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.