax credits, $1.24 is earned in state and local taxes. This does not take into account the value of having Jennifer Aniston talk about how she loves Clarkesville on “Good Morning America,” or the Georgia logo being on the credit roll of a film like “The Blind Side.” It does not represent tourists who travel to Georgia to see the Mystic Grill in Covington from “Vampire Diaries.” Senoia, which hosts AMC’s hit “The Walking Dead,” has seen businesses downtown increase from six in 2006 to 47 by 2012, largely due to the film industry. Georgia is uniquely situated for the film business. We have an experienced workforce and infrastructure to save the production companies money. We have a temperate climate so productions can film year-round. We have a diverse topography of mountains, beaches, plains, small towns and urban landscapes. We have great restaurants and the ease of access provided by the world’s busiest airport. Georgia does not have the highest incentive, but it is sustainable. All of these assets help make filming in Georgia cheaper, easier and more desirable than in most markets. The film industry in Georgia means business! Lee Thomas is director of the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office. Better uses for scarce dollars By Joseph Henchman This November, the Georgia State Archives reduces itself to three staffers due to budget cuts, making Georgia the only state without archives open to the public. Other state agencies have been asked to cut themselves 3 percent, the fifth consecutive year of budget and staff reductions. One program not seeing cuts is the state’s annual $200 million in film tax incentives. In recent years, more than $500 million in Georgians’ taxpayer dollars has been funneled to film and television production. Your tax dollars now pick up as much as 30 percent of qualified production costs of one of America’s most profitable and successful industries. Georgians see some benefits, it is true. The state has seen more productions. A couple thousand Georgians work in entertainment, producing everything from Tyler Perry’s hit movies to the poorly reviewed “Mean Girls 2.” But research by scholars on the left and right has found that most jobs “created” by movie productions are often temporary with limited upward mobility, the kinds of jobs that end when shooting wraps and the production company leaves. Film tax credits will never create an independent industry. Hollywood folks are clear that if the tax spigot is ever turned off, they’re gone. This isn’t a case of the state providing a bit of seed funding to a new industry. It’s subsidizing Hollywood productions for a few weeks’ work. Studio lobbyists are eager to ask for money, but promise no loyalty in return. When Georgia’s tax review commission looked at the credit last year, it recommended elimination. In response, those who benefit from the subsidies argued the credit doesn’t actually lose money since it is refunding tax that wouldn’t have been paid otherwise. I don’t buy that. Georgia had film productions even before the credit, but its credit is actually “transferable.” That means that if a Hollywood company gets a bigger tax refund than it owes, it can sell its unused tax credits to Georgians with big tax bills. That means the state is losing money it would have otherwise collected. Other states are realizing that there are better uses for scarce state tax dollars than expensive and ineffective film tax incentives. By our count, state subsidies for the film industry nationwide have dropped from their all-time record of $1.5 billion in 2010. Many states are at last evaluating the programs, especially after a major embezzlement scandal in Iowa sent film officials and producers to jail. Some states, like California and New York, are giving even more tax subsidies. California is now spending $100 million a year in film tax subsidies, and New York spends an astonishing $400 million a year. Topping them means essentially handing out money. Perhaps a better approach is rolling out the red carpet for everyone, not just the film industry. Instead of high taxes for everyone and low taxes for a few, why not even it out so everyone pays a little less? Small Georgia-grown film productions would benefit, as would loyal Georgia businesses that create jobs year after year. As for Hollywood films, Georgians could make some popcorn and enjoy movies that citizens in other states are subsidizing with their tax dollars. Joseph Henchman is vice president of legal and state projects for the Tax Foundation.

Iowa Film Office Future Still Uncertain

Another trip to the Iowa State House today. Just as we got to the rotunda level, the level for the entrances of both the Senate and House chambers, we were greeted by Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr., of Waterloo. And just as the senator joined Jay Villwock and me at a table near the senate chamber entrance, Wendol Jarvis also joined us. Thus, an impromptu meeting began.

Of course the topic of discussion was the Iowa Film Office. Rep. Jason Schultz and Senator Dotzler are the co-chairs of the Economic Development Budget Conference Committee, where the matter of deciding on funding for the Iowa Film Office has landed and where the life or death of that office will be decided. Schultz is determined to thwart funding of the IFO and Dotzler is determined to get at least some funding for it.

During our meeting, Wendol provided Senator Dotzler with a few examples of how much of a financial impact films can make on a community, examples based on his twenty years of experience as director of the IFO. The senator will use this information when trying to persuade opponents of the film office to change their minds.

A meeting of the above-mentioned conference committee was scheduled for one p.m. today in senate conference room twenty-two in the capitol building, where five members of each chamber were to face off in a discussion of budget matters, including funding of the film office. A few legislators waited for all committee members to appear but only four or five made it to the meeting and the discussion was postponed until next Monday.

Today Jay and I also spoke with Rep. Dan Kelley, who has carried our message to the House floor and tried to gain support for we in the Iowa film community. He, and his House colleagues Ruth Ann Gaines and Ako Abdul-Samad have been working together to widen support for us in the House chamber.

Wendol had a productive meeting with Director of Management and Budget, David Roederer, who urged that we all continue to contact legislators for their support.

We popped in to see the governor's office manager, Leo Hough, where we brought our latest news about our experiences today. Leo has kept the governor informed about what Jay and I have accomplished during our weekly visits to the Iowa State house.

The official ending date for this current Iowa legislative session has passed recently but the session is expected to continue one to two more weeks. During the remaining days of this session Jay and I will continue to make our Capitol visits and I will continue to keep you readers current with what's happening.

Stay tuned.

Gene L. Hamilton

photo shows Wendol Jarvis and Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr.

Troubling Times For Creative Iowans

Our experience at the Iowa Statehouse brings to my mind the following passage from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."

The best of times ended a few years ago when a handful of greedy scoundrels ruined it all for the rest of us who were just gaining momentum in the movie business. The worst of times began with those misdeeds and continues even now as Iowa legislators seem uninterested in supporting creativity in this state. The spring of hope emerged with each of the last three Iowa legislative sessions as Jay Villwock and I received supportive comments from senators and representatives but nothing seemed to take root when those sessions ended and now during the third session since the film office collapsed we learn that the Iowa House tea party-types are turning their collective backs on we actors and crew.

They voted for zero funding for the film office and now they will enter a conference committee with members of the senate to decide the fate of Governor Branstad's budget recommendation of a $400,000 allocation to fund the Iowa film office. We did have everything before us: movie crews, trucks, cameras and lights and the prospects of many movies slated to film here. Then we went the other way, thanks to deeds of evil.

Today Jay and I were joined by Dave Thrasher, who delivered documents containing useful talking points for a few of the Iowa House members, namely Ako Abdul Samad, Ruth Ann Gaines, and Dan Kelley. These rep's intended to use these points to support an amendment they planned to submit to the house but this plan unraveled as follows in this message from Rep. Kelley today: "Reps Abdul-Samad, Gaines and I left the meeting (with Senator Dotzler) this morning with a positive outlook. Sen. Dotzler is a strong supporter of a film office. finding the funding is an issue. Rep. Gaines and I withdrew our amendment. If we had allowed it to be voted on yesterday, this would have given too many Reps in both parties to go on record to opposition to full-funding of the office. This would have been detrimental to those in the conference committee who are supportive of the office. Conference committee on the bill is the most effective route to follow. Our amendment would have complicated the matter."


We did speak with an ally from the Iowa senate, Senator Jack Hatch, who hoped the governor would use his influence to gather more support for funding the IFO. He added that Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr. is one of the most important key players in all of this. We were also welcomed into the office of the director of the Department of Management, David Roederer. Mr. Roederer urged us to continue the fight and not to give up hope.

Gene L. Hamilton

Thanks, Doug Miller, For Alerting Us to This Article

My friend Doug Miller, owner of Great River Studios production company in the Quad Cities, brought the following to my attention today.

The following is from an article credited to the globegazette.com: "WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUNDING: The Iowa Senate has revised its fiscal 2013 budget for economic development programs that includes $20 million for state business incentives, $200,000 to keep the Iowa Film Office operating and $2.3 million to maintain or reopen Iowa Workforce Development field offices.
The amendment Senate Democrats seek to attach to House File 2337 would allocate $1.1 million for satellite offices in Decorah, Fort Madison, Iowa City and Webster City and another $1.2 million to reopen IWD offices in Ames, Atlantic, Denison and Newton.

Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, the bill’s floor manager, said another $150,000 would be allocated to the state library to license an online resource to improve job skills and vocational test-taking abilities of unemployed or under-skilled workers.

The proposal also calls for $4 million for a regent universities innovation fund and would move the Iowa Film Office to the state Department of Cultural Affairs with funding for two full-time positions.

Iowa Film Office: Still A Fight But Increasing Hope

Jay's and my visit to the Iowa Statehouse today began with our meeting Rep. Dan Kelley, a staunch film supporter. He said he's been alert as he awaits the return of the film office bill to the House floor. I know he's been speaking with his colleagues on our behalf and feel fortunate that he is on the side of creative Iowans.

And we met our friend, Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr., who said the "props" bill (appropriations bill containing the IFO funding issue) would be "deferred" so amendments could be added, which I believe means that legislators can add their own issues to the bill before it is approved. Politics. Complicated.

While waiting on the rotunda level, Rep. Jason Schultz unexpectedly came over to explain why he voted for zero funding for the film funding bill a few weeks ago. Although he is not in support he did say there would be further negotiations on this matter and that it is certainly not a dead situation for us. He was very kind and if I said anything bad about him previously I now take it all back. He's doing what he thinks is best for his constituents.

Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines met with us in the House of Representatives lounge. She is a former high school drama teacher and has been speaking out for us this session. She said that she and fellow representatives Dan Kelley and Ako Abdul-Samad are putting together an amendment to support fully funding the Iowa Film Office. This would be attached to the Economic Development bill. Governor Branstad recommended allocating $400,000 to run the IFO.

We met a legislator going in and we met two legislators outside as well. While outside, I approached Rep. Dave Jacoby and apologized for getting him mixed-up, in a earlier report, with Rep. Jason Schultz, both of whom are bald, even balder than myself!!! He laughed it off and accepted my apology. I know that from previous talks with him he is a supporter of amply supporting the IFO.

I recognized Rep. Bob Hager who was also outside and asked what his position was on the film issue. He was quite friendly but said his primary concern was to preserve the unemployment office in his Allamakee district which faced elimination. He implied that there wasn't enough to support both that office and the IFO.

The pace of everything is cumbersome at the Statehouse, so this film funding issue still has some time left on the clock before it will be all over. Continued letters are still needed, so please email legislators to ask that they stand in support of full funding for the film office.

Gene L. Hamilton

You ARE Making An Impact!!!

Shortly after arriving at the Iowa Capitol Building today Jay Villwock and I met former Iowa Film Office director Wendol Jarvis. The three of us worked as a team today and before we could take our first steps we met Senator Brad Zaun, who said the film tax credit portion of the IFO funding bill was struck down in the senate, with his vote being the only one to keep the tax credits. He said this issue would likely go to a conference committee for further discussion. With the issue of tax credits now being removed I think legislators will be more inclined to support Governor Branstad's recommendation of funding the IFO with an allocation of $400,000, but I also think the Iowa House needs to receive more emails from the Iowa film community and others of you who may not be in the film industry but want film making to return to Iowa. Emails should state that film tax credits have NOTHING to do with the film office issue now. Many legislators, especially on the House side, have been skittish about funding the IFO because of their fear of further troubles with tax credits. Hard to believe, but this is quite true as Jay and I have learned from many discussions with these representatives over the past three legislative sessions.

The three of us also met with Rep. Dan Kelley, who does know the facts of this matter, and who has been in close touch with his House colleague and fellow film supporter, Ruth Ann Gaines. Rep. Gaines wants to add an amendment to the current effort to fund the big "Filed of Dreams" bill which would enable the expansion of the Dyersville site of that famous movie, an expansion to attract more tourists to Iowa. Rep. Gaines' amendment would emphasize the importance of funding of the IFO. Gaines' move is well-timed considering how popular that movie was and that it was the IFO under the leadership of Wendol Jarvis that brought the film to Iowa.

We popped in to see the governor's office manager,Leo Hough, a longtime friend of Wendol's. We went over our activities of the day with Leo, who always seems eager to keep up with what is happening with the film issue and who works directly with the governor.

Although very polite and generous with his time to speak with us today, Senator Paul McKinley seemed not inclined to offer his support to the film issue. He stated that we need to speak with Senator Dvorsky, but Jay and I have tried that many times only to be brushed off by him. I felt that Senator McKinley didn't understand the impact of films made in this state.

Rep. Anesa Kajtazovic spoke with us and indicated that she is interested in giving her support to the IFO being revived. She told us that she has personally received many emails from you readers out there, so THANKS to you for hammering away...it seems to be effective!!!

I stopped Senator Merlin Bartz on the rotunda level and he spoke with us and commented that his son is a musician who is eager to gain an agent. Jay and I gave him a suggestion as to who to contact, as did Wendol. I think Senator Bartz is an ally.

Here's what I think. The film tax credit issue is out. The IFO bill is free of that stigma. IF legislators ALL know this I think funding for the IFO will stand a much better chance of succeeding. Thus, it is still vital that you write to Iowa Rep.'s and senators, urging them to stress keeping Governor Branstad's FULL suggested allocation of $400,000 to fund the Iowa Film Office.

I don't know when the shuffling from the House to the Senate will end, but when does end we will need to come out of it with our film office once again in place with Wendol Jarvis leading it. It will take much effort to re-establish trust with movie producers, but Wendol has twenty years of IFO experience and lots of connections, so he is our best hope to get many of you working again.

Thanks so much for writing and helping this situation improve by your letters and calls.

Gene L. Hamilton

I Wonder And I Wonder

The pages of the calendar are rapidly being peeled off and the remaining days of the current Iowa legislative session are becoming fewer and fewer, so please do write to members of the Iowa House of Representatives now and tell them why it's so vitally important to fund the Iowa Film Office as per Governor Branstad's official budget report recommendation of $400,000. This sum is needed to relaunch the IFO, to purchase computers to replace computers pilfered by state employees when Governor Culver dropped the ax on film making here. The film office needs to start from scratch to create a locations file because the original file which contained hundreds of thousands of locations pictures and data was also taken and is lost, probably never to be found. When the film office returns, hopefully with Wendol Jarvis once again at the helm, movie producers will have to be convinced that Iowa actors and crew are not connected with past scandals. They'll need to once again see how beautiful Iowa landscapes and towns are and how honest and friendly Iowans are. Wendol can do a great job when he returns to head the IFO because he has Hollywood connections and years of previous IFO experience.

gene l. hamilton

Politics Is Very Complicated!!!

March 13, 2012. I got an early ride from Jay to the Iowa Capitol today and before eight a.m. we sent in a note via the Iowa Senate master-at-arms to see our friend Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr. He immediately came out of the senate chamber and answered our question as to what to expect with regard to the bill for funding the Iowa Film Office.

This is not easy to follow, but here it is: presently, the bill is in the senate appropriations committee and will next go to the senate floor for discussion and a vote. We understand that this vote may take place this Thursday. This bill was returned to the senate from the house side with the house putting funding for the IFO at ZERO dollars. After the senate votes and indicates their suggested sum for IFO funding, which we believe will be half of what Governor Branstad recommended in his current budget report, which is $400,000, the house will once again discuss this issue on the floor and then either vote the senate's suggestion of $200,000, or vote it down and return the bill to the senate.

If no agreement is made between the senate and the house, the bill goes to a conference committee which I believe is made up of members of both chambers. This can go to a second and even a third conference committee and if no agreement is established the issue would then go to leadership of both chambers.

Senator Dotzler and other legislators have told Jay and me that there is a billion dollar surplus in the budget. We were also told that perhaps this surplus is being reserved to give corporations tax breaks or similar support in the future.

We also spoke today with Senator Liz Mathis of Cedar Rapids, who gave us the impression that is supportive.

Members of the Iowa Senate Appropriations Committee include Senators Dvorsky (who has invariably avoided us), Dotzler (our chief ally), McCoy, Fraise, Dix, Hancock, Bartz, Hatch (who is with us), Black (another firm supporter), Hogg, Boetger, Houser, Bolkom (who at our last meeting indicated he is also with us), Jochum, Danielson, Johnson, Kapucian, Kettering, Ragan, Seymour, and Schoenjahn.

Jay and I think pressure should be applied to Iowa House members since they dealt a low blow by voting zero dollars to fund the IFO.

This could all end as early as the beginning of next month, but nobody knows exactly when this session will end. Our hope is that Governor Branstad will be able to somehow apply pressure to keep his budget recommendation for the IFO at $400,000.

Gene L. Hamilton

Supporting Both Iowa's Past and Future

A Senate bill that would give the Field of Dreams Baseball Park up to $16 million in sales tax rebates is working its way through the legislature.

Meanwhile, a House bill relating to the Department of Cultural Affairs, which includes the Iowa Film Office but has its budget cut down to zero, has passed over to the Senate. One bill represents trading on Iowa's past and the other contains provisions for a state office that could help provide for Iowa's future.

Both the Field of Dreams Baseball Park and the Iowa Film Office would be generally good for the state, but specifically one would benefit only a region of the state, while the other could create opportunities throughout Iowa.

There is a great deal of difference between $16 million and zero. At the Governor's proposed yearly budget of $400,000, the Iowa Film Office could run for 40 years on the amount that this one baseball park could receive.

Without the movie "Field of Dreams", this Dyersville attraction would not exist. If it weren't for the work of the Iowa Film Office, it is very unlikely that this motion picture would have filmed here in Iowa.

In the movie, from which the baseball park takes its name, the lead character, portrayed by Kevin Costner, has to take a leap of faith. He has to believe that "if you build it, they will come." Iowa for many years has traded in on the reputation of this now 23 year old film with its "Fields of Opportunity" slogan, but for this saying to mean anything Iowa must back it up with more than words. Backing it up is more than simply stating that an Iowa Film Office is going to be created within the Department of Cultural Affairs. Resources must be provided to back it up. Nothing has ever run on zero and funding at half or quarter levels brings corresponding results.

Iowa is at a historic crossroads. It has the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of its old Film Office and to grow a new one that runs both stronger and smarter.
It has the opportunity to not only honor its past, through the Field of Dreams Site, but to also create opportunities for for its future, through the work of a fully funded and staffed Iowa Film Office.

"Field of Dreams" is hardly the only movie that can be made in Iowa and live on in the hearts and minds of world's movie audiences. Iowa can be the site of more dreams than just "Field of Dreams."

Please show regard for our future by fully supporting a new Iowa Film Office.

Please Continue To Work The Iowa Legislators for the IFO

Encouraging stuff - Iowa Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines wrote to say she is fully supportive of the Iowa Film Office budget recommendation by the governor. And Senator Pat Ward said she would do what she could to restore funding for the IFO. But there are still legislators who have the misconception that the Department of Cultural Affairs has enough money to fund the IFO, which is not true. The only source for funding is an allocation as outlined by Governor Branstad, which is $400,000 in his budget report. Another misconception by some legislators is that the tax incentive program is still attached to the IFO, which it is NOT. YOU in the Iowa Film Community must continue to write to Iowa legislators, or call or visit them, and urge that they all go with the governor's budget plan.

AP Story: This Would Work For Iowa

Nebraska film incentives bill for cities advances


Associated Press

A bill that would encourage film crews to shoot against a Nebraska backdrop has cleared a first-round vote in the Legislature.

Lawmakers advanced the measure (LB863) Monday with a 33-0 vote.

The bill by Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash allows cities to use state economic development money they receive to attract film, television and commercial productions.

Coash says the measure lets film crews avoid the bureaucracy that often comes with larger, state-based film tax credit programs. He says the bill will also give Nebraska an advantage over other Plains states, which lack local incentives.

Coash introduced the bill in response to a film project in Valentine, which raised questions about whether cities can use their state money for movie productions. City officials approved $5,000 for local businesses that assisted the crew.

Writing Your Legislators Made Easy

A webpage has been set up to make it easy to contact your legislators about this important matter of getting the new Iowa Film Office established and with proper funding. The webpage is called Green Light the New Iowa Film Office and contains links that will automatically insert the email addresses of the selected group into the "To:" field of a new email message. You do the rest.

There is a link for each of the Economic Development Committees of both the Iowa House and Senate and links to email all of the Iowa House of Representatives or all of the Iowa Senate. You don't have an excuse now because there is no longer the daunting task of laboriously copying and pasting a large number of individual email addresses from the Senate and House directory pages.

Here is the link:

Green Light The New Iowa Film Office

Presently the bill that includes the Iowa Film Office (HF2337) is with the Senate Economic Development Committee so those are presently the people to write.

Monday At The Fun House

Today Jay Villwock and I were joined by our friend Dave Thrasher as this was his day off from his job. Dave's been spending lots of time researching things pertaining to the drive to promote ample funding for the Iowa Film Office, such as compiling lists of Iowa legislators, committees, plus much more. The three of us got to the Iowa Capitol early in the morning and this turned out to be a mistake because the first gavel was to happen at one p.m. Fortunately, we were not shut-out. We met Representative Sharon Steckman on the steps leading to the House chamber and she was very warm and easy to talk to. She couldn't understand why the House was going overboard in slashing so many programs because "there is a billion dollar surplus". In addition, she said she would speak to key legislators for us.

We left the State House and returned at about lunch time. Senator Dennis Black advised us to speak with key committee members, committees involved in deciding budget matters. We also were able to speak with Senator Nancy Boettger of Cedar Rapids, who said her son and daughter-in-law are actors there. The senator said she's been a legislator for eighteen years and felt there would be money allocated for the Iowa Film Office this session.

Representative Tyler Olson, who is a member of one of the important decision-making committees, said he would not stand in the way of the needs of the IFO budget matter and that he is "with you guys!". Representative Ruth Ann Gaines said she is behind us and "you know I'm with you!".

Senate President Jack Kibbie said to speak with more legislators, not just him. He was very friendly and was with his wife who assists him in his legislative work.

Jay is always on the trail of someone to talk to about the Iowa film crisis and today he managed to find Governor Branstad about to conduct an interview. Jay told him that we were hard at work trying to gather support for getting the IFO sufficiently funded and the governor said, " Hope we get it in!"

We always manage to talk with PAID lobbyists (we are the UNPAID ones) and we were told by a few that the recent vote by the Iowa House to grant zero funding for the IFO was part of the game played on the Hill each year. Several lobbyists and legislators suggested that we not panic, that the session is not yet over and that we should expect some level of funding for the IFO before this year's session ends.

Gene L. Hamilton

It's A Mad House!

Jay and I Return to the Awful Battle Front

Today we got to the Iowa Capitol Building before seven-thirty in the morning and it wasn't long before we began our encounters with legislators there. The Iowa Representative Jason Shultz, who last week I mistook as being his colleague Dave Jacoby, a film supporter, was our first encounter today.

As Rep. Shultz was making his way into the House chamber, Jay asked if he had voted down the governor's recommended funding of the Iowa Film Office. Without a smile and without even stopping, Mr. Shultz simply said, "Yes, I did."

At the opposite end of the spectrum we met with Senator Joe Bolkom. He was so kind to us, so understanding and supportive. He was disappointed that the Iowa House slashed so many programs with no apparent regard for the human impact this drastic budget axing would have. Funding for the Iowa Film Office was one of those programs that suffered a deadly blow when the House voted for ZERO funding.

While speaking with Senator Bolkom, our friend Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr. joined in and shared his feelings about the House's actions and said he would fight for us and get as much of Governor Branstad's IFO funding recommended allocation as he can.

Soon after this we met with Senator Shawn Hamerlinck, who in past sessions told us he wasn't one who supports the film program, but today he seemed sympathetic, maybe because the House voted for nothing for the IFO. He seemed unhappy that the Iowa House and Senate were so sharply divided. Shawn has always leveled with us and despite his views we find him to be quite honest.

Representative Peter Cownie spoke with us. He was one of the House members who voted against the IFO, yet he said he would "advocate" for us. His wife Mary Cownie is director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, where the Iowa Film Office will reside if it is brought back to life.

Representative Stu Iverson, who has many times spoken with us and who has said he is with us, said this IFO funding issue will last throughout this legislative session and that he believed there would be money allocated to refund the IFO. Fellow representative Dan Kelley is another legislator who has always given us his warm words of support and today he said he would speak for us on the House floor.

Jay and I ran into David Roederer, Director of Management and Budget, who urged us to continue the fight and not give up. I will give you readers the same advice, to continue to write and call Iowa legislators. Kindly ask them to support the governor's $400,000 figure. The ball is now in the court of the Iowa Senate, so if you do contact legislators, start there. But also remember to write to members of the Iowa House, because it is they who pushed their budget dagger through the IFO's heart.

gene l. hamilton

A Case Of Mistaken Identity

I feel very bad that last week I got the name wrong for an Iowa Representative when I wrote that Rep. Jacoby was against the IFO funding, while it was actually Rep. Jason Shultz. If you look at the two photos you may possibly see how I made that dumb mistake. And, again, I apologize to Rep. Dave Jacoby for my error.

Dave Thrasher Comes To My Rescue!

Here's what my dear pal wrote on a few group pages in Facebook:

I've been with Gene Hamilton and Jay Villwock on a few of the occasions that they've been to the Capitol and with 150 legislators milling about (100 Representatives of the House and 50 Senators of the Senate) it is a very difficult job to know who to talk to, let alone keep track of who is who. I think Gene has done a phenomenal job of remembering everything each time and it is surprising that a mis-indentification hasn't happened earlier. It is certainly not a fatal error and Gene made a very strong effort to correct the problem. For all of his and Jay's efforts, they deserve our recognition and for us to jump in and help.

Now that the real perpetrator of this ridiculously small $150,000 budget counter-proposal has been identified, Representative Jason Schultz, we can write him (at jason.schultz@legis.state.ia.us ) and fill him in on the facts.

As it stands, the $400,000 merely gets us a horse in the race. It starts off mired in the muddy back stretch while the others are furlongs ahead on dryer ground. What Schultz's counter-proposal does is cut off three of the horse's legs so we can see if "Stumpy" can hop fast enough to catch up with the pack or is lucky enough to have the other horses stop for a rest. If we want a horse (a new Iowa Film Office) in the race in order to win the prize (paying film and television productions shot in Iowa) then we need to give it at least reasonable odds by funding it fully.

(photo: Dave Thrasher)

Untitled But Sincere Remorse

CORRECTION to previous post!!!

I misidentified the person Jay and I met on the steps yesterday who said he was responsible for setting the "floor" of the IFO budget figure at $150,000. It was NOT David Jacoby, who favors us, but it WAS Schleswig, Iowa Republican Jason Schultz. Man, I am so sorry about that. If you read the article below you will see that I made the necessary corrections. My apologies to Mr. Jacoby!!!!

Write for What's Right!

Before I begin to describe the very productive and successful day Jay Villwock and I enjoyed at the Iowa State House today, I want to first thank those of you who took the time to write to Iowa legislators. I have received reports from several people who say they did indeed write and that they even received responses from some of them. Remember, it's true that the "squeaky wheel gets the grease". The more emails and letters and phone calls and face-to-face visits a legislator gets the better the chances of the Iowa Film Office being sufficiently funded with the $400,000 Iowa Governor Terry Branstad recommended in his budget report.

Shortly after arriving at the Iowa Capitol Building, we met Rep. Dan Kelley. I showed him the list of members on the Economic Development Appropriations sub committee and he made a note of several of his colleagues to share his positive feelings for getting film making back in this state. We also briefly spoke with Senator Joe Seng, one of our strongest allies. Coralville Representative David Jacoby passed nearby and we spoke very briefly with him, too. He seemed very much in support of the governor's Iowa Film Office recommendation. He has always been very friendly with Jay and myself.

I was about to drop a note in the office of the governor's Director of Budget and Management, David Roederer, when he spotted us in the lobby of his office and waved us in. We talked about the missing locations files from the IFO and he said he'd try to track down information as to the whereabouts of that information. Jay and I updated him regarding who we felt were supportive within the Iowa legislature.

As we were leaving the Capitol and were descending the stairs from the east side of the building, we ran into Schleswig, Iowa Republican Jason Schultz, who is the chairman of the committee mentioned above. When Jay and I urged him to support the governor's budget allocation recommendation of $400,000, he said many groups are asking for money and implied that he was inclined to approve of far less than what the IFO truly needs. In fact, he said he was the one who set "the floor" for the IFO budget amount, which means his suggested sum of $150,000 to the Iowa House would be the lowest possible amount the IFO would receive. Furthermore, I received a note from someone who wrote to Rep. Jacoby regarding the film office situation and he told the writer, "the republicans are dead set against" the film industry in Iowa. Considering that the governor is a republican I have trouble with this claim.

Thank you, everyone, for your help. I feel, for the moment anyway, that there is an increasing surge of support to fund the Iowa Film Office sufficiently, so please keep those emails and calls going to those Iowa legislators!

gene l. hamilton

The Opening Salvo

This is my first email letter to the Economic Development Appropriations Sub Committee of the Iowa House and Senate. I encourage everyone to write your legislators to fully fund the new Iowa Film Office, especially the members of these committees. Be sure to share your strategies with us. What follows addresses the perception of some legislators that all film producers are dishonest, which needs to be discredited right away.


Subject: The New Iowa Film Office is Not the Old Iowa Film Office

From what I've been hearing, there is an attitude going around the statehouse that most film producers are dishonest and therefore don't deserve anything, or at least very much. I would like to address that issue first.

This whole perception came out of the problems that arose out of the scandal involving the film tax credits and the subsequent coverage of the issue from the press, particularly the Des Moines Register .

Before you consider going along with this perception, think about this:

Anytime you have a situation where money is being given away, you are going to attract greedy, dishonest individuals. Thieves are attracted to anything where they think they may be able to get something for nothing. Because of the loose way the law and the subsequent contracts were written, a higher percentage of this population was attracted by the lures of our film tax credit than would have normally considered coming here.

When the old Iowa Film Office and the film tax credit were shut down it certainly brought this fraud to a halt but it also did a lot of harm to legitimate producers too. Many productions were forced to shut down or to move from the state.

The movie "Cedar Rapids" (which ended up getting a lot of positive buzz from the press) did in fact not end up being shot in its namesake city. No, other than for a few quick establishing shots, it ended up being filmed in Ann Arbor, Michigan - a bonus for Michigan's economy and a deficit for ours.

Contracts were broken and productions scuttled for legitimate producers. Meanwhile, the efforts to prosecute the dishonest ones were hampered by the gaping loopholes left in the law and not written into the contracts.

We need at least a new Iowa Film Office to make it up to the legitimate producers and repair our state's reputation - an adequately funded one.

An adequately funded Iowa Film Office is not something we've quite managed to do in the past. The results have reflected this.

The original Iowa Film Office under Wendol Jarvis (the same man being considered to run the new Iowa Film Office) was a little short of what it needed to operate effectively but nonetheless did manage to bring a few higher profile to Iowa which helped to boost its reputation, the most famous of which were "The Bridges of Madison County" and "Field of Dreams". The state even managed to wrangle an slogan ("Fields of Opportunity") for economic development out of the latter film.

But Wendol Jarvis did not stay. Why? Because the budget of the office was cut to levels where he no longer wanted to try to do the job. Not enough money, no more miracles.

The transitional Iowa Film Office under Steve Schott inherited this skimpy budget. Because of the budget, Mr. Schott could only work on a part-time basis - hardly enough time to promote Iowa to filmmakers, build up a database of Iowa locations, maintain an Iowa Production Guide and find ways to compete with the new competitive threat from other states - tax incentives.

For whatever reasons, Steve Schott's contract was not renewed and Tom Wheeler was appointed to the job of manager. In his capacity in the old Iowa Film Office, Tom Wheeler was not very effective. There was little money to do anything to attract film activity to Iowa and the salary offered by the state for the position of Film Office Manager only could pay for someone of Mr. Wheeler's qualifications which it turned out weren't too high.

The Iowa Film Tax Credits were passed with Wheeler's encouragement and it did manage to produce a gold rush of a sort for film production in Iowa. But it was based on a foundation of sand. It was not sustainable, it drained the treasury, and it attracted greedy fly-by-night operators who had little intention of actually getting films on the screen. They only wanted to collect money and make their fortunes.

When the film tax credit came into being, funding for the old Iowa Film Office was cut even further. There was no additional money provided to hire an expert in film tax credits who could have recognized the potential problems and cut them off. We, of course, know how that turned out.

A key component to the ineffectiveness of the previous incarnations of the Iowa Film Office was money - as in not enough of it. In order to save a few pennies, Iowa opened itself up to losing millions of dollars.

Which brings us to the subject line of my message.

What is being proposed is a new Iowa Film Office, not the old one. This new Iowa Film Office shouldn't need the trick of film tax credits to do its job, not if it has the resources to do its job. Film tax credits shouldn't even be part of the question by the end of this session since, as I understand it, the now dormant film tax credits are due to be axed.

The new Iowa Film Office, in order not to have the problems of the previous Iowa Film Offices needs to be adequately funded. The proposed $400,000 is the actual estimated cost to do all that needs to be done. It is not some inflated figure invented in order to trick you into negotiating down to the actual level.

The new Iowa Film Office essentially has to start out from scratch since there is little to no physical elements left over from the previous Iowa Film Offices to build upon. All that is gone. The locations database was lost when the computers were reclaimed and wiped clean. The same with the Iowa Production Guide. Until this is rebuilt, it will be difficult for any potential film to be shot in Iowa to find qualified crew members who live here.

Not only must the new Iowa Film Office start from zero but, because of the old baggage left over from the mishandling of the film tax credit situation, it will have to start out behind.

There are a lot of relationships to repair, a lot of bruised feelings, and a whole lot of coaxing to be done to encourage legitimate producers to consider coming back to the state. To do all this traveling, not to mention build up the infrastructure, is going to take money - the estimated amount, not the cut-rate amount of the counter-proposal.

None of these very sensitive negotiations can be phoned in. It has to be face-to-face. If producers learn that the state has cut the opening operating budget from its original $400,000 to $125,000 or some point in between, it will reinforce our reputation of a place that takes away - a place unfriendly to film production. Again, these are the legitimate, honest film producers we are talking about - the ones that got burned by the handling of the old Iowa Film Office's film tax credit fiasco - the ones the Iowa Film Office was created to attract in the first place.

Don't think that a desk and a phone is going to be enough to overcome this damage and don't think that "economizing" is going to be enough to give the new Iowa Film Office the resources it needs to overcome this situation and to rebuild its infrastructure. $400,000 is what it needs and that is a very modest amount compared to what it could be.

And don't tell me that the state can't afford it. The article in the Des Moines Register about the state giving $800 million in tax credits to established, profitable big corporations would certainly indicate that $400,000 is a drop in the bucket in proportion to the whole state budget.

Don't cheap out. Fully fund the new Iowa Film Office.

-Dave

I Ain't Gonna Give Up Asking For Your Help

Dave Thrasher and Bill Hamilton Posted some thoughts pertaining to our present Iowa film industry situation on my Facebook Group Page: I.A.C.T. (Iowa Actors and Crew Together and Producers, Too). Iowa Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr. replied with a very sobering comment. Here is his comment:

"Great Points and I'm all ears! The senate budget which I chair has $200,000 of the Governors recommendations in it for the film office. I know I'm not the only person who supports the office in the legislature, but in view of what happened they are avoiding it like the plague. Legislators need to hear from you and that's the bottom line. Senator Bill Dotzler"

Some Iowa legislators think ALL movie makers are crooks. Somehow they don't remember that the majority of films made here were made by honest producers. They don't understand that the new Iowa film office will NOT include tax incentives. I know from speaking face to face with them that many simply do NOT know the facts. They need to hear from you. I have posted the addresses for Iowa legislators several times for folks to copy and paste and that info is easily available on line.

Unless you are proud that Iowa is only known for being an insurance industry center, a major hog industry state, a soybeans and corn capitol, a state without creative people, you really have to make some noise and you need to make it NOW!

I want Iowa to be a place for creativity and I hope you do as well.

gino

Urgent Action Is Required Now..Please Help!!!

There are only eight weeks remaining for any chance of reviving the Iowa Film Office and if it isn't done this year it will most likely not happen next year. This is the last chance and here's what you need to do if you want film production to resume in Iowa again. There is a very important legislative committee which will decide on the sum to be allocated for the Iowa Film Office. Governor Branstad recommended $400,000, a figure which is not inflated but is in fact based on the exact needs of that office.

The committee is The Economic Development Appropriations Sub Committee and here are the members of that group and their individual email addresses. Of the senators, I personally know that Senators Dotzler and Seng are very much in support of the IFO and I and Jay Villwock have spoken with these two generous senators many times.

Take action now but simply copying and pasting information and send your thoughts, such as... The Iowa Film Office will not succeed unless it has sufficient funding. Governor Branstad's recommended allocation of $400,000 is what is needed for that office to do the job right.

Senators
Bill Dotzler, Jr
bill.dotzler@legis.iowa.gov

Dr. Joe Seng
joe.seng@legis.iowa.gov

Nancy Boettger
nancy.boettger@legis.iowa.gov

Rick Bertrand
rick.bertrand@legis.iowa.gov

Liz Mathis
liz.mathis@legis.iowa.gov

Representatives
Jason Schultz
jason.schultz@legis.state.ia.us

Mark Lofgren
mark.lofgren@legis.state.ia.us

Chris Hall
chris.hall@legis.state.ia.us

Bob Hager
bob.hager@legis.state.ia.us

Pat Grassley
pat.grassley@legis.state.ia.us

Mary Ann Hanusa
mary.ann.hanusa@legis.state.ia.us

Charles Isenhart
charles.isenhart@legis.state.ia.us

David Jacoby
david.jacoby@legis.state.ia.us

Anesa Kajtazovic
anesa.kajtazovic@legis.state.ia.us

Thanks!!! Do it NOW ... gino

Four For Film's Sake

After three legislative sessions, with the third being the current one still in session, Jay and I have learned that the old saying, "It isn't over 'til it's over", holds so true when it comes to politics.

We met Iowa's first Iowa Film Office director, Wendol Jarvis and his lovely wife, Jan, at the Capitol today. While chatting in the rotunda we were met by Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr., who said the governor's budget recommendations are facing an overall slashing of close to fifty per cent and that simply keeping the film office from dying is the goal now.

The senator said the House wanted to allocate only $125,000 for the IFO, not the $400,000 recommended by Governor Terry Branstad. He said he has a goal to get that figure to $200,000. When told that the IFO was plundered and that the hundreds of thousands of film location photos were missing as well as the Iowa Production Guide data, apparently so computers from the IFO could be used, the senator seemed genuinely surprised and disturbed.

While there, Jay and I spoke with a few legislators, including Jay's brief encounter with Senator Dvorsky, who gave Jay a cold shoulder when Jay mentioned the Iowa Film Office. The senator abruptly turned his back on Jay and hurried away - I must say he was not exactly polite.

I know many of you have written to Iowa legislators and also the governor. Only a mere handful responded to my emails. Considering that there are about a hundred and fifty legislators, to receive a half dozen responses is a sad result.

Despite these setbacks and disappointments, I urge you all to continue to write to ask for support of the governor's $400,000 figure so the Iowa Film Office can get actors and crew back to work.

pictured: Jay Villwock, Jan and Wendol Jarvis, Me

Our Governor Is Behind Us On This Fight!

I know that several of you have written to Iowa Senator Jack Kibbie, asking him to support the idea of preserving Governor Branstad's budget allocation recommendation of $400,000 to run the Iowa Film Office.

I think it would be a good idea to tell the governor how important it is to bring film making back to Iowa and how the absence of it adversely impacted your life. But also I think it would be good to thank him for wanting to revive the IFO.

He is behind us and needs to know we appreciate it. Here's his email address: Governor Terry Branstad governor.contact@Iowa.gov gino

Throw In The Life Preserver!

This is a critical time to contact key legislators regarding the Film Office. If the Film Office is important to your business please contact them BEFORE monday morning with this message.

Please fully fund the Governor's recommendation to reinstate the Iowa Film Office at a level of $400,000.



Nothing more needs to be said or will be helpful at this time!

Senator John P. (Jack) Kibbie
john.kibbie@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 712.852.4140
Cell Phone: 712.260.2345
Home Address: 112 Oakwood, P.O. Box 190 Emmetsburg IA, 50536
Occupation: Farmer

Senator Gene Fraise
eugene.fraise@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 319.528.6176
Home Address: 1699 - 280th Ave, Fort Madison IA, 52627
Occupation: Farmer
Business Phone: 319.528.6176

Senator Paul McKinley
paul.mckinley@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 641.774.5784
Home Address: 21884 - 483rd Ln, Chariton IA, 50049
Occupation: Businessman

Senator Jerry Behn
jerry.behn@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 515.432.7327
Home Address: 1313 Quill Ave, Boone IA, 50036
Occupation: Farmer/Agribusiness

Senator Jeff Danielson
jeff.danielson@legis.iowa.gov
Cell Phone: 319.231.7192
Home Address: PO Box 1191, Cedar Falls IA, 50613
Occupation: Professional Firefighter

Senator Robert E. Dvorsky
robert.dvorsky@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 319.351.0988
Home Address: 412 Sixth St, Coralville IA, 52241
Occupation: Exec. Officer - 6th Jud. Dist. - Dept. of Correctional Services
Business Phone: 319.625.2125

Senator Matt McCoy
matt.mccoy@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone:
Cell Phone: 515.681.9327
Home Address: 1717 Ingersoll Ave., Ste. 115, Des Moines IA, 50309
Occupation: Owner of Resource Development Consultants (RDC)

Senator Bill Dix
bill.dix@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 319.885.6790
Cell Phone: 319.269.3664
Home Address: 317 S Walnut St, P.O. Box 220 Shell Rock IA, 50670

Senator Kent Sorenson
kent.sorenson@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 641.942.6437
Home Address: 14358 S23 Hwy, Milo IA, 50166
Occupation: Business Owner

Senator Thomas G. Courtney
thomas.courtney@legis.iowa.gov
Cell Phone: 319.759.5334
Home Address: 2609 Clearview, Burlington IA, 52601
Occupation: Retired

Senator Tom Rielly
tom.rielly@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 641.673.5878
Home Fax: 641.673.2957
Home Address: 113 N Market, Oskaloosa IA, 52577
Occupation: Insurance Sales

Senator Bill Anderson
bill.anderson@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 712.898.2505
Home Address: 1138 Mason Ave, Pierson IA, 51048

Senator Wally E. Horn
wally.horn@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 319.396.3131
Home Fax:
Home Address: 101 Stoney Point Rd SW, Cedar Rapids IA, 52404
Occupation: Legislator

Senator Steven J. Sodders
steve.sodders@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 641.483.2383
Home Address: Box 723, 202 Fifth Ave SE, State Center IA, 50247
Occupation: Deputy Sheriff

Senator Sandra Greiner
sandra.greiner@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 641.636.2293
Home Address: 1005 Hwy 92, Keota IA, 52248
Occupation: Farmer

Senator Joe Bolkcom
joe.bolkcom@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 319.337.6280
Home Address: 728 Second Ave, Iowa City IA, 52245

Senator Dr. Joe M. Seng
joe.seng@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 563.391.1627
Cell Phone: 563.940.0671
Home Address: 4804 Northwest Blvd, Davenport IA, 52806
Occupation: Veterinarian
Business Phone: 563.322.5522
Business Fax: 563.322.9534

Senator Randy Feenstra
randy.feenstra@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 712.439.1244
Home Address: 641 Second St, Hull IA, 51239
Occupation: Finance & Insurance-Iowa State Bank

Senator Brad Zaun
brad.zaun@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 515.276.2025
Home Address: 7032 Holcomb Ave, Urbandale IA, 50322
Occupation: V.P. - R&R Realty Marketing Group
Business Phone: 515.223.4500

Senator Michael E. Gronstal
mike.gronstal@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 712.328.2808
Home Address: 220 Bennett Ave, Council Bluffs IA, 51503
Occupation:
Business Phone: 515.281.4610
Business Fax: 515.281.3361

Senator Merlin Bartz
merlin.bartz@legis.iowa.gov
Home Phone: 641.748.2724
Cell Phone: 641.903.9548
Home Address: 2081 - 410th St, Grafton IA, 50440
Occupation: Farmer/Laborer
Business Fax: 641.748.2725


Gene L. Hamilton

For Lights, Camera, Action, Take Action NOW!!!

FLASH! Just heard that we need to focus our attention on Iowa Senate President Senator Jack Kibbie. Here's what you must do now: email him and state that it is imperative to keep the funding of the Iowa film office at the $400,000 Governor Branstad recommended in his official budget report. Email the senator at this address now, please: john.kibbie@legis.iowa.gov

thanks... just want to get creative Iowans back to work....

gino

Write the Iowa House of Representatives ....NOW!

If you read the previous posting by Gene Hamilton about his and Jay Villwock's visit to the capitol, you'll know that we are in a potential crisis situation. A proposed budget of $400,000 for a reincarnated Iowa Film Office is passing through the Iowa Legislature and in the Iowa House some Republicans want to cut it down to $150,000.

Considering that the Film Office has to essentially from scratch after being looted and stripped bare by marauding IDED staffers after it was closed, $150,000 is not only inadequate but an insulting low amount. Computers need to be bought, enough staff needs to be hired, a film guide needs to be reconstructed and a whole new locations database has to be constructed from scratch and these few legislators want to provide the office with pocket change.

Budget cuts were a very strong factor in the decline of the original Iowa Film Office. At one time we had the opportunity to attract films like "Field of Dreams" and "The Bridges of Madison County" but then the budget was trimmed and with that the original head of the office left. When the office needed more money to compensate for the fact that other states were now offering film incentives, the legislator cut resources. The limited resources contributed to it only having a limited salary to offer a Film Office manager, certainly not the conditions to hire the most qualified person. And we all know where that led... And even after than, when film tax incentives complicated things, when it would have been prudent to increase the budget in order to hire someone who knew what they were doing in regards to film tax incentives they decreased the budget almost directly after the passed the legislation bringing these incentives into being.

Yes, the new Iowa Film Office - the new one that will be under the umbrella of Cultural Affairs and will not have tax incentives to complicate things - definitely does need the whole $400,000 in order to get off the ground and become effective at doing its job. If nothing else, it probably needs even more that what is being asked for. If only $150,000 is allocated for it, it will be about like not even having a film office because it will not have the resources to do its job.

Write the members of the House. All of them if you can. Most of them if you must. Most definitely the House Republicans. Show your displeasure for this proposed reduction and let them know that cuts didn't work in the past and they are certainly not a good way to get started this time around.

Here is a link to the page that has email addresses of members of the Iowa House of Representatives:

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/house.aspx

Help the Iowa Film Office Plight NOW!!!!!!!!!!

The Iowa Film Office Needs Your Help NOW!!!

When the Iowa Film Office was shut down, locations files and the production guide disappeared, likely from someone taking computers and erasing all data just so the computers could be used for other purposes. When the Iowa Film Office opens again, those missing files will have to be re-created. New computers will need to be purchased, a great deal of travel will be necessary to once again establish locations for future movies made here. Various office equipment will be needed and phone calls and letters will have to be made in order to re-establish trust in the minds and hearts of film producers.

In order to do all of this, a staff will be put in place to work alongside the director.

With all of the above in mind, our governor, Terry Branstad, who brought the first Iowa Film Office into existence, has recommended that the Iowa Film Office be funded with $400,000. Despite this recommendation the Iowa House of Representatives is suggesting slashing the budget to only $150,000. When our film industry's best friend and fiercest proponent, Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr. told us about this, our knees weakened and our posture turned into exaggerated slumps. We felt as though our three years of weekly visits to Iowa's Capitol had yielded a pathetic result.

The budget approval process is not finished though. There is still a chance that the Iowa Senate will counter the House suggestion with a higher sum and that this may go back and forth in true political form. And this means that any reader of this article who wants to once again work as an actor or a crew person or as a provider of services or supplies to movie makers should now - and I do mean NOW- take a few minutes to write to all the Iowa legislators and say how vital it is to leave the governor's $400,000 alone because the film office cannot do a proper job without sufficient funding. This is supposed to be a legislature dedicated to creating jobs and improving our state economy and with film production comes many jobs and a huge influx of money to all communities hosting the making of films.

I think we should also write to Governor Branstad and let him know how important it is to keep his budget figure secure. We should thank him for going to bat for us, which he truly is doing I assure you all.

I have asked my dear friend David Thrasher to post the names and addresses of Iowa legislators on my blog, The Iowa Film Insider, and on my Facebook group page, IACT (Iowa Actors and Crew Together and Producers, Too). He will post this info late tonight, so check for that later.

Gene L. Hamilton, in the dirty trenches of politics and severely wounded, as is my fellow activist, Jay Villwock, who is also nursing gashes and slashes..... HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP US!!!!!!!!!

(photo is from today at the State House: Jay Villwock, Iowa Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr. of Waterloo, and me)

Making Good Use of An Empty Capitol

I prepared written notes to members of the Iowa Legislative leadership. My message stated that I hoped they would support the governor's budget proposal to allocate $400,000 to fund the revival of the Iowa Film Office. Jay Villwock and I knew the capitol would be vacant today because legislators usually return to their homes for the week-ends, but we knew getting our notes into the hands of key leaders was important so we made the trip anyway. And we knew that Wendol Jarvis would be there to meet with the governor or others and we always enjoy chatting with him.

We immediately found Wendol.... actually, he found us, and together we entered each empty legislative chamber. We were helped by the senate master-at-arms as he kindly took our notes to senate leaders' desks or mailboxes. And on the other side, the house chamber, we found a secretary behind the chamber who gave us a form to fill out which allowed our notes to reach certain state representatives.

For anyone wishing to contact these same leaders and ask for their support of Governor Branstad's budget allocation of $400,000 for reviving the Iowa Film Office, here is who to contact, and their contact information is available on the internet and their email addresses are easy to copy and paste:

Here are the names of those who did receive our notes:

The President of the Senate is Democrat Jack Kibbie of the 4th District (Emmetsburg). The Majority Leader is Democrat Michael Gronstal of the 50th District (Council Bluffs). The Minority Leader is Republican Jerry Behn of the 24th District (Boone).

Regarding the House: In the House, the Speaker is Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, and the Speaker Pro Tempore Jeff Kaufmann, R-Wilton. Partisan House leadership includes Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Mason City, and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines.

Members of the Iowa Senate Appropriations Committee: Robert Dvorsky is Chair, Matt McCoy is Vice Chair, Bill Dix is ranking member.

I believe that our friend Wendol Jarvis will return to lead the Iowa Film Office. He's worked tirelessly for several years to lay the groundwork to make the film industry work well here. I know he has driven thousands of miles and spent a lot of his own money to do this. And I have personally heard the governor say that he feels Wendol would be the best choice to run the film office.

When governor Culver terminated the film program the Iowa Film Office files mysteriously disappeared. This includes many thousands of photos and information in the locations file, places in Iowa for producers to consider for shooting future movies. And the Iowa film production guide was also removed from the office, plus posters and other items. As a result, the production guide must be re-created and the locations information and photo files will also need to be gathered yet again.

I hope some of you who may be reading this will take action, to bolster the chances of the Iowa senate and house approving the specific recommendation of the governor's budget plan.

gene l. hamilton
(photo shows Jay and I with Iowa film industry's strongest ally, Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr.)

Iowa Legislative Leaders

In the event someone out there wishes to contact key Iowa Legislative members to say please leave the governor's suggestion of allocating $400,000 to fund the Iowa Film Office, and NOT reduce that sum, here are some names to contact, such as simply by emailing them:

The President of the Senate is Democrat Jack Kibbie of the 4th District (Emmetsburg). The Majority Leader is Democrat Michael Gronstal of the 50th District (Council Bluffs). The Minority Leader is Republican Jerry Behn of the 24th District (Boone).

Regarding the House: In the House, the Speaker is Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, and the Speaker Pro Tempore Jeff Kaufmann, R-Wilton. Partisan House leadership includes Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Mason City, and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines.

Members of the Iowa Senate Appropriations Committee: Dvorsky is Chair, McCoy is Vice Chair, Dix is ranking member.

Gene L. Hamilton

A Bit Unsettled In the Capitol Today

A Bit Unsettled In the Capitol Today

Jay Villwock and I marched up the hill to the beautiful gold domed Iowa State Capitol building (yer left, yer left, yer left-right-left) and after Jay shed his bracelets and assorted other jewelry we were passed through the security screeners at one of the entrances. It was early, before eight in the morning, but we timed it that way to get closer parking and a good selection of free goodies, such as breakfast sandwiches and yogurt with fruit on top.

And while we milled around nibbling on these morsels we bumped into several legislators, such as Senator Jack Hatch and Representative Dan Kelley. Both of these legislators are solidly behind us with our hope to get the Iowa Film Office sufficiently funded and to return Wendol Jarvis to run that office once more.

Todd Schulz, the governor's legislative liaison, spoke with us and made suggestions to us as to which key legislative committee members would be most important to meet with. We also said hello to Des Moines Register political reporter, Jason Clayworth. We chatted about the current status of filmmaking in Iowa.

Our most unsettling experience was when we met with Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr., in the Senate lounge. He said the senate leadership could possibly be hesitant in approving the full sum recommended by the governor, $400,000, to run the Iowa Film Office. Because of this, I think it's vital for anyone who is interested in getting back to work in the movie industry here to contact all Iowa legislators. This can take the form of an e-mail and I have previously cited links listing their individual e-mail addresses, but that information can be found by doing a basic Google search.

It would also be a good idea to contact Governor Terry Branstad and let him know how you feel about the film industry, such as how it may have positively impacted your own lives.

Another Trip To Push For The Iowa Film Office

Another Trip To Push For the Iowa Film Office

The time is coming when the Iowa Film Office will get off the ground and stand up straight, revived and ready to rebuild the film program here. It's been such a long, long time. This is the third year that Jay Villwock and I have circulated within the Iowa Capitol Building and this may be the last session because our primary goal has been to ask Iowa senators and representatives to look with favor upon supporting the film industry here and it looks like our film office will set-up shop this summer. We feel this way because things are lining up nicely - that the governor's 2013 budget will be approved, at least his specific recommendation that $400,000 be allocated to support the IFO's return. And we also feel that our friend, Wendol Jarvis, will certainly be back to run that office, with the Governor's and the legislature's blessings.

We met with Representative Stu Iverson, a longtime legislator, who told us he didn't see any problems as far as both houses approving the suggested funding. And the governor's legislative liaison, Todd Schulz, shared that sentiment. Chairman of the House Appropriations SubCommittee, Representative Jason Schultz told us he, too, is in favor of this.

Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations SubCommittee, Senator Joe Seng, said that his committee went over the IFO budget suggestion in their meeting today and feels there is a strong likelihood it will pass both houses. He added that with committee Chairman Senator Bill Dotzler, Jr.'s certain approval, it will become even more likely to pass. Both Senator Seng and Dotzler have been there for us since the crisis began under Governor Culver's administration.

Jay and I met with Wendol Jarvis today as well. He has made countless trips from his Kansas City home to the capitol to meet with key legislators and many times directly with Governor Branstad. He has spent his own time and money to assist us all.

Once the budget is approved by both Iowa houses, it will go to the governor for his signature and become law. The new budget becomes effective on 1 July 2012. And as I have reported before, the Iowa Film Office will be placed in Iowa Cultural Affairs, where Mary Cownie is director. Mary is married to Representative Pete Cownie, who many times told us of his own support for the Iowa film industry. Jay and I met with Mary last summer and feel she is behind us as well.

Gene L. Hamilton

Article by Julie Hinds of The Detroit Free Press

Less Interest In Michigan With Film-incentive Limits, Report Shows

By Julie Hinds

Detroit Free Press

George Clooney's "The Ides of March," partially shot in Michigan in 2011, was one of the last big-name films approved for state incentives before the changes.
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George Clooney's "The Ides of March," partially shot in Michigan in 2011, was one of the last big-name films approved for state incentives before the changes. / REGINA H. BOONE/Detroit Free Press

A just released semiannual report from the Michigan Film Office shows the impact of last year's shake-up of the state's film incentives.

The report reveals a nearly two-thirds drop in applications during the latter half of 2011 as compared to the same time frame in 2010.

Also mentioned: Three projects withdrew their applications or supplied insufficient information, including one with an anticipated $90 million in Michigan spending. It is a Steven Spielberg film called "Robopocalypse," according to sources in the local film community.

In February, Gov. Rick Snyder announced plans to revamp the incentives. He proposed limiting the previously uncapped program at $25 million annually, a figure that became official later in the year.

The new report's numbers look like this: From July 1 to Dec. 31 of 2011, 16 productions applied for the film and digital media incentives. Compare that to the same time frame in 2010, when 42 productions applied.

Four projects were approved for incentives in the latter of half of 2011, for a total of $915,000 in credits on about $2 million in estimated in-state spending. In the final six months of 2010, 26 projects were approved for a total of nearly $66 million in incentives on more than $168 million in in-state spending.

One factor explaining the lower numbers in the second half of the year: By early October, the state had already awarded everything but $427,000 of the available $25 million.

The "Robopocalypse" thriller, set to be directed by Spielberg, was described in the report as an untitled Fox-Dreamworks project. It projected Michigan expenditures of $90 million and was seeking $24 million in film incentives -- nearly equaling the $25-million cap that the film office abided by for most of 2011.

In October, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, hinted during a local radio interview that good news might be coming soon on a Spielberg project. Speaking to the Free Press in December, Spielberg said he couldn't publicly discuss where the film would be shot, but that he was open to places with film incentives.

The Michigan Film Office's report also revealed that "Iron Man 3," which wound up choosing North Carolina after its Michigan deal fell through, applied for nearly $34 million in credits on $102 million in anticipated spending.

The Free Press reported in 2011 that the state had matched North Carolina's $20-million offer to "Iron Man 3," but the deal was contingent on future legislative approval, while it was guaranteed in North Carolina.

Also lacking sufficient information or withdrawing was the reality show "All-American Muslim."

Four projects are pending, including "Cadillac High," which has projected spending of $27 million. A local film source says it's a feature about the real-life 1975 visit of the rock group Kiss to the city of Cadillac.

Overall last year, some 85 productions applied for the state's film incentives and 22 projects were approved (including two small-budget holdovers from 2010). That brought the total of approved incentives to $24.7 million.

In 2010, there were 119 applications, and roughly $146 million in approved incentives for the 62 approved projects that moved forward.

Michigan Film Office director Carrie Jones said Monday that the semiannual report figures were a snapshot of a specific time period and shouldn't be considered a forecast for 2012. This year, quarterly reports will be issued by the office.

"I think that our next quarterly report will show a very different story," said Jones, who expects the state will have a busy year in films.

"We've got world-class infrastructure, we've got a skilled and talented work force and we've got diverse locations. We also have a competitive incentive program. Michigan still is on the map for producers," said Jones.

The chairman of one of the big groups fighting for the film incentives doesn't think the numbers are necessarily an indicator of a new reality, either.

Kirk Miller of Michigan Film First, an industry coalition working to preserve and grow Michigan's film industry, said an unclear approval process had a big impact in 2011. Last year, filmmakers complained the process was vague and done behind closed doors.

"The way the MEDC was interpreting the legislation was a real turnoff to the West Coast," said Miller. "When people are budgeting their film, they need to know what Michigan offers, and they didn't know what Michigan offered, because it was different for every film."

Legislation passed in December that outlines the process for distributing the revamped incentives should help allay the uncertainty, according to Miller. He said Michigan needs to get the word out again that it's open for film business.

Miller also cited recent news that the state's budget is healthier than previously thought. "We are hoping the state will see the benefit of what the film industry had done for the state and give us more money to use."

Communities will benefit from renewed state film office

(Letter to the Editor Des Moines Register - January 16,2012)

In response to Kathie Obradovich’s Jan. 12 column, “Seats Filling Rapidly for Trip to Florida”:

By bringing back the Iowa film office, Gov. Terry Branstad will also bring back the potential for good paying jobs for creative Iowans. And if filming resumes here, whole communities will also benefit when film production companies consume considerable amounts of goods and services.

Beautiful Iowa towns have been used in the making of several well-known feature films. When such films are released, they serve to attract tourists to Iowa so they can see for themselves just how lovely our towns and citizens are.

— Gene L. Hamilton, Screen Actors Guild member, Des Moines

The Iowa Film Office Regaining Consciousness

Boy, what it ever cold and windy when Jay Villwock and I walked up the big hill on the west side of the Iowa State House today. Our first encounter was with Representative Clel Baudler. When Jay asked for his support, Clel said "So, the governor givea the Fair zero and wants to give $400,000 to the film office?", and then turned from us and abruptly walked away.

That didn't stop us. When Senator Thomas Courtney said hello to us and said he supports our cause, and when Senator Jack Hatch cheerfully met us and suggested putting the Iowa Film Office on a two year budget track, we knew things were looking better. Representative Dan Kelley of Newton also affirmed his continuing support, as did representative Peter Cownie, whose wife Mary heads the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, where the Iowa Film Office will now be located.

We tried to visit with Representative Ruth Ann Gaines, but she was not available. However, her assistant, Jawon, assured us that she is also in favor of the Iowa Film Office. Representative Gaines was a drama teacher at East High School in Des Moines prior to being elected to the Iowa House.

Jay and I left our handwritten notes of thanks for David Roederer, Director of the Iowa Department of Management, and also for Governor Branstad, for their work in reviving the Iowa Film Office and recommending the allocation of sufficient funding for that office.

I hope all Iowa film actors and crew will write to all Iowa legislators and tell them how vital it is to approve the governor's suggested funding of the IFO. Just refer to my previous Facebook Group Page posting on I.A.C.T. (Iowa Actors and Crew and Producers, too) for links to legislators' email addresses. It makes a huge difference when they receive letters, so do it now without delay.

gene l. hamilton