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

Below is the list of candidates for the six (6) open At-Large positions on TXMPA’s Board. Please take some time before voting begins to review this list and become familiar with the candidates. An e-mail with pictures of the candidates, their bios, and endorsements for these candidates will be placed on the TXMPA website  www.txmpa.org), and distributed to the general membership on Thursday, June 18; if you would like to have your endorsement included, please e-mail TXMPA at  info at txmpa.org no later than Wednesday, June 17.

1) Craig Berlin
2) Garry Potts
3) Jeanette Scott
4) Jeff Horny
5) J. Schuh
6) Justin Muller
7) Larry Cashion
Linda Alcazar Jurado
9) Michael Druck
10) Rick Olmos
11) Robert Curlin
12) Ron Bush
13) Will Raymond

Online voting for these positions will begin at 12:01 AM on Monday, June 22 and will continue until 11:59 PM on Thursday, June 25. Just a reminder: online voting will be handled by Ballot Bin  www.ballotbin.com); as a precaution, please “whitelist” Ballot Bin. This is simply done by adding their e-mail address ( notices at ballotbin.com) to your contact list, so that when voting begins, their e-mail will come directly to your inbox and not to your spam folder.

To be eligible to vote for At-Large members, you must be a paid-up member of TXMPA (at the full or supporting level) by 5:00 PM, Friday, June 19. If you are unsure of your current membership status, please contact your Regional Representative for clarification [or send an e-mail to  membership at txmpa.org]. You may find more information about your Region, and contact information for your Regional Representative, at TXMPA’s website.

Results of online voting, along with the three (3) newly elected Regional Representatives and their respective Alternates, will be announced at our Statewide Annual Meeting, to be held at Texas State University in San Marcos on Saturday, June 27. For more information on the meeting, please visit our website.

As always, thank you for all you do for the moving image industry here in Texas, and we’ll see you on the 27th!

On June 27, Paul Alvarado-Dykstra & Shelley Schriber will officially take over as Central Region board representative & alternate, respectively. I look forward to their input, energy and organizational capabilities as we move forward in our mission – growing our membership, establishing firm financial footing, lobbying the legislative body of Texas to bring work home.

I have spent the last several months in Oklahoma, on a feature film set in Texas. We are filming here for one reason. Legislative incentives. The Oklahoma state legislature has just signed into law a bill granting a rebate of 38% to film productions, and believe me, the studios are lining up and salivating. Never mind that there is NO crew base, NO infrastructure, NO soundstage, NO office facilities. We are based in an abandoned department store. The toilets work intermittently. Next to my desk, the water flows down the pipe each time someone flushes the toilet. But the people are lovely, the locations are good, and the community is eager & ready to build up the crew base and infrastructure to make this a truly competitive destination.

This story is writ large across the country. Incentive legislation is the MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR in drawing film production to any state today. Witness Michigan! They are building one of the biggest sound stages in the country. New Mexico, as we all know, is now firmly ensconced as a production destination, growing from nothing to the powerhouse it is today in a few short years. The main, the only, reason they have been able to accomplish this is the incentive package offered by the state of New Mexico. The single purpose of the TXMPA is to change this imbalance. The biggest lure, the most important factor in bringing back our jobs, is legislative action. That is our goal.

The TXMPA at large elections begin next week. I hope all central region members will vote for our proposed slate:
Craig Berlin
Rick Olmos
Jeanette Scott

We want to have as big a voice as possible from the central region as we move forward on our quest.

Thanks to all of you for letting me represent you. We have made great strides. Now, we must take the next two years to build our membership, raise money, establish a permanent office, and muster forces for the next legislative session. Many people have been out of work. Frustration levels are high. I have been forced to leave home and family for work. Nothing does more to change the equation than legislative action. In 2011, the battle begins all over again. Nothing is automatically renewed. Let’s all band together and come back bigger and stronger, with one voice, to insure the future of the film industry in Texas.

I ask you for your vote, your support, and your time and effort to build TXMPA into a force to be reckoned with.

Respectfully yours,

Jeanette Scott, outgoing board rep for Central Region

UPDATE: The House has approved the requested $60 million funding for two years while the Senate passed the bill with ony $20 million in funding, the same figure that was in the previous law. The two sides will have to come together on a funding amount and here’s hoping and praying that it will be closer to $60million than $20million.

The legislators surely understand that to pay out $60 million, there will have been SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION in production spending before any of that money is rebated. Based on a 15% rebate, the $20 million rebated would be based on +/- $133 million in spent production dollars. Hummm… $300-$400 million in production spending vs $130 million in spending in the state…which is better for Texas?

Is this the contract we want and need? No. However, after a year of on and off negotiations, this is the contract we’re stuck with and, given the overall economic climate, this contract will pass. At least we got two year expiration that will give the various guilds the opportunity to work together next time and hopefully improve the pitiful compensation package that this agreement establishes for new media. Time will tell, of course, but those of us who’ve been around the block a few times have little reason for optimism that the AMPTP will give significant improvements going forward. Our best hope there is if SAG, AFTRA and WGA can work together in two years. Each day seems to bring a new announcement concerning new media company alliances that will continue to alter the current product distribution landscape. Right now, actors are set to get the short end of the stick. In two years we should have ample documentation to make a strong case for significant improvements to this just approved agreement.

And now some really good news…

TXMPA effort pays off with improved film incentive package… gov will sign into law and now it HAS TO BE FUNDED…

And more good news…

SAG and AFTRA successfully negotiated a new commercials contract so no negative excitement on that front…things are looking very positive for resurgence of Texas film business…Great way to start a new week!

Here’s the email SAG members got concerning the new theatrical contract:

Dear Screen Actors Guild member:

We are pleased to inform you that the National Board of Directors today voted to approve the tentative TV/Theatrical deal and recommend it to the members.

Please see the following announcement.

SCREEN ACTORS GUILD NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES TENTATIVE TELEVISION AND MOTION PICTURE CONTRACTS AND RECOMMENDS RATIFICATION

Los Angeles (April 19, 2009) – The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today voted 53.38 percent to 46.62 percent to approve and recommend to members, new, two-year successor agreements to the 2005 Producer-Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement and 2005 Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement.

The proposed agreement, covering actors in motion pictures and television delivers 3.5% effective annual increases comprised of a 3% wage increase and a .5% pension and health contribution increase upon ratification, and a 3.5% wage increase in year two.

The board passed the below motion shortly after 4:00 p.m. today:

It was moved and seconded that the National Board directs the Interim National Executive Director to send the tentative agreement between the Producers represented by the AMPTP and the Screen Actors Guild for successor agreements to the 2005 Producer–Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement and the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement to the membership for ratification, with a recommendation from the Board to vote ‘Yes.’
Approved: 53.38% –46.62%

“I urge members to carefully review both the pros and cons in the referendum materials, and exercise their right to vote,” said Screen Actors Guild National President Alan Rosenberg.

Interim National Executive Director David White said: “We are pleased that Screen Actors Guild members will soon be voting on a deal for television and motion pictures. We’re eager to get our members back to work and to focus now on the challenges ahead, particularly on initiating a comprehensive effort to thoughtfully plan for the future.

Our negotiating committee, task force and professional staff have worked countless hours on this agreement over the last year. On behalf of the National Board, I thank them for their time, commitment and expertise.”

Chief Negotiator John McGuire stated: “This tentative agreement delivers increased contributions to the SAG pension plan, increased minimums, a significant gain in background actor numbers from 50 to 55 over the term of the contract, and it tracks the new media provisions achieved by other entertainment industry unions. The term of the agreement puts SAG in sync with the other unions, and does not include the extended term recently proposed by the AMPTP.”

Provisions of the proposed deal include:
• A two-year term of agreement concluding June 30, 2011.
• Effective annual increases comprised of 3.0% in wage increases and .5% in pension contributions upon ratification, and a 3.5% wage increase one year following ratification.
• A new media structure that tracks those achieved by other industry unions, resulting in gains for actors including:
o Jurisdiction on all derivative, made-for new media productions; automatic jurisdiction on all high-budget, original, made-for new media productions; plus jurisdiction on low budget original, new media productions that employee at least 1 covered performer.
o Residuals for exhibition of TV and Theatrical motion pictures on consumer pay platforms (Electronic Sell Through) at a greater percentage than those paid for DVD distribution.
o Residuals for ad-supported streaming of feature films and television programs.
o Residuals for derivative new media programs.
• Additional 5 covered background actors in feature films. From 50 to 53 covered background positions upon ratification of the contract, and from 53 to 55 covered background positions in year 2. Adds 1 covered background position in TV, from 19 to 20, upon ratification.
• Increased compensation for guest star premium from 7.5% to 10%.
• Increased trailer money break from $2,500 to $3,000, or more per week.
• Increased overtime money break for three-day performers from $2,700 to $3,000.
Ratification ballots will be mailed to eligible SAG members in early May, with an expected return date at the end of the month. Tabulation will occur immediately upon the conclusion of balloting.

Bargaining for a successor agreement to the 2005 SAG TV/Theatrical Contract began on April 15, 2008.

Once again the list of POSSIBLE SAG signatory productions for Louisiana and Texas show that Texas is playing in the rough, with one arm tied behind our back without a competitive film incentive program.

Happily HB 873 passed this week by a vote of 139-6. Now we await the vote on the Senate version of the bill, SB 605.

Passage of these bills is critical, of course, but there is still the matter of funding. Keep an eye out for directives from the AMPTP on when it’s time to contact your representatives about funding for the enhanced film incentive program.

In the meantime, look at how many Theatrical contract productions are slated for Louisiana. The Theatrical SAG agreement is for the larger budgeted films. Bigger budgets mean more local jobs for actors and crew. More jobs that extend for longer periods of time. More money into the local and state economies.

We are glad to have so many low budget and ultra low budget films shooting in Texas. We want those projects. But to survive as an industry, and surely to actually make a living in the film industry, we MUST have larger budgeted productions shooting on a regular basis in Texas.

Louisiana

Caged Innocence #00226166

United Spirits LLC – Theatrical

Location: Shreveport, LA

Start Date: April 30, 2009

Champagne Society #00239437

Champagne Society, LLC – Theatrical

Location: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, LA

Start Date: May 1, 2009

Dead of Night #00234500

Long Distance Films, Inc – Theatrical

Location: New Orleans, LA

Start Date: To be determined

Dead Whisper #00231285

Dead Whisper Pictures, LLC – Theatrical

Location: New Orleans, LA; Big Bear, CA

Start Date: To be determined

Disconnect #00235354

Triumphant Pictures – Theatrical

Location: New Orleans, LA

Start Date: March 10, 2009

Expendables, The (aka Barrow) #00233317

Alta Vista Productions, LLC – Theatrical

Location: Shreveport, LA

Start Date: March 28, 2009

Jonah Hex #00240540

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc

Location: Louisiana (non-specific location)

Start Date: April 13, 2009

Casting: Tiffany Little Canfield, CSA – (212)868-1260 x29

Leonie #00238888

Leonie Productions, LLC – Theatrical

Location: New Orleans, LA

Start Date: April 12, 2009

Little Murder #00239911

Little Murder, LLC – Theatrical

Location: Detroit, MI; New Orleans, LA

Start Date: April 20, 2009

Wrong Side of Town #00237651

WSOT Productions 1, LLC – Low Budget

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Start Date: February 3, 2009

Texas

Apparition #00233593

Firestorm Pictures – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Houston, TX

Start Date: To be determined

Basement, The #00237744

T.L.P., LLC – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Dallas, TX

Start Date: To be determined

Casting: Shawn Griffith  shgriffith at earthlink.net

Beyond The Farthest Star #00233502

Pathlight Entertainment, LLC – Modified Low Budget
Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX

Start Date: October 1, 2009

Casting: Benjamin Dane

Broken Promise, A South Texas Story #00210652

Que Tal Productions, LLC – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Brownsville, Mercedes, TX

Start Date: February 15, 2009

Mario Torres – (956) 227-1933

C.A.B. #00239396

Tom Proctor – Low Budget Modified

Location: TX, AZ and Los Angeles, CA

Start Date: May 16, 2009

Carried Away #00238361

Carried Away, LLC – Ultra Low Budget

Start Date: TBD

Location: Fort Worth

Casting: James Johnston

Earthling #00239014

The Abductors, LLC – Ultra Low Budget

Start Date: April 1, 2009

Location: Dallas

Casting: Josh Ridgeway  earthlingprods at yahoo.com

Iron Horses #00237421

Curveball Films, LLC – Low Budget

Location: Austin, TX

Start Date: August 1, 2009

Letter H, The #00233247

GCP Film, LLC – Theatrical

Location: Houston, El Paso, TX

Start Date: June 1, 2009

Casting: Rodney Acevedo

Love and the Texas Sky #00238741

Dust Bowl Pictures – Low Budget Modified

Location: Austin, TX

Start Date: April 1, 2009

Love Thy Neighbor #00238949

Nail Scarred Films, LLC – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Keller, TX

Start Date: April 25, 2009

Casting: Zach Smith (817) 938-9971 or  zachsmithkeller at yahoo.com

Maybe, Maybe No #00239585

Red Rider Films, LLC – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Wylie, TX

Start Date: June 12, 2009

Casting: Ryan Paige

Minority Western #00220674

FAD Productions – Ultra Low Budget

Locations: AZ & Dallas, TX

Start Date: December 30, 2009

Nerveracker

Troublemaker Studios

Location: Austin, TX

Start Date: June 2009

Casting: Beth Sepko

Player’s School #00238898

Nexus Entertainment and Greg Carter

Location: Houston, TX

Start Date: To be determined

Shadow Play #00236154

Silvatar Media, LLC – Low Budget Modified

Location: Waco, TX

Start Date: April 11, 2009

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!

My agent, Heather Collier sent out the following email to her clients today to urge participation in the upcoming TXMPA legislative days. It’s a little long, but I think you’ll get a sense of the urgency of the situation. The email also contains instructions on how all of us who value Texas film business can get involved.

================

Hello everyone!

So I really need your help. Actually, the Texas Film Industry needs your
help. Here is your call to action!!!!!

I know, you all are tired of the emails. But let me tell you, you may not
have anything to audition for anytime soon if these incentives do not pass
with funding! I’m serious. There are very few projects on the horizon.

You would start to miss my crazy emails…no really, you would!

Please read this entire email. You do not have to email me back.

I need to you to show up at the Capitol for the Alliance Rally on 7:30am
SHARP on the TXMPA Lobby Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 and I need you to wear red.

If you can’t show up in the morning before work or school, you can
show up anytime during the course of the day wearing red.

We NEED to show the governor and the legislators how many people in Texas support the film industry. Things are so slow here right now…that should be a HUGE motivating factor.

There will be coming in from all over the state to descend on the Capitol. Most of you live in Austin so you don’t have to
travel far!

The Alliance told TXMPA we would have at least 1000 people at the Rally at
7:30am on the 4th. Please don’t make liars out of us : )

You don’t need to talk to any legislators…you just need to come dressed in
red!!!

So here is what you need to do…

1) Go to this website…
 http://www1.mysignup.com/lobbydayrally

Sign up for the Rally. You can add “Collier Talent” to your name too.

2) Show up for the Rally between 7:15am-7:30am. Get there early to find
parking.

3) Bring friends, family, ANYONE that you know who supports the film/media
industry here in TX. Tell them to wear red!

4) If you are not in town, please, please, please contact friends, family to
come in your place.

5) If you can’t come in the morning, come sometime during the day. Lunchtime
would be great. TXMPA is buying lunch for all of the legislators, so it
would be great to have lots of bodies outside the Capitol wearing red
showing support for the industry as the legislators make their way to lunch.

6) Visit http://www.txmpa.org/. If you haven’t joined already, please join.
If you can’t afford to join, sign up for the newsletter so you can receive
updates on what is going on! If you want to participate in Lobby Day on
behalf of TXMPA and go in to the Capitol to talk to legislators YOU MUST
SIGN UP THROUGH THE TXMPA WEBSITE. You will also have to attend a mandatory
training the night of March 3rd before Lobby Day on March 4th.

7) Spread the word to your fellow actors and people in AND outside of the
industry!!!!! Seriously, now is the time to act!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this : )

Heather

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