In the midst of an economy where attrition is the norm, the Association of Film Commissioners International‘s (AFCI) 24th annual Locations Trade Show experienced significant growth last month, with the three-day (April 16-18) event drawing 4,000-plus film, video and commercial industry professionals to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. This represented a 19 percent increase over 2008’s record-breaking attendance figure. Additionally there were 240 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and 180 AFCI-member film commissioners participating. Economic stimulus Indeed even in the wake of facing budget shortfalls, many states have seen the prudence of funding filming incentive programs as part of their economic stimulus initiatives. Other highlights Among the other highlights of the Locations Trade Show were seminars that attracted standing room only attendance, the presentation of the AFCI’s prestigious Arthur M. Loew Jr. Crystal Vision Award, and the continuation of the AFCI University initiative.
Perhaps Walea Constantinau of the Honolulu Film Office summed it up best in explaining Locations’ drawing power. “The overall industry is starting to view film commissioners as financial partners given the varied incentives offered in states and countries,” she observed. “With the state of the economy, having financial incentives that stretch budgets and make certain productions feasible that might not be otherwise, the film commissioner as financial partner becomes all the more important. This is in addition to the film commissioner continuing to be a vital creative asset to producers. Put that all together and I think that has contributed significantly to the turnout at Locations.”
Bill Lindstrom, CEO of the AFCI, concurred, noting that the incentives ante has been upped in many municipalities, states and nations with film commissions being the touch point to tap into those benefits. He also observed that the timing of Locations was tantamount to “a perfect storm. You had a lot of producers and filming decision-makers in town due to the industry slowdown resulting from the lack of a SAG contract for features and TV. And just as the event got underway came news that a SAG agreement had been reached, meaning that people can start gearing up for production again and that the Locations Trade Show becomes all the more relevant.”
California, for instance, while facing a record deficit, has passed an economic incentives program covering certain films and TV projects (SHOOT, 3/20).
And word at press time was that Wisconsin was on track to get the funding needed to continue its progressive filming incentives package. Recently there was some concern that the funding wouldn’t materialize. Now, though, it appears that the incentives package in Wisconsin might actually grow beyond its 25 percent film tax credit, with an additional three percent in the offing for certain economically challenged areas within the state.
Scott Robbe, executive director of Film Wisconsin, told SHOOT he felt confident that the legislature was on its way to passing an improved two-year program that would take effect in July.
The Wisconsin program applies not only to TV and features but also to commercials. However, the incentives package in California does not encompass spots, underscoring that there’s still work to be done in order to get commercials recognition in some jurisdictions.
New York State film commissioner and former AFCI president Pat Swinney Kaufman received the Arthur M. Loew Jr. Crystal Vision Award in recognition of her leadership, long service and dedication to the AFCI and its members, helping to advance the organization’s goals.
Kaufman has served on the AFCI board for 11 years, including four years as president. She currently serves as chair of the AFCI Certification Task Force, a new initiative of the AFCI to award highly trained AFCI members with the Certified Film Commissioner designation.
That designation comes to those who go through the alluded to AFCI University training, which is designed for newcomers as well as seasoned professionals. The program offers education on different aspects of serving as a film commissioner, helping to elevate professional standards. It’s projected that the first “graduates” to receive full fledged certification could be announced later this year during the AFCI’s Cineposium confab.
The latest AFCI University curriculum sessions were held during the two days just prior to the beginning of the Locations Trade Show. The AFCI presented a Film Commission Professional class for aspiring film commissioners looking to get established, as well as two Master Classes for experienced commissioners–one covered the film commissioner as economic developer, the other focused on marketing strategies for film commissions.
In Legal Dispute Over “The View,” ABC Accuses Trump Administration Of Trying To Chill Free Speech
In a strongly worded filing, ABC accuses the Trump administration of trying to chill its constitutionally protected free speech and hinder open political discussion.
The point of contention: The popular show "The View," and whether it's subject to equal time rules.
ABC's filing to the Federal Communications Commission, made public Friday, came in a dispute involving one ABC station in Houston, KTRK-TV. But the wording indicated the network was embarking on a broader battle with the administration.
"The Commission's actions threaten to upend decades of settled law and practice and chill critical protected speech, both with respect to 'The View' and more broadly," said the filing on behalf of both KTRK-TV and ABC.
The commission replied, in a statement emailed to The Associated Press, that equal time law "encourages more speech and empowers voters to decide the outcome of elections. The FCC will review Disney's assertion that 'The View' is a 'bona fide news program' and thus exempt from the political equal time rules."
The ABC filing appeared to be the latest volley inside and outside the legal arena between the U.S. media and the Trump White House over what journalists perceive as the president's attack on free speech and the media's ability to do its job. Trump has been critical of media outlets whose journalism runs counter to his agenda and sensibilities.
Among legal battles in the courts: a dispute between the Pentagon and The New York Times over access; a battle between the White House and The Associated Press over how to refer to the Gulf of Mexico; and Trump's anger at The Wall Street Journal over reporting about Jeffrey Epstein.
The dispute concerns content on "The View," ABC's long-running morning talk show,... Read More