TOWN HALL MEETING RECAP

Transcription

1 TOWN HALL MEETING RECAP On Thursday, January 28th, MFTVB held its Winter 2010 Town Hall Meeting, hosted by Aquilo Sound & Stage Partners in Minneapolis. The main topic was a discussion of the strategy for the legislative session. A legislative taskforce, comprised of crew, union members, industry professionals and MFTVB, has recommended focusing on educating legislators about our industry and keeping industry visibility high this year. As part of this effort, we urge production professionals and industry supporters to set up meetings with their representatives. Introduce yourself as someone who works in the industry, explain why this industry is important to you and to your livelihood and ask for their support. For talking points, please refer to our REEL ECONOMY fact sheet, which is available on our website as a PDF. To learn who represents you, use the District Finder provided by the Legislature. We ask everyone who meets with their reps to us with a recap of the feedback they received, as well as to summarize the attitudes and perceptions your represenatives expressed about our industry. This information will be helpful as we work to build support. MFTVB has set up feedback@mnfilmtv.org to serve as the address for this effort. Long-term strategy includes working with affiliated unions, guilds and professional associations to plan a forum with leading gubernatorial candidates in the summer of 2010 to discuss their vision for Minnesota and how our industry fits into that vision and to organize a production industry Day At The Capitol for the 2011 session. 1 of 5 7/1/14 4:11 PM

2 THINK SPRING: THE GREENLIGHT GALA It's not too early to plan for those beautiful spring nights. We hope you reserve one for MFTVB's biggest fundraising event of the year - the Greenlight Gala on Saturday, May 22nd. On that evening, Minnesota s creative community will gather at Nicollet Island Pavilion for what promises to be a night full of cinematic surprises, music and partying on the banks of the Mississippi. As competition among states for production dollars increases, our work to keep the production industry alive and thriving in Minnesota is more important than ever. The funds generated from this benefit will help us to sustain and expand our services in the following fiscal year. To help us reach our fundraising goals, we are seeking sponsors for the Gala. Sponsorships and in-kind donations for this event offer unique exposure to Minnesota s superb creative community plus visibility on media and promotional materials. A complete listing of sponsorship levels and benefits is now available on our Website. To discuss sponsorship opportunities further, please call Rebecca Collins at or rebecca@mnfilmtv.org. And don't forget to mark your calendar for this can't-miss party! MINNESOTA'S OSCAR CONNECTIONS Several Academy Award nominees this year have Minnesota connections. A SERIOUS MAN, written and directed by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, received Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. The production shot during the fall of 2008 in locations throughout the Twin Cities metro, including Bloomington, Edina, St. Paul, Minneapolis and St. Louis Park. More than $6 million was injected into the local economy and 130 Minnesotans were employed in crew positions during filming. Hundreds of Minnesotan actors played key roles or worked as extras on the film. Bloomington-native Peter Docter was nominated for two Academy Awards for his work on UP, the animated feature film from Pixar Studios. He's in contention in the Best Animated Feature Film category for his work directing the film and also for Best Original Screenplay. UP received a total of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and to date has grossed just over $725 million worldwide. 2 of 5 7/1/14 4:11 PM

3 Production company River Road Entertainment received a nomination in the Best Documentary category for its work on the documentary FOOD, INC. River Road is owned by Bill Pohlad, who is also a partner in Apparition, the U.S. distributor for the film YOUNG VICTORIA, which was honored with nominations for best Art Direction, Make-Up and Costume Design. Apparition is also distributor of BRIGHT STAR, which is nominated for Costume Design. The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will air on Sunday, March 7th. PRODUCTION NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS The indie Midwest crime drama, THE CONVINCER, begins principal photography on February 8th in the Twin Cities metro. The film was co-written by Karen Sprecher and Jill Sprecher; Jill Sprecher will direct. Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin and Billy Cruddup are set to star. This will be the fourth feature from Minnesota-based production company Werc Werk Works. Their previous productions include Todd Solodnz's LIFE DURING WARTIME and HOWL, about the obscenity trial of Allen Ginsberg's groundbreaking poem. Both features were recently acquired by IFC Films. In other local production news, LIFE OF RILEY, the latest feature film from Duluth-based 4 Track Films, is now in post-production. Several commercials recently wrapped in the Twin Cities, including spots for Miracle Ear, 3M and WalMart. There are still Snowbate funds availabl, so please check the Snowbate Guidelines to see if your upcoming production qualifies. THE LINE, a feature written by David Burton Morris and Victoria Wozniak begins production in Mexico this spring. The thriller, about the border between El Paso and Juarez, will be directed by Jorge Ramirez Suarez and is funded by Televista Cine in Mexico City with Lionsgate distributing in the U.S. Burton Morris also directed and co-wrote the film IMMIGRATION TANGO, an independent romantic comedy shot in Florida in the spring of The film is slated to play the festival circuit. Team X from Minneapolis (members include Vaughn Juares, Bridget McGrath, Jack Paar, Michael Nissen, Jasmine Reid, Dirk Cannon and Joe Schneider) won Best Film Overall in the national competition for the 24 Hour Film Race for their short Blowing Bubbles. The team also won 11 out of 16 awards in 3 of 5 7/1/14 4:11 PM

4 Minneapolis, including Best Film. Local actor Beth Chaplin's book The Acting Biz: A Career Guide to the Twin Cities (Commercials, Industrials, Voice-Overs, Stage and more) is now available. The Acting Biz is a comprehensive and practical handbook for anyone seeking work as an actor in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul market. It focuses on the business side of the Twin Cities' acting world: where the work is and how to best go about getting it. For information on purchasing the book, please visit Acting Biz TC. Women Stand Up! and IFP-MN are sponsoring Women Stand Up and Shoot!, a comedic film competition that promotes and encourages women writers, actors and directors. First, second and third place winners will be determined by a special panel of MN-bred comedians including Lizz Winstead, Mary Jo Pehl and Jackie Kashian. The deadline for submission is April 21, For details on eligibility and how to submit your entry, visit IFP-MN. FEBRUARY EVENTS Attention filmmakers: As part of its Expanding the Frame program, The Walker Art Center presents Filmmakers In Conversation: Ellen Kuras February 17th through the 20th. The Walker will screen SWOON, THE BETRAYAL (Q & A with Kuras to follow), I SHOT ANDY WARHOL and Lou Reed's BERLIN. On Saturday, February 20th, 7:30 p.m., attend An Evening With Ellen Kuras. She will discuss her career and artistry and show clips of her work with notable directors. $10 ($8 Walker members). Student price is $5. Join AICP MN on February 9th at 5:30 p.m. for the workshop Making Sense of Minnesota Sales Tax for Commercial Producers:Untangling the Mysteries of Fact Sheet 133 and 163. The workshop takes place at Cinequipt, th Avenue North in Minneapolis. Cost is $15 for non-members; free to AICP members. For further information, please visit AICP. The documentary WILL WORK FOR FOOD, directed by Tom Maertz, will screen at Bryant Lake Bowl on February 11th at 7 p.m. The film explores the lives of several Twin Cities panhandlers through interviews and scenes of everyday survivial. Admission is $7. One night only! Join the cast and crew of the documentary THE RED TAIL, 4 of 5 7/1/14 4:11 PM

5 directed by Dawn Mikkelson and Melissa Koch, on February 24th at 7 p.m. at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis for what may be the only opportunity to see it on the big screen. This will be the first screening in the Twin Cities since the sold out Sneak Preview at the 2009 Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival. Tickets are $8 for the general public ($6 for students and seniors) are are available in advance through THE RED TAIL site. Start your Oscar celebration early! Join Film Buffs Trivia With Kevyn Burger at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on Sunday, February 28th at 6 p.m. The evening includes the red carpet treatment with free valet, a glass of champagne and a three-course dinner with choice of entree and wine. Kevyn Burger is an award-winning television and radio host as well as a frequent host of themed trivia nights. The night's trivia will include questions on Minnesota films and filmmakers in addition to general film knowledge. A portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit Minnesota Women in Film & Television. Reserve your spot by calling Support the next generation of filmmakers by attending the Being 15, Generational Stories of the Teenage Years screening on Tuesday, March 9th, 7 p.m., at the Minnesota History Center's 3-M Auditorium. Story Board's six-month "Being 15" workshop series taught students the craft of documentary filmmaking and gave them an opportunity to tell a unique story about teenage experience. The screening marks the culmination of their work. Cash and prizes totaling $500 will be awarded in two categories, Audience Choice and Juried Prize! A $5 donation is requested at the door. We need production photos! MFTVB is always looking for photos of production in Minnesota to share on our website and in this newsletter. If you have photos you'd like to contribute, please Rebecca Collins at rebecca@mnfilmtv.org. Thank you for your continued support of Minnesota's production industry! This was sent to [% member: %]. To ensure that you continue receiving our s, please add us to your address book or safe list. manage your preferences opt out using TrueRemove. Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future s. marketing by 5 of 5 7/1/14 4:11 PM