TXMPA Legislative Agenda

Here's the latest from the board of the Tx Motion Picture Alliance.
This is the specific info that we've all been waiting for, so dig in!
And don't forget to become a member by signing up at:
http://www.txmpa. org

Legislative Agenda for the 80th Legislature

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

TXMPA supports legislation that will provide competitive economic
incentives for the film, video, interactive, and video game
industry. TXMPA opposes legislation
that increases the cost of doing business in Texas for the film,
video, interactive, and video game industry.

SUPPORT

• Support funding of the Texas Film Incentive Program passed, but
not funded, in 2005 (formerly SB 1142).

• Support increased funding of the Texas Film Incentive Program to
make the wage-only based incentive program more competitive.

• Support the provision in the Texas Film Incentive Program allowing
a larger grant to be allocated to underused areas of the state.

• Support legislation modifying the Texas Film Incentive program to
increase the grant amount per project.

• Support legislation modifying the Texas Film Incentive program
language to eliminate the "national or multi-state" restriction for
qualifying commercial productions.

• Support legislation modifying the Texas Film Incentive program to
include video game production.

• Support legislation modifying the Texas Film Incentive program to
include video production, including but not limited to documentary,
industrial, corporate, and educational video production.

• Support legislation modifying the Texas Film Incentive program to
allocate a percentage of the program's funds to specific production
categories: X to feature films, X to television productions, X to
video game production, and
X to commercial and video production.

• Support legislation modifying the Texas Film Incentive program to
allow film or television production projects with a budget of $1
million or more to qualify for a grant.

• Support legislation modifying the Texas Film Incentive program to
allow commercial and video production projects with a budget of
$300,000 or more to qualify for a grant.

• Support legislation modifying the Texas Film Incentive program to
allow video game projects with a budget of $2 million or more to
qualify for a grant.

• Support legislation that would create an expanded incentive
program that would provide a cash rebate to qualifying production
companies equal to 10% of "in-State" expenditures (dollars paid to
Texas vendors and Texas
workers).

• Support legislation that would require 25% of in-State
expenditures to be in Texas wages to qualify for an expanded
incentive program.

• Support legislation that would require a film or television
production or series to spend a minimum of $100,000 in wages to
qualify for an expanded incentive program.

• Support legislation that would require a video game production to
spend a minimum of $500,000 in wages to qualify for an expanded
incentive program.

• Support legislation that would require a commercial, documentary,
industrial, corporate or educational production or series to spend a
minimum of $50,000 in wages to qualify for an expanded incentive
program.

• Support legislation that would permit production companies to use
State owned facilities for location shooting free of charge.

• Support legislation that would permit qualified production
companies to receive a State hotel/motel occupancy tax exemption for
occupying a hotel/motel room for three nights or longer.

• Support legislation that would exempt production companies from
the State vehicle use tax when a vehicle is rented for a qualified
production.

• Support legislation that would provide professional development
for existing workers and assist graduates of Texas colleges and
universities in entering and receiving training in production
related professions.


OPPOSE

• Oppose legislation creating new unfunded mandates.

• Oppose legislation that would change the production industry's
current manufacturing industry tax status.

Austin's Mike Akel nominated for an Independent Spirit Award!

http://spiritawardsonifc.bside.com/?_view=_home

Be sure to visit the Independent Spirit Award's website (above) and vote for Mike Akel's excellent film.
Congratulations to Mike and the whole cast and crew of "Chalk"

USA 2006 | Run time: 85 min. | Director: Mike Akel
Four educators muddle through another year at a typical American high school in this mockumentary comedy. Mr. Lowery (Troy Schremmer), Mr. Stroope (Chris Mass), and Coach Webb (Janelle Schremmer) are three teachers doling out knowledge at a high school in Austin, TX. Mr. Lowery is new to teaching, and has to deal with his own inexperience as well as a decided lack of enthusiasm for history among his students; it doesn't help Lowery that the kids quickly learn how to push his buttons. Mr. Stroope has been on the faculty for three years, and is zealously campaigning for the honor of "Teacher of the Year." Stroope has enlisted his students to help him win the prize, even though they seem less than impressed with his academic abilities. Coach Webb teaches Girl's Gym, and despite her short hair and severe manner, she frequently and enthusiastically insists that she's heterosexual. Webb also insists on following the school's regulations to the letter, and has unusual ideas about how to make Gym seem hip and fun for her charges. Meanwhile, Mrs. Reddell (Shannon Haragan) has recently been promoted from the teaching staff to her new position as assistant principal, which has put a tremendous strain on her friendship with her colleagues, especially Webb. Chalk received the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Independent Film Festival of Boston.

Lights, camera ... all we need now is action

Lights, camera ... all we need now is action

EDITORIAL BOARD

Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Most of the upcoming movie "Dallas" will be shot in Louisiana. Some scenes from "El Paso" were also shot in Louisiana. And "Glory Road," about Texas basketball legend Don Haskins, was shot mainly in Louisiana. So, partners, what has that state got that Texas ain't?

Incentives.

This week, Gov. Rick Perry rightly proposed a package of incentives to keep Texas competitive in the movie industry. Texas is a natural when it comes to filmmaking. With its mild climate and diverse topography — from plains and deserts to rolling hills and beaches — the Lone Star state had been a leader in attracting the filmmaking industry and the dollars that go with it. Now, Texas is trailing behind Louisiana and New Mexico.

Those neighboring states raked in a huge chunk of the movie and television business after they began offering financial incentives in 2003. Since then, more than $700 million in production budgets and 4,500 jobs have gone to other states, according to the Texas Film Commission. While Louisiana and New Mexico have increased their share of the movie business, the Texas share has declined. Even 12 films set in Texas were filmed in other states and Canada. Someone get a rope.

We need more than a posse to save jobs and business that annually pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the state and local economies. Perry has the answer with his proposal to create financial incentives.

The governor wants the Legislature to set aside $20 million in cash grants to keep Texas competitive. About $10 million would be for feature films, $8 million for television productions and $2 million for TV commercials and digital interactive media, which includes the video game industry. The Legislature took a step two years ago by establishing just such a fund. But money was tight then, so the lawmakers didn't put any money in it.

This time around, the state has an estimated $14 billion surplus over the next two years and there is no shortage of needs, from increasing health coverage for the uninsured, funding the criminal justice system, awarding state employees pay raises and improving public and higher education, among other things.

But the cash grants are a wise investment because they would more than pay for themselves in the amount of dollars they would generate for the Austin and Texas economies. Equally important, the film industry creates high-paying jobs that don't pollute.

Austin voters recognized the importance of the film industry to the city's economy when they passed $5 million in bonds in November for Austin Studios. That will be used to renovate the studios to peak Hollywood standards, including soundproofing and air-conditioning studios.

Perry's proposal will keep the cameras — and jobs that go with them — rolling in Texas. The Legislature should make it a wrap.