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

Iowa Film Office News

It's been such a long time since Iowa actors and crew were employed by movie production companies. Some, including my dear friend Neil Wells, were forced to move out of Iowa for greener pastures. But now there truly is a brighter light shining on the path for the return of the Iowa Film Office.

Today I returned once more to the Iowa Capitol Building with fellow actor Jay Villwock. We arrived just after Governor Branstad had finished delivering his Condition of the State Address. Our good friend and supporter, Senator Bill Dotzler, was not on hand because of the passing of his father yesterday. But we did meet with a few Iowa senators, including Jack Hatch, who said he was for us and to call upon him anytime for his assistance. We spoke with Senator Joe Seng, too, who said he'd like to meet with us when there is a solid block of time for a conversation. He voiced his support for the Iowa film industry last year and the year before as well. Senator Black once again voiced his encouragement to us and even displayed a thumbs up to accent his sentiments.

As we were leaving we discovered that the governor's Fiscal Year 2013 Program and Budget Report included this: "Reinstate the Iowa Film Office. The Iowa Film Office, eliminated in 2010, had a solid reputation and a positive impact on film production in Iowa prior to the 2007 establishment of film tax credits and an expanded role for the Office. Over the years, the Film Office helped create jobs and revenue, showcasing Iowa to the world in productions such as Field of Dreams, The Bridge of Madison County, Twister, and many more. While suspension of the film tax credits should remain in place, Governor Branstad recommends reinstating the Iowa Film Office with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs".

In this report, the governor recommends that the Iowa Film Office be allocated $400,000 from the state's general appropriations fund. This recommendation must now be approved by both the Iowa House and Senate, which means anyone who wants the Iowa Film Office to indeed come back should now contact all Iowa legislators.

To contact members of the Iowa House, go to: Iowa House
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/house.aspx

To contact members of the Iowa Senate, go to: Iowa Senate
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/senate.aspx

You really must contact every legislator and tell them that it is vitally important that they approve the governor's proposed funding of the Iowa Film Office - so, PLEASE do this now... do NOT procrastinate, pretty please with cream/soy milk and sugar on top!!!!

Gene L. Hamilton

Jay & I Return To Scout The Iowa Capitol Today

Jay suggested we make a spur of the moment trip to the Iowa Capitol Building this morning, and so we did. Inside the beautiful building we found that it was nearly deserted but we poked our old heads inside the office of the Director of the Department of Management and asked to see Director David Roederer, who very kindly gave us a short meeting during which we discussed the Iowa Film Office situation.

Mr. Roederer said he thought the reopening of the Iowa Film Office would come on July 1st or even sooner. He and Governor Branstad both fully favor the Iowa film industry and do want to get things back on track. We all agreed that there's still some ugly baggage remaining from when things went terribly wrong with the abuse of the Iowa film tax credits.

Jay and I also popped in on the governor's office manager, Leo Hough, who briefly spoke with us about the film office. Both Leo and David have always freely given their time to us.

We looked in both the senate and house chambers to find that absolutely nobody was there yet, although on Monday both houses will be full when the next legislative session begins once again.

While on the rotunda level we looked over the photos of the members of the Iowa legislature and remembered who some of our key supporters are. In the senate: Bill Dotzler, Dennis Black, Jack Hatch, Joe Seng, Brad Zaun, and Wally Horn. In the house: Peter Cownie, whose wife Mary is head of the office of Iowa Cultural Affairs, where the Iowa Film Office is possibly going to relocate, and these other representatives: Erik Helland, Dan Kelley, Craig Paulsen, and Ruth Ann Gaines.

We will return to speak with these and other legislators next week and during the entire session to continue to do what we can to let these people know how vitally important it is to get film production going again in Iowa. I think it's a bit of a tough row to hoe, but I truly believe it will happen.