1.  Film Commission Gets A Raise
 
First, the Missouri Film Commission got a big boost in its budget -- from $150,000 a year to $250,000 per year.  What's more, this is a permanent increase (at least as permanent as anything can be in Jeff City).  So, the Film Commish, Jerry Jones, won't have to go begging the legislature every year for money.
 
One wrinkle of the new law is that the MO Film Commission must move from the enlightened and erudite environs of Columbia back to the drab, bureaucratic confines of Jeff City.  The reason for the move is unclear, but it appears to be the result of some petty political infighting. 
 
The move is a two-edged sword.  On the one hand, moving the Film Commission off the University of Missouri campus removes the "student film" taint (to use the words of one Hollywood producer).  On the other hand, Mizzou and the community of Columbia embraced the Film Commission in a way that Jeff City never has (and probably never will), providing it with both moral and financial support.  To much of Jeff City, the Film Commission is just another cog in its enormous bureaucratic machinery; to Columbia, it was stepping-stone to building a more dynamic Austin, Texas-like arts and business culture in mid-Missouri.  That support will be sorely-missed by the Film Commission.
 
In any case, the Film Commission appears to be in a more stable position than it has at any time in the last few years; it has more money than it's had in a long time to use to promote Missouri to film producers; and it has a bigger base to build on for the future.

 
2. $5.5 Million St. Louis Short Film Project To Go Public This Month
 
For the last year, St. Louis artist and entrepreneur, Walter F. Gunn, has been working feverishly to develop the St. Louis Cinematheque, an ambitious film project for St. Louis. 
 
What is Cinematheque?  According to its literature, it is "a two-year civic event creating a collection of over 100 original St. Louis short films totaling 156 minutes in length, all with purpose."
 
And what is the purpose?  "Every facet of Cinematheque is designed to jump-start our economic infrastructure, our storytelling spirit and create systemic capacity for private funding of important projects."
 
The project will consist of over 100 St. Louis-inspired short films, ranging in length from 15 seconds to 3 minutes, that will be professionally written, produced, and distributed.
 
St. Louis Cinematheque, which is being sponsored by the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission, will raise its funds from the St. Louis business community, and is shooting for a $5.5 million budget. This will mean that everyone working on these films will be paid fairly for their work.
 
The project's web site will go live this month.  Anyone will be able to submit a script or idea, and the films will be made by film professionals living in the greater St. Louis area.  The films will be sold online, submitted to festivals, and screened at St. Louis Cinema's 12 screens at the Moolah, Chase, and Galleria theatres.
 
The project is also designed to develop a massive database of the artistic talent in St. Louis, which can be used as an on-going resource for outside film producers, ad agencies, and corporations with creative needs.  Listing yourself there will be free.   I'm hopeful that this project could be the forerunner of a new St. Louis Film Commission. 
 
I've only briefly scratched the surface of the project here, but if successful it could provide a huge boost to the local production community.  If you'd like to know more about St. Louis Cinematheque, and how you might get involved, go to www.scriptarcs.com and read the FAQ.  You can find out more about Walter at his web site: www.walterfgunn.com. 

 
3.  New Blood In Jeff City
 
The election year will mean a new governor and many new legislators.  As recent history shows, the old governor and the old legislature weren't all that film-friendly.  Indeed, they left us in a worse position than we were in four years ago.  Having a new regime in Jeff City, whether Republican or Democratic, will almost certainly be positive.
 
The advent of MOMMA (www.mommaonline.com), a state-wide industry organization, can be a big help in making the legislative and executive branches aware of what needs to be done to make Missouri competitive again.
 
We in the film community have a golden opportunity this year to convince the legislators to develop a robust tax incentive program that will make Missouri a major player in the film industry.  We need to roll up our sleeves and begin the hard work of building a grassroots initiative and getting support for it from the politicians who are running for office.  We'll have much more in our upcoming issues.

 

 

Mike Ketcher

 

ST CHARLES MO-Actors, performers and anyone in the public eye who needs a good updated headshot will, for one Saturday in July (26th), be able to get one at a steep discount-with the added benefit of helping the nonprofit organization Arts for Life.  
 
Limelight Studio, a photography and image/styling studio in St. Charles which specializes in working with professional and amateur talent, is partnering with Arts for Life, a charitable fundraising and educational organization that supports community theatre, to raise money for AFL's many supported charities, including those for breast cancer, AIDS, and the Red Cross.  Fifty percent of the proceeds of the Headshot Slam will go to Arts for Life. 
 
"This is the perfect opportunity for actors who've contemplated getting a professionally done headshot but couldn't justify the higher cost," explains Lance Tilford, Limelight's creative director/photographer.  "College students in performing arts programs, community theater groups, or business professionals who need a good image for portfolios-anyone who is in the business of self-promotion needs a good headshot."
 
The event is open to both equity/union and nonequity performers, corporate spokespersons, and anyone needing an image for professional use.
 
A one-look $150 package (which would include app 24-40 images) includes the studio session fee, styling, and retouching/correction for one selected headshot print (retouched, bordered with name and ready for reproducing) and digital proofs.  The normal fee for a one-look session starts is approximately $300.  Limelight Studio can reproduce headshots as well. 
 
Anyone interested in participating should call Limelight Studio at 636 925 1662 to book an appointment.  Signup for a slot on Saturday July 26th is on a first-come, first-serve basis. 
 
Limelight Studio is located at 501 N. Kingshighway in St. Charles, 3 blocks north of Lindenwood University.  The studio is open by appointment only.  To book a photo session or makeup consultation, call Limelight at 636-925-1662 or go online to www.limelightstudio.us.  
 
Promotional images and additional quote sources available upon request.