Discover the ins & outs of the TX Moving Image Industry Incentive Program & building the biz in Texas.

Join this open forum for producers, directors, actors and crew. Learn about the new incentives for growing work in Film, Commercial Advertising, Corporate Film, Video Gaming, & New Media. Find out how the new incentives have impacted Texas production, who’s using the incentives, and how home grown creativity can benefit from the new program.

When: Sunday, July 12, 2009

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Where: Congregation Beth Israel

3901 Shoal Creek Blvd.

Austin, TX 78756

(512) 454-6806

Panel includes:

· Bob Hudgins—Director, Texas Film Commission

· Linda Dowell—Regional Branch Division Exec Director, SAG

· TJ Jones— Texas Regional Director, AFTRA

· Craig Berlin—Business Manager, Pro-Tape Systems

· Ken Rector—Business Manager, IATSE Local 484

· Tom Booker—Moderator, Austin Conservatory

Cost: FREE

Please RSVP to Sheila Cooper at: (972)361-8185 OR (800) 724-0767, option 7 or  sheila.cooper at sag.org

TIME: 7:15am

LOCATION: The South Steps of the Capitol Building

WARDROBE: Wear Red. Look nice.

AGENDA:

· 7:15am – CALL TIME! Be on the South Steps of the Capitol Building in
your snazzy red outfits! There will be a table set up where you can get
information, pick up a Rally Fan, and be directed to the Rally area.

· 7:30am to 8:30am – Governor Rick Perry and other film bigwigs will
address our group while we RALLY and make a big show for the press

· 8:30am to 9:15am – Skits based on popular Texas films will be
performed for our entertainment and encouragement

· 9:15am to 11:15am – Rally on the steps OR walk the halls of the
Capitol wearing your red and carrying a sign or fan

· 11:30am to 1:30pm – Form a receiving line into and out of the lunch
tent so we can thank the legislators for their time and attention to our
issue (NOTE: Lunch is being served only to the legislators, their staff,
and TXMPA members who are taking meetings with them, not all in attendance!)

You are not REQUIRED to stay for any length of time for the Rally, but
we’d love to have the largest group possible earlier in the day to make
the best impression on the Governor and the press. If you can only come
for an hour or two, plan to be there right at CALL TIME!

FROM: Drew Mayer-Oakes, TXMPA Legislative Committee

We are fast approaching the Texas Motion Picture Alliance Lobby Day
for 2009. Thank you for your participation last session – we need
your help again. If you are able to volunteer again, the TXMPA needs
you! Lobby Day is March 4th, with orientation and training for new
team members the evening of March 3rd, in Austin. This year we are
signing up on a fantastic volunteer management system, so please take
a moment to register at http://txmpa.volunteerhub.com . Once you sign
up on this system, we will make assignments based on your home
address, so be sure to include that. The form is really
self-explanatory.

And if you are already planning on coming, please SIGN UP so that we
can communicate with you directly about your legislative assignments.

Here are the details:

Lobby Day Sign-up!

Time to get off the mark, get on the bus, get your act together and
let your voice be heard. Time to sign up for LOBBY DAY!

Click here http://txmpa.volunteerhub.com) and sign up for training and
assignments on March 3 and 4!

We’ll ask you where you live and assign you to a team that will
visit four or five members of the Texas Legislature on March 4.

TXMPA LOBBY DAY AGENDA:

Tuesday March 3rd – Volunteers arrive in Austin
Check in at Austin Studios, 1901 E. 51st Street, 78723
7:00 PM – Welcome
7:30 PM – Training/orientation for volunteers

Wednesday, March 4th -
7:30 AM – Lobby Day Rally at the Capitol – south steps
Join members of the Austin Alliance  http://www.theallianceaustin.com)
and show support for competitive incentives. Wear something red!
9:00 AM – 11:30AM – Capitol office visits
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM – Break
1:30 PM – 5:00 PM – Capitol office visits

Make your hotel reservations 2/13 at the special $89 rate!

Clarion Inn & Suites Conference Center
2200 IH 35 S.
Austin, Texas 78704
512-444-0561, 877-424-6423

Tell them you are with the Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA) to get
our group rate.

Sincerely,

Drew Mayer-Oakes, TXMPA Legislative Committee
TEXAS MOTION PICTURE ALLIANCE

Our legislative rallying cry/ kickoff mixer & information session will be Monday, January 26 from 6-9 at:

Roux Restaurant
214 E. 6th St, Austin 78701
512 479 0474
just a couple of doors down from the Alamo Ritz.

Special Guests:
Bob Hudgins, Texas Film Commissioner
Brandon Aghamalian, TXMPA lobbyist with Hillco Partners

Come early for networking Happy Hour (till 7) with great food & drink

This is a very important meeting for all of us.

WE HAVE A BILL. WE HAVE BILL SPONSORS IN HOUSE & SENATE.

We have a new speaker of the house. The legislature is in full swing, and we will know who all the power players are- committee chairs, etc. The past few months have been about raising money & membership numbers (which we do still need.) Now we turn our focus to action. At this meeting we will talk about what to do when to whom. Brandon & Bob can answer questions about our legislation, and best tactics for getting it passed & funded. We’ll talk about lobby day. Bring ideas you have for how to make our message heard. We’ll have volunteer assignments, letters to sign, etc. As most of you know, there has been a lot of bad press lately regarding incentives.

Now more than ever, WE NEED EVERYONE TO COME TOGETHER. We’ll have special guests & plenty of networking time, so we promise it will be fun as well as informative. If you are concerned about the state of the moving image industry in Texas, COME TO THIS MEETING! NOW IS OUR MOMENT! BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!

WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK & NEXT.

1. Recruit 5 new people. An antique dealer, a film buff, an aunt, your neighbor, or anyone else you can get to care. If you can get them to join, great. If not, at least get their emails, go to website, & add them to email list. 20 seconds total. We need to build outreach so when it’s time for letter avalanche we reach as many people as possible.

2. FIND OUT WHO REPRESENTS YOU. WRITE THEM.
Go to this link to find your legislators.  http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us Scroll down to your Texas State Senator & Representative. Then, write them.

It can literally be done in 2 minutes. You just check email, fill in your information, and then enter a brief message. Please support the Moving Image Industry Incentives. Add a brief personal comment like “Thanks for your support. I’m an actor. We need this legislation! Our jobs have left the state. We have families too.” You get the picture.

If you are concerned about the state of the moving image industry in Texas, COME TO THIS MEETING! NOW IS OUR MOMENT!
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!

SPEAKERS: A Panel of Speakers from THE ALLIANCE
* Donise Hardy, President, Talent Works-USA
* Veronica Kelly-Albiez, Vice President, DVA Talent
* Liz Atherton, TAG Talent
* Heather Collier, Collier Talent
* Gabe Folse, State Theater

Our September 24 Mixer will feature the panel of Speakers listed above from
THE ALLIANCE, a cooperative of Casting Directors, Talent Agents and Acting
Coaches that provides insights into the needs and concerns of the acting
community. SEE: http://www.theallianceaustin.com/index.h….

This is a very important Mixer and all actors, and those in the film community in general,
are encouraged to attend.

Please pass on information about our Mixers to your friends and associates
in the film/media industries, and if you have a website associated with
those fields, please post our website - www.networkaustinmixer.com

THIS IS AN ALERT TO ALL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD MEMBERS

It is imperative to your well being that you read the TV/THEATRICAL NEGOTIATING UPDATE that was recently mailed to you by Screen Actors Guild and check the box showing support for Doug Allen, Alan Rosenberg and the Negotiating Committee, giving them the authority and ability to go in and negotiate a better deal for you.

We, the membership, need to understand the full impact and ramification of demands being made by the AMPTP and, in particular, the two issues listed below.

Thousand of members will be denied health coverage, pension benefits and residuals.

Free Streaming/Move Over
Streaming network television shows on the internet. There are very important elements of streaming that should be understood.

The AMPTP demands:
· 17 days free streaming for current shows
· 24 days free streaming for new shows, followed by:
· Two consecutive 6-month ‘spurts’ for a payment of 3% of Total Applicable Minimum
· Guest star $85.00
· Day Player $22.77

Why is this a problem? It will not be supplemental income, but replacement income. As free streaming depletes the value of reruns, the first and second rerun residuals will be lost.

· Guest Star “top-of-show” (approximately $6,500), loses 60% of income

1st rerun residual $3,290 – lost
2nd rerun residual $3,290 – lost

· Day Player, scale (approximately $759), loses two-thirds of income

1st rerun residual $759 – lost
2nd rerun residual $759 – lost
In aggregate this represents a potential of 100-200 million dollars.
This lost income will have a profound impact on individual members’ Pension & Health Plans.

Day Player:
· Currently needs about nine days work with 1st and 2nd rerun residuals.
· Without rerun residuals, will need about 27 days work, an almost impossible number of days to reach

Guest Star:
· Currently needs about two guest roles with 1st and 2nd rerun residuals
· Without rerun residuals will need over 3 guest starring roles to qualify

Thousands of members that now qualify will find themselves without health coverage, pension benefits and residuals, turning our union into an elitist union representing only those temporarily the most successful.

Clips:
· Producers may use clips for promotional purposes without consent or payment
· For any other purpose, consent is required and negotiable… but cannot be negotiated at time of original employment

This preserves the principle that your work can only be used in and for the film on which you are engaged, allowing you and your heirs to retain control of your name, voice and likeness.

AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT, in order to build a new industry based on clips, the AMPTP is demanding:
· we give up consent and negotiation;
· allow them to mix and mash clips: “mashing” – putting together 2 or more clips from different sources, creating a new product. we will have no control over how clips are mixed or mashed, leaving the door open for a total perversion of our creative work.
• For a payment of:
· under 2 minutes – $25.00
· under 4 minutes – $75.00
· over 4 minutes – $22.77

You need to clearly understand that you will be denied employment if you do not accept these nominal payments and give up your right of consent.

It is critical that you be informed and weigh in on these two issues and the others outlined in the TV/Theatrical Negotiating Update. Our membership, the public and members of the industry at large should understand we are fighting for the basic bread and butter issues of pension benefits, health coverage, the protection of our work and the opportunity to make a living in our chosen careers.

This should be considered supplemental to the TV/Theatrical Negotiating Update which you have just received from the Guild.

Fraternally
Ed Asner
Tom Bower
David Clennon
Rob Schneider

by Craig Berlin
Founding Board Member (Retired)
Texas Motion Picture Alliance
 http://www.txmpa.org

Acting is something close to my heart. Talent does not guarantee
success and even though I did a lot of acting in high school and
college, I opted to go behind the camera as a career because it felt
safer (hah!) So, the plight of the production industry in Texas
touches me both from a business and personal standpoint on more than
one front.

Recently I was asked to address the Alliance, a network of Austin
casting directors, agents and acting coaches in order to keep them
up-to-date on the state of the industry but most importantly to help
them reach out to their clients, the myriad of actors we have in
locally. I’d like to pass along the information I shared with them
statewide and specifically address what I understand to be some of
the specific concerns actors have about TxMPA.

You may have heard that the Texas production business is hurting,
making it harder for actors and crew to find work and generally
impacting the state’s econcomy in a negative way. The alarm bells
being sounded regarding production business in Texas are from real
numbers, not just protectionist fear. Texas used to be considered
the “Third Coast” but that has changed. Producers who want to come
here no longer can because the money people won’t allow it. To be
frank, who can blame them? After all, as an industry of “artists” we
spend much of our time trying to convince the traditional business
community that film, music and the arts are “business” too, so we
can hardly expect the business decision-makers of production to
behave substantially differently in regard to “the bottom line” than
other bean counters would.

The truth is, production incentives work and a lack of them hurts.
In 2002, pre-incentive Louisiana had about $20 million/year in
production business. Since the advent of incentives, their business
had grown to over $640 million by 2005. Similar figures exist for
New Mexico. Michigan is currently building the second largest
production studio in the state as a direct result of new business
brought in by incentives, according to the mayor of Lansing. The
list of migration and infrastructure growing elsewhere goes on.

By contrast, Texas is DEAD LAST on the list of states with
incentives. As a result, our business has correspondingly shrunk. We
are now into the billions of dollars in lost revenue. Prison Break
left Dallas and even Robert Rodriguez is likely producing his next
feature in Michigan. We were barely able to hang on to Friday Night
Lights and that had a lot to do with help from the local support and
there are MANY more examples.

As the Third Coast, Texas offered talented and plentiful crew and
actors as well as varied locations, good facilities and of course,
Texas charm. While the charm and locations may remain, the rest of
our infrastructure is eroding due to lack of business. Some studios
are not being built because we lack incentives; others are not
getting badly needed upgrades. Our crew and actors are working
out-of-state more than they are working locally and that makes it
difficult to keep your roots here. As of now, the local crew labor
union IATSE reports they have more crew working out of state than in
Texas. While talent agents typically do not report specific numbers,
a SAG survey included alarming information as well. One talent agent
reported nearly 100 performers, or 75% of the agency roster, had
found work in Louisiana or New Mexico in the past year. Another
agent cited 36 film and television projects in Louisiana employing
75 of the agency’s Texas performers and five projects in New Mexico
employing 9 Texas performers in the past year. A third agent
reported total gross earnings from out of state in 2007 comprised
27% of the agency’s film/tv gross and increased to 28% in 2008,
whereas five years ago there were not measurable out of state
earnings. With the possible exception of commercial business in
Dallas, we simply cannot be satisfied with the status quo and expect
to have any kind of industry left in this state.

It is widely believed by those in the trenches that we have about 9
months to get our act together (no pun intended) and make something
happen or our a signficiant portion of our industry will be dealt
such a severe blow that it will literally wither and any opportunity
for regrowth will be years down the road. It is imperative that
actors join the cause individually and both JOIN the TxMPA and
participate in the grass roots effort by writing their legislators –
ESPECIALLY the naysayers such as Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden
in Williamson County.

While Bob Hudgins, Texas Film Commisioner, is an amazing advocate
for our industry, he is not in a position legally to take an
official stand and furthermore, his office is underfunded and
understaffed to do all the marketing we need to bring more business
to the state. Once we have successfully achieved better incentives,
the TxMPA needs to have a long-term mission of helping to solicit
business for our state and help improve our infrastructure, as well
as making sure that the “total package” we offer stays attractive
and competitive with other states.

It is often difficult for even the most talented actors to get jobs
when business is plentiful. Just imagine how it will be when
business is virutally nonexistent. Personally, I hope to do some
acting again in the future and my daughter is interested as well.
Beyond that, my job depends on a healthy production community.
Production business is not only good for the entire state but is
also significant part of what makes Texas “cool,” much as is live
music is for Austin. More importantly, we and our friends and
colleagues may have a mass exodus if we aren’t able to turn things
around.

As a local vendor, it has been difficult enough to compete with
internet companies to supply a local clientele made largely of
transplants from California and elsewhere who do not share the “Buy
Local” mentality of old in regard to their current home. With the
local business migrating elsewhere, it is likely that what remains
of local producers and potential location shoots may very well be
left with few options when the number of local suppliers left to
serve them shrinks even further. Just last week I learned that the
mobile HD editing facility Confidence Bay is moving to L.A. so they
can sustain their business until the industry climate is better
here, at least they have the ability to come back, if and when we
fix things. They are not alone.

A fair number of actors seem to have a particularly difficult time
believing in the issues or supporting TxMPA. There has been
concerned expressed by some regarding where the TxMPA money ends up.
As the first treasurer for TXMPA I can vouch for the fact that at
least 90% of the money raised goes to lobbying expenses. It case it
hasn’t been made clear, with over 5000 bills in front of a
legislature which only meets every other year, NOTHING gets passed
in Texas without a lobbyist. Most of the remainder of the money goes
to fundraising and promotional expenses. There are no paid board
members, employees or other gravy trains and most expenses such as
travel are absorbed by individual board members. As Chairman of the
Membership and Fundraising Committee our first year, if I went to
other cities to promote the organization I paid my own way.

Any way you slice it, our first priority must be to pass better
incentives to put Texas back on the list of viable choices and that
is the TxMPA’s prime directive. We can’t do it without the financial
and grass-roots support of the entire community, including actors.
Please let me know if you need help with specifics about how to get
involved beyond joining the organization; otherwise please visit
 http://www.txmpa.org and sign up. It’s an investment in your future
and we need you.

Folks, the legislative season is upon us. Long before the session begins in January, much work has already been done — and there’s a great deal yet to be done — toward making Texas’ incentive program more competitive, and regaining some of the ground that Texas has lost. The only way to revise the system is through legislative action, and if it doesn’t happen this session, it will be two years before we have another chance.

If you work in any capacity on films of any stripe; television; commercials; corporate videos; music videos; animation; or video games, you need to help us make these changes happen. You may wonder what these different production types have in common. First, they all create visual content. Secondly, they’re portable industries, with no need for factories or big infrastructure to create their products, and that’s why this industry can be so severely impacted by incentives offered in other states. If you offer a competitive incentive, they will come. That’s been solidly proven elsewhere, at Texas’ expense.

Changes will not happen without the involvement of those who work in this industry. And unfortunately, most of you have not been involved: you haven’t yet joined the Texas Motion Picture Alliance.

Quite frankly, we don’t have the luxury of any more time for people to think that others will take care of participating in the process. It is up to you, and you can do it right now. Join the TXMPA, participate in its calls to action, and maybe you won’t have to take a job in Louisiana ever again. If you can’t be bothered to help your own cause, believe me, the legislature won’t bother either.

Bob Hudgins
Texas Film Commission

TXMPA is a statewide all volunteer not-for-profit advocacy group for the moving image industry in Texas.

TXMPA is the industry advocate before legislative, regulatory and judicial bodies, representing a robust community of professionals seeking economic and creative incentives for media work in Texas.

To join or learn more about how TXMPA is bringing business to Texas, go to:
www.txmpa.org

Some of the conventional wisdom has been that the AMPTP is cooling its heels until a new, hopefully more AMPTP-friendly SAG board is elected and takes over in October. While that might seem like a solid line of thinking there is a flaw. The current negotiating team will NOT be replaced even if a more AMPTP friendly bunch are elected to the board. This negotiation will continue with the current negotiating team until a deal is finally struck.

Here is Allen’s letter to the membership:

August 3, 2008

Dear Screen Actors Guild Member,

Your negotiators are working every day to successfully conclude negotiations for a successor agreement to our TV/Theatrical contract. We have not yet closed the gap with the employers’ negotiators, but National President Alan Rosenberg, the National Negotiating Committee co-chairs from the Regional Branch Division, New York and Hollywood and I remain focused on this effort.

Right now, that involves small group meetings and exchanges with the employers, their AMPTP representatives and a core group of leaders in both organizations. Substantive progress is more likely in a less formal atmosphere. Negotiators can talk more productively, exchange ideas and define a short path leading to a conclusion. Informal communication is routine in labor talks and, in fact, occurred in other Guilds’ negotiations this year.

The full committees and relevant staff of the AMPTP and SAG together number more than 100 people. This large group is extremely effective in framing the issues in negotiations, but unwieldy as we transition to focused, directed discussion. In fact, the full 100-member negotiating group probably will not need to meet across the table again until we shake hands over a deal.

You will not doubt read spin suggesting that there is dead silence between our sides. Progress doesn’t have to occur directly across a table. Discussions through alternative channels are ongoing as we work toward a fair deal for actors as soon as possible.

Your interest in and support of the key issues like jurisdiction and residuals for all new media have been invaluable to our negotiations, as was the 68-0 vote of our National Board in the resolution of July 26, 2008. This unanimous vote from the board members who represent you in the Regional Branch Division, New York Division and Hollywood Division was a meaningful reaffirmation of SAG’s unity. Solidarity by the SAG Board and SAG members sends an important, powerful signal to management that efforts to divide us aren’t working and that actors are united on the issues.

We also know that you remain concerned about other key bargaining priorities such as, for example, product integration, force majeure, stunt performers and background actors’ issues. Be assured that these and our other priorities continue to be in the forefront of our efforts on your behalf.

We will stay in touch with you to report on our efforts and hope that you will also stay in touch with us. Continue to email your questions and comments to  Contract2008 at sag.org (this is an email address not a web link).

Thank you for your continued support and solidarity.

In unity,

Doug Allen
National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator

08:49 AM CDT on Friday, July 25, 2008

By JOE O’CONNELL / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
 filmnewsbyjoe at yahoo.com

Don Stokes skipped junior- high classes to watch Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway succumb to a spray of bullets as Bonnie and Clyde. Now he’s charged with bringing the Texas film industry back to life.In June he was elected president of the Texas Motion Picture Alliance, the voice of a Texas film industry that’s seeing Hollywood take its projects to Louisiana, New Mexico and other states that offer heftier financial incentives.

Mr. Stokes is the third TXMPA president and the third from Dallas. His predecessors helped persuade the Texas Legislature to join the film-incentive race with a 5 percent incentive. He is charged with persuading lawmakers to increase it to a more competitive level, something that may come naturally to a guy whose life has been steeped in filmmaking.

“I saw when Dallas and Texas earned that third-coast reputation,” he says, “and I’ve seen it erode significantly in the last few years.”

His father, Bill, was a photography teacher turned film-industry pro who provided the soundstages and production facilities for Bonnie and Clyde in the ’60s. Bill is said to have been the model for Gene Hackman’s Texas accent in the film.

“It was a great experience,” says Mr. Stokes, now head of Post Asylum. “There was tremendous camaraderie on the set. You knew something different was going on, that it wasn’t the same old Hollywood industry movie. There was a different feel, a fresh feel.”

He’d like to see that feel return to Texas film, and he’s not alone. Close to 100 North Texans traveled to Austin recently for the state TXMPA meeting at which Mr. Stokes was elected. About 20 Austin film professionals showed up, a disparity he attributes to the greater urgency felt in Dallas.

“We’ve been hurt more than others, so we rally because we remember when we were really busy,” he says. “I do think the people in Austin get it, but they haven’t felt the overall loss yet like Dallas and Houston have.”

Regional rivalries need to be put aside, Mr. Stokes says, as the industry unites to convince the Legislature that the film industry is worth saving and growing. The unstated goal is a 15 percent refund of in-state expenditures that would still fall short of the 25 percent incentives offered by Louisiana and New Mexico – Michigan offers up to 42 percent – but with the difference offset by a strong Texas crew base and diverse locations.

“We still are a large industry, but we’re viewed as being fragmented,” he says of the challenge the industry faces in getting its message across. “We’re not all in one building or one area of the state.”

What happens if the Legislature doesn’t act? “Texas is losing infrastructure, and we’ll see an acceleration of that loss,” he says. “To an extent we might see a give-up. We need to not only retain what we have, but to grow it.”

Mr. Stokes, a co-producer of the acclaimed documentary TV Junkie, would also like to see the incentives revised to allow more low-budget, homegrown independents to benefit.