Four More Years! (of waiting? I hope not!!)

Okay, okay, shall I begin as I always do, that Jay and I went yet again to the Iowa Capitol Building in our continuing effort to keep track of what is to become of the Iowa Film Office?  Sure, Jay and I went yet again to the Iowa Capitol Building today.  We got there early, before eight a.m. and met several legislators, which we always seem to do during these Iowa State House visits.

We had a quick conversation with  Senator Jack Hatch who has always voiced his support for we creative Iowans, and which he did again today.  Rep. Dave Deyoe spoke with us and told us he was fully behind the increase in the IFO budget.  Rep. Deyoe is one of the main players in this film office business on the House side.  Speaking of the House side, we enjoyed meeting with Rep. Dan Kelley of Newton, where films have been shot and many Iowans were employed by film-makers several years back.  Rep. Kelley has been a supporter from the beginning of his young legislative career.

Our strongest and most influential supporter is Senator Bill Dotzler from Waterloo.  Before convening a meeting in the former Iowa Supreme Court room, a meeting to discuss the Proposed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development Bill, a "bill for an act relating to appropriations to the department of cultural affairs" and more, the senator granted an interview with Iowa WHO Radio reporter Richard Lee.  I listened closely as Senator Dotzler spoke of the importance of movie making in this state, that movie making creates jobs and brings financial rewards to communities in which movies are made.  He spoke of how the film industry employs creative Iowans and brings Iowa into focus as an interesting place to visit as a tourist destination.  Following this radio interview Senator Dotzler opened the appropriations meeting.

Most of the meeting pertained to matters other than the film industry, such as funding the continued repair of Iowa Civil War battle flags, supporting the World Food Prize, Workforce Development, Job Training, and more.  Although Jay and I could not see any reference to the film office in the appropriations report, Senator Dotzler spoke at the meeting of how the governor's recommended sum of $400,000 should be implemented because of the cost of restarting the film office, including the expenses of buying computers and furniture and recreating a locations file and production guide.  He said funds presently in the IFO would be carried over to next year's film office budget.

Following the meeting, Senator Dotzler pointed out to Jay and myself the specific section in the planned bill that covers the film office budget.  This bill will now go to the senate floor and on to the house.  As I understand it, this  matter will be discussed next week.  Jay and I speak English.  We don't speak that legalese mumbo-jumbo, so when we review bills and investigate scheduled committee meeting agendas it's like trying to read a foreign language!

If you are a creative Iowan, someone who loves to act or who loves to work on the other side of the camera, or if you're someone who wants to see Iowa's cultural image improve, I suggest you email your Iowa legislators and tell them how important YOU think movie-making is for this state and for many Iowans.

(photo shows Senator Dotzler being interviewed by WHO Radio's Richard Lee.  Note Jay doing a "photo bomb" in the background).