While it is discouraging that Jerry Jones, Missouri Film Commission, stated that there are currently not enough tax credits available to bring many more than a few films to the Missouri in a year, we can exercise our political power by becoming a voice for the film industry in Missouri and St. Louis. Budget cuts are planned, and we must make our voices heard. By the time this is being read, the opportunity to lobby on March 31st in Jefferson City will have passed, but I hope that some of you went and lobbied for more state financial support for the Missouri film industry. Whether you went or not, you can now write and call your representative, senators, the governor, and government workers and express your concerns about funding for tax credits, film business development, film training, and art grants. Other areas, which are completely in our control, include better communication and cooperation between the individual filmmakers, the film production companies, and film organizations.

Although Jerry Jones did not specifically state this, many at the State of the Industry meeting obviously believe that the Missouri Film Office is underfunded. Meanwhile, the state budget is tightening, so the politicians need to know that the film industry is worthy of funding and important enough to the production community to affect the way its members vote. The St. Louis Film Office needs funding also according to Kim Tucci of the St. Louis Film Commission. Both offices would benefit if Linda Martinez, Director of the Department of Economic Development, could be convinced that an investment in the film industry and film offices will reap benefits for the state. Representative Jason Grill, who introduced the film tax credit legislation and fully supports it, needs to be supported by the industry in his efforts. Find their email online, and let them know that funding Tax Credits and film offices are good ideas, and tell Rep. Grill how much his work means to the Missouri Film Industry.

Funding for training is also needed. Gary Hansen, the Business Manager of IATSE Local #493, and Jerry Jones discussed the need for training programs to develop crew for productions. While some funding is available, it is important that we contact Jerry Jones at the Film Office and Linda Martínez in the Economic Development Office and make it clear that there is support for the funding of training program. The educational programs could be available through the St. Louis Community Colleges and might involve training students in other fields to be qualified to be film crew members. The availability of a well trained crew is essential to drawing production to Missouri and specifically to St. Louis.

While Midwest Independent Film Initiative and St. Louis Film Office are developing their websites, the rest of the organizations all have functioning websites. Cindy Sheltmire of MOMMA, the Missouri Motion Media Association, encouraged filmmakers to go to MOMMA's website for details about the March 31st lobbying events; however, the site provides information on other lobbying opportunities, some that can be done from the comfort of a home computer. MOMMA's website also publishes the political and legislative events affecting the film industry, so frequenting this website is important. The different agencies and organizations are developing online databases of location photographs, talent headshots and videos, and/or short films, and the suggestion was made that a search engine connecting all the online databases needs to be developed. Another suggestion was put forward that all the organization put links to each other on their website. While this may sound simple and reasonable, it is a challenge because the organizations and agencies are perhaps, as was suggested, a bit territorial. The observation was also made that the various agencies and organizations need to be aware of each other and acknowledge the additional pieces of the marketing puzzle each can offer.

Jilanne Klaus and Judee Sauget represented the Midwest Independent Film Initiative, which is headquartered in Southern Illinois, at the meeting. This the first time we have welcomed colleagues from southern Illinois to our meeting, and it is great to expand the regional focus. They expressed a desire to work more closely with the regional market and seemed to be glad to be included in the meeting. Also, it should be noted that, love him or hate him, Rob Blagojevich as one of his last acts as the governor of Illinois, signed a massive film tax credit bill.

In terms of a marketing tool that is sorely needed, I have seen the need for a DVD or website that showcases not just the St. Louis locations but also the talent. Walter Gunn, Ian Gunn, Tamara L. Boyd, the Director of Development, all from the St. Louis Cinematheque, are developing a project that would provide St. Louis with a collection of short films which will be used to promote St. Louis talent, including writers, cinematographers, editors, directors, and actors. Although some filmmakers are hesitant to register with the organization and unsure of all the rules, St. Louis Cinematheque is worth looking into and at least registering in the website. While I had been talking about the need for such a marketing tool, my efforts did not have the vision and scope of the St. Louis Cinematheque's unique concept; however, the promise of the concept can only be fulfilled by the production community embracing the concept.

The territorial and tribal nature of the Missouri production community was also discussed, which isn't something that we can change easily, but it is on our control to take the first steps. If losing the territorialism is too hard, then perhaps thinking of it as expanding and consolidating many tribes with the same desires, concerns, and goals into a really big tribe with lots of political clout is more useful. The discussion of the territorialism reminded me of one of my first jobs, the one that taught me how difficult communication in any company or organization is.

Just after of college, I worked in an entry level position at a small, and ultimately doomed, communications company where the manager/owner could not communicate what he needed the supervisors and employees to accomplish. It wasn't that he didn't realize that there was a communication problem, but his solution was to come out of his office periodically and scream, "We have to communicate better!" He would immediately return to his office and slam the door. We would stand outside the office and wonder what we had done or not done. Obviously, no one wants to be as ineffective a communicator as this man was, and we don't want the lack of or fear of communication and cooperation to doom the Missouri Film Industry.

Here are some website to check out:
http://www.iatse493.org/

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The seminar will be held in the Regional Arts Commission's building, 6128 Delmar, which is located across the street from the Pageant and just west of the Delmar MetroLink station. The advance registration fee is $10. Registration at the door will be $15. For more information, call 314/863-6930, or visit our Web www.vlaa.org/documents/BusinessEdge09.2.pdf

 
VLAA helps artists and arts organizations with their legal and accounting problems and sponsors a variety of educational programs. VLAA receives financial support from the Regional Arts Commission; the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.