Support for TXMPA Required NOW

Okay, actors. Whether you’re SAG, Non-SAG, SAG-Eligible or anywhere in between, you need to get involved by joining the TXMPA. If WE don’t achieve a significant increase in our state film incentive program in the upcoming legislative session, our TEXAS film industry is going to be further decimated. At that point the decision actors will have to make is not whether or not to join SAG or which acting class to take but whether is makes sense to remain a Texas resident with any hopes of earning a living as a professional film actor. Read the letter below that many of us received and call the TXMPA and join. The $50 membership fee…more if you can contribute it…is not much to ask to help revive an industry that was vibrant and growing only a few years ago, and is now in critical care mode.

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To: My fellow TEXAS film workers, from the Red River to the Rio Grande, from the piney woods in the east to the dusty rolling hills in the west.

On many of my countless trips between Austin and Shreveport, I often think about what Texas film workers are doing with their lives. I wonder how they are supporting their families, how the strain of working out of town is affecting them and whether or not we will see Texas rise up to be the industry destination it once was and we know it can be.

A few weeks ago Jeanette Scott, local Set Decorator and Austin Film Society board member, visited my office to discuss ways to raise funds for The Texas Motion Picture Alliance , a nonprofit organization founded to become the legislative advocate for the film, video, interactive, and digital media production industries in the Lone Star State. Many people have worked tireless hours without compensation to raise funds and support this movement. Tom Copeland and numerous others have also donated many hours to the same cause. Elected officials are consumed by the thousands of bills that are proposed each legislative session. Getting our bill passed requires the hard work of an experienced lobbyist. The main goal of TXMPA is to raise funds to pay for a lobbyist so the Texas State Legislature can hear our demands to increase the film incentives.

Those of us familiar with the movement to raise the incentive package to bring films home to TEXAS (not just Austin but all of TEXAS!) know that in the last Legislative session Film Fleet and its sister companies donated thousands of dollars to this cause. Jeanette assured me that the money was well spent, but now they need more!

This led us to the brainstorming of additional groups to talk to. My question for Jeanette was this: Aren’t the TEXAS crew members behind this? Let’s get their support!

When each and every one of us is on the set, if you need sun block – see the medic; if you need a snack – go to Craft Service; if your car had a flat that morning – see Transpo; need some tape – go to Camera. We all know the drill. Now there is another department “on set” to take care of us. It is none other than the Texas Motion Picture Alliance. The TXMPA will secure the right people to help raise the incentive package, but they need YOU behind them so that we all can bring films home to TEXAS!

I propose that each and every one of you join this organization. The membership fee is $50.00 per year. Fifty dollars is less than one tank of gas, less than one dinner out and less than my yearly latte budget.

Film Fleet and its sister companies will pledge an additional $10.00 for every new paid TXMPA membership. I will take it one step further. If there any film crew member that cannot afford the membership fee right now, e-mail your story directly to me. The address is  phil at filmfleet.com. Instead of a crew t-shirt on the next project, I will assist you in paying your membership.

Not only am I asking crew members to join, I am soliciting all industry related vendors such as Longhorn Car & Truck Rentals, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Capps Truck & Van Rental, Crocker Crane Company, Omni Hotels, Rush Truck Centers, Play-Mor Trailers, Southwest Airlines, Raco Leasing, Hope Lumber Company, SWW Production Rentals, Juan In A Million and more! If you think a vendor could benefit from the efforts of TXMPA, forward me their information. I will contact them directly.

Like all of you, I do not want to work out-of-state. I want to work at home, in Texas, with my family and friends by my side.

Do the right thing. Join TXMPA today. You are just a click away… www.txmpa.org!

I, Phil Schriber, wrote and approved this letter.

All my best,

Phil Schriber