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
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