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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear ,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
A RESOLUTION FOR THE BI-STATE FILM INDUSTRY
If I had to pick one resolution for the industry for the new year, it would be cooperation: Working together to build a stronger industry in Missouri.
This is a crucial year for the MO Film Industry. The MO Film Tax Credit, which has been dormant since 2009, when "Up In The Air" and "Winter's Bone" shot here, is scheduled to automatically sunset on November 28, of this year. It will need to be re-authorized by the state legislature, or it will go away, perhaps forever.
But there are rays of hope.
There are plans in the works to get the film tax credit reauthorized. The Missouri Motion Media Association (MOMMA) has retained a lobbyist, Jeff Brooks, who also lobbied for the industry last year and spoke at the MCA's "State of the Industry" meeting last February.
We begin the year with a new MO Film Office and a new MO Film Commissioner (sort of) Andrea Sporcic, who is formerly the Assistant Director of the MO Film Commission and is now in the brand new part-time position, Film Office Specialist at the MO Division of Tourism. So, the defunct MO Film Commission is now operational.
This provides a great opportunity for the MO Film Commission to take a new direction. Many states are much better at Missouri in advertising production jobs that come to the state. Since many of the television shows, commercials, films, and other productions start with the MO Film Office, it is essential that the Film Office publicize those jobs widely. Andrea could do the local industry a great service by advertising all of the productions that come into the state -- and giving everyone who works in the industry equal access to the jobs that come in. In past years, the communication between the Film Office and the production community, especially regarding new jobs coming into the area, has left much to be desired.
In recent years, we've seen some good-sized professional productions occur in Illinois. Local directors Jack Snyder and Jay Kanzler chose Sauget as a location for shooting their feature films, "Fatal Call" and "23 Minutes to Sunrise, respectively. Alton native Brian Jun has returned to southern Illinois several times to shoot films, including "She Loves Me Not," in 2012. The Illinois film tax credit is still available. Greater cooperation between Missouri and Illinois could bring even more films to the area.
As the year progresses, my hope is that the disparate groups of the MO production industry (union and non-union, talent and crew, large producers and small producers) all work together for the betterment of the industry as a whole. Even those who primarily work in industrials and commercials would do well to support the film industry, as a rising tide lifts all ships.
That's the best resolution the industry can make for the new year: Work together. Cooperate. And, as the year progresses, we'll be exploring the specific ideas outlined here -- and others -- in greater depth. If you have ideas you'd like to throw out there for discussion, please send them to me (michael_ketcher@yahoo.com), and we can explore those. Or better yet, write an article for "In Sync" with your ideas.
Mike Ketcher
MCA St. Louis President, 2013 |
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SARAH WILSON'S SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS
by: Lou Stemmler
Your MCA Chapter's January meeting focused on using social media to promote yourself, your career, and your projects. The presenter, Sarah Wilson, MA, makes active use of various social media tools to network, build up her contacts, market her services, support her website, and promote sales of her books. She shared a variety of tips and tricks to help attendees do the same for themselves.
Some audience members were interested in building their talent work, while others sought better ways to promote movies, podcasts, and other creative projects. Discussions covered the different ways of building a highly-targeted community versus tools to reach a broad, open-access audience.
After tips on focusing your feeds (narrowing down your message and the means of delivering it), Ms. Wilson suggested certain social media tools for certain categories:
* Actors and craftspeople might start with LinkedIn, IMDB, and Google+;
* Creators/Filmmakers could focus on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook;
* Social Media Builders would do well to utilize Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr.
Having identified your best media tools, Ms. Wilson listed the benefits of showing up consistently, identifying and connecting with power players, making yourself a useful presence, and playing nice on-line.
The evening concluded with details about using Twitter. A sampling of Ms. Wilson's advice:
* Use Google Alert.
* As you build your connections, don't "follow" more than a couple of dozen Twitterers at a time, as following too many too fast will land you in "Twitter Jail."
* Clean your list (try justunfollow.com).
* Use Hashtags (such as #indiefilm) to make your tweets searchable by topic.
* Follow people following "your" tags.
* Use the free version of crowdbooster.com to identify your influencers.
* Install 'Klout' (an add-on in Firefox; an extension in Chrome).
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IMPORTANT, "MUST-ATTEND" MOMMA MEETING THIS MONTH
Coming February 28...
As fate would have it, we had been planning to have our "State of the Industry" meeting his month. Just a few days before we went to press with out newsletter, we found out that
The Missouri Motion Media Association (MOMMA) had a similar meeting planned. Our Board decided that we wanted to cooperate -- and not compete -- with MOMMA. So, we cancelled our meeting and threw our support to MOMMA's meeting. We urge you to attend this meeting on Thursday, February 28.
At this meeting, you'll be able to network and meet the industry's government consultant, eff Brooks. This will be a great opportunity to find out what is happening at the
state level with the tax incentive and film office funding. MOMMA is a statewide organization or our industry. Unlike the MCA, which does not do formal lobbying for the industry, MOMMA as taken on that task.
Date: Thursday, February 28.
Time: Networking 6:00-6:30pm
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WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN MOMMA?
Working to bring more film & television production to Missouri:
1) MOMMA is your voice in Jefferson City. There are many production related organizations in our state, but MOMMA is the only one working at the state level to support filmmaking and television production in Missouri.
2) MOMMA supports the renewal of the Missouri Production Tax Credit which will expire Nov. 30, 2013, and advocates for continued staffing of the Missouri Film Office (which also supports commercial work).
3) MOMMA works to unite, inform, and provide networking opportunities to motion media professionals, production and industry support companies, organizations, and communities around the state. We are stronger when we work together on issues that affect our industry.
One year membership levels:
Corporate / Organization: $150.00 (includes logo on MOMMA website)
Individual: $25.00
Student: $20.00
Visit www.mommaonline.com to find out more about our organization and membership levels. You may join online, or you can mail in your payment, and contact information to: MOMMA, PO Box 598, Columbia, MO. 65205. |
FEBRUARY MCA MEETING: FEBRUARY 13
MCA Pre-Valentine's Day Happy Hour is here! Don't miss the opportunity to socialize, bond and network with your fellow MCA members and their friends at Llywelyn's Pub on Beer Lover's Night.
Every Wednesday 'A Brew You Never Knew' is featured. It may be an often overlooked beer or maybe a beer that you can't get anywhere else in town. Rediscover an old favorite or find a new one. Or take advantage of Llywelyn'shappy hour discounts which include 1/2 off 1/2 the taps, $3 Premium Bottles, $3 Premium Wells, $4 Select Cocktails & 1/2 off 5 Signature Food Items from 3-6pm & 10pm-close.
Date: Wednesday, February 13th
Time: 5:30pm - 9pm
Place: Llywelyn's Pub
Address: 17 West Moody Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119
Phone: 314-962-1515
Admission is free but food and drinks are not.
No need to RSVP.
See you at happy hour on February 13, ! |
JANUARY MEETING IN  REVIEW: SOCIAL MEDIA
by: Jennifer Salci
Social media expert, dog trainer and writer Sarah Wilson was guest speaker at the January 16th meeting. Sarah has appeared on NATURE, Why We Love Cats and Dogs, CBS This Morning, and Fox News.
Sarah did a brillant job of explaining how to use social media to market you and/or your business. She drove home two main points: choose the right social media site and then once you do show up consistently!
Pick social media sites based on your profession. For instance, if you are a creator or filmmaker you want to gain a large broad audience. If you are an actor don't waste you time in "herd" places. Instead, find a small community of decision makers.
In order to network online take a few minutes every day to respond to posts, leave comments and answer questions. Remain focused on a few topics. Being seen and heard on a regular basis will connect you to the decision makers who can advance your career! |
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