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