Here is the recent email sent out on June 30, 2011  from Jerry and Andrea-

Hi Everyone,

As you may know, this is the last day of existence for the Missouri Film Office. It began in 1983 and since then has been responsible for bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in production revenue to the state, plus immeasurable worldwide publicity.

We know that, to many of you, this industry is your livelihood, and while Missouri becomes one of just a few states to have no film office, Andrea and I both sincerely hope that the production industry here will overcome this setback and become thriving and vibrant.

I began with the film office almost 11½ years ago; Andrea six years ago. We both have greatly enjoyed our work here. We look back proudly on all of the productions we’ve had in Missouri during those years – commercials, documentaries, reality TV, feature films; the list is long. Most recently, we are very proud to be part of the only two films made in Missouri ever to garner Academy Award Best Picture nominations: “Winter’s Bone” and “Up in the Air.” We have great memories that we will never forget.

But most of all, we enjoyed the people with whom we worked. It was our great pleasure to meet and know everyone on set and off –community leaders, business owners, people from all walks of life – who helped make Missouri productions successful and a destination for producers. When I came here in 2000, I knew very few people here, and now I regard many of you as my close friends. I know Andrea feels the same.

Thank you for all you’ve done for the production industry and for Missouri. Best wishes to everyone.

Jerry Jones, Director
Andrea Sporcic, Assistant Director

MOMMA Legislative Day is your opportunity to let your elected representatives know why the film industry is vital to creating and maintaining jobs and the important role played by the MO Film Office.

PLEASE JOIN US ON APRIL 19^TH

What:              3^rd Annual Missouri Legislative Day

When:              Tuesday, April 19^TH – 2011

Where:             State Capitol Building in Jefferson City

Time:               10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  (see schedule below)

Who should attend:  All MOMMA members and anyone who works in the Missouri motion media production community.
 We need production community members from all regions in Missouri to attend.

If you plan to attend, please follow these steps:

Step 1 – RSVP to: Joni Tackette at Jtackette@aol.com

It’s important to RSVP, so we can prepare materials on your behalf for you to leave with your State Senator and House Rep.

Step 2 – When you RSVP, it is very important to include the name of your state representative & state senator in your email.  You can find this information at http://www.mo.gov, click “My Government,” then “Elected Officials.”  You will need to know your zip+4 to use the mo.gov site.

(Don’t know your zip+4?  Go to: http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/ to find it.)

If you plan to drive to the event, here is a link to a map for the capitol: http://ht.ly/3CMHo

See below for details regarding bus that will leave from St. Louis area on the morning of April 19^th.

WE STILL NEED EXHIBITORS

If you can provide a demonstration (show animation/show CGI, etc), please contact Joni Tackette (jtackette@aol.com). We are also interested in all other jobs in the industry.  (Space is limited, please reply asap to request a table.)  It’s important to get to the Capitol building early to set up as you will need to unload near the garage entrance and it gets very crowded later in the day. Those with tables should arrive around 8:30am. Below is a tentative agenda.

Schedule

8:30 a.m. – Exhibitors arrive to set-up. We will provide a diagram. We’re asking everyone who can, to come and have a table to showcase what they do. Very interested in those who do: sound editing, digital editing, animation, 3-D, CGI/fx as these fit in with the new media tie to film.

All attendees of Legislative Day should report to the Third floor of State Capitol Building.  After you reach the third floor, go to the Senate Alcove. There will be signage to direct you to the MOMMA meeting place.

10:00 a.m. – Attendees will assemble and receive a legislative briefing by MOMMA lobbyist Jeff Brooks.  There will be an overview of day & instructions.  Donuts, juice and coffee available.

11:00 – Noon - Visits with legislators.  Exhibitors should be at their tables during this time.

Noon – 1:00 - Legislators view exhibits and eat lunch in our exhibit area.  MOMMA members should be there to mingle.  Important for exhibitors to be at their tables during this time.  Lunch provided by MOMMA.

1:00 – 2:00 - Continue visits with legislators.  Exhibitors stay at tables.

2:00 – 3:00 - Update from legislative leaders.

St. Louis Bus to Legislative Day

Many thanks to the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission for sponsoring the bus that will be leaving from St. Louis on Legislative day.  The bus will leave around 7:30 am from a designated location still to be determined in St. Louis.  
IF YOU WANT TO RIDE THE BUS, PLEASE EMAIL JONI TACKETTE AT Jtackette@aol.com to reserve your seat and receive additional details.

A big THANK YOU to Danny Cowden of CineLOGISITICS for lending his transportation expertise in this matter!

If you have any additional questions regarding Legislative Day – please email Joni Tackette at Jtackette@aol.com.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN JEFF CITY ON APRIL 19, 2011!!!!

In the Governor’s FY 2012 budget proposal, funding for the film office was eliminated.  As the budget moved thru the House, $200,000 was added to keep the office, and approved by the full House.  The budget bills are now under consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee and should be voted on this week, hopefully with the money still included.  The next step is consideration by the full Senate, and that could happen as early as next week. That is why your attendance at Legislative Day is so important.

Before legislators headed out for their spring break March 18^th, the House Budget Committee wrapped up work on the 13 appropriations bills.

Good news: The current version of House Committee Substitute HB 7 (Economic Development – Film Office) now has $200,000 as a line item for the Film Office.  (The original budget proposed by the Governor contained zero funding).

When they return to work March 28, the bills will begin to be debated on the House floor.  This next week presents a great opportunity for you to reach out to your state representative and meet with them in person to discuss why they should vote to keep funding in HCS HB 7 for the Film Office.  If you cannot meet with them in person, please call and let them know of your support for the Film Office.

Please remember:  Contact only your state representative since the full House will be voting on the budget bills when they return to Jefferson City next week.  (Film tax credits are another issue and not part of this discussion.)

If you need to look up your state representative : You can find this information at http://www.mo.gov, click “My Government,” then “Elected Officials.”  You will need to know your zip+4 to use the mo.gov site.

(Don’t know your zip+4?  Go to: http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/ to find it.)

Once the House has completed their work on the budget in early April, the process begins again in the Senate.  Work on the budget must be completed no later than Friday, May 6.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE REP at this time.  We will alert you when you need to contact your state senator.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS:

When Governor Jay Nixon presented his fiscal year 2012 budget in mid-January there was zero funding recommended for the film office.  There is also a movement for tax credit reform that includes eliminating the existing $4.5 million film tax incentive that Missouri currently offers.

IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO SHOW UP AND MEET LEGISLATORS WHO WILL BE VOTING ON THE BUDGET THIS SESSION AND LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY.
 If Missouri closes the film office, that would make us only the second state in the nation (along with North Dakota) to not have a film office.

PLEASE JOIN US ON APRIL 19^TH:

If you plan to attend, please follow these steps:

Step 1 – RSVP to Joni Tackette at Jtackette@aol.com.

Step 2 – When you RSVP, it is very important to include the name of your state representative & state senator in your email.  You can find this information at http://www.mo.gov, click “My Government,” then “Elected Officials.”  You will need to know your zip+4 to use the mo.gov site.

(Don’t know your zip+4?  Go to: http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/ to find it.)

Specific details will be emailed to all who register for the event.

2009 Legislative Day

Thanks to all who signed up for our Feb. 1st Legislative Day event. Unfortunately, due to the significant amount of snow and ice our state experienced, we were forced to cancel.

THE NEW DATE IS TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2011. Stay tuned to this site for details on how to sign up and participate. New details to be announced on March 10th.

“At 9:30 p.m. on March 19, “CinemaKC” will debut on KSMO-TV, providing audiences with a glimpse into local moviemaking and giving filmmakers a showcase for their work…”
Read more in the Kansas City Star online

Created in 2009, the Fantasy Filmmaker Draft was started “…in order to showcase the vast talents of the IFCKC members, by working together on one cohesive project, with a common goal,” according to IFCKC President Brian Boye. Five team captains are selected as the Executive Producers, who then select Writers and Directors, Fantasy Football style. Writer A then has one week to complete 5-9 pages of a script, which features four main characters. The script is passed to Writer B, who has a week to continue the story arc, maintaining the four primary characters.

After five weeks of writing, teams have one week of pre-production to study the script. On Wednesday, March 9th, the Captain/EP will then draft the remaining members of his or her team, including the four actors, director of photography, crew members, editors, extras and so on, until all participants have been selected. For each episode, a complete production team is required, and the four primary actors are re-cast each time.

Teams then have until March 23rd, to complete their episode. Each team will have no idea what the other teams are doing in their episode. Style, pacing, art direction are completely up to the discretion of each team, meaning each episode has its own unique qualities. It is only until the screening on March 26th where the teams will see the complete story for the first time.

“The beauty of the FFD is that it forces filmmakers and actors to work outside of their comfort zone, to work with people they are unfamiliar with,” says Boye. “Every year, new relationships are formed, new partnerships are forged, and we learn how other talented people do their work.”

Another benefit of the project is the chance for a large number of people to work on a film. Anybody can showcase their talents, be it behind or in front of the camera, provided they have signed up for the March 9th draft. “If you’re new to the group, I suggest you make it to an IFCKC meeting to shamelessly promote yourself,” laughs Boye. “You could be the next Robert Rodriguez, but if you don’t let people know who you are and what you can do, you’re just a person with a camera.” The draft will take place following the IFCKC’s regular Wednesday night meeting, held at the Westport Coffee House, 4010 Pennsylvania Ave., starting at 7:30 pm.

MOMMA Legislative Day, 2010

All MOMMA members and anyone who works in the Missouri motion media production community are invited to attend this event.
 
We need production community members from all regions in Missouri to attend.
 
Our primary goal is to sustain the current Film ProductionTax Incentive of 4.5 million, and not have it transferred to another industry as recently recommended by the Governor’s Tax Incentive Task Force.



IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO SHOW UP AND MEET LEGISLATORS WHO WILL TAKE UP THE TAX INCENTIVE DEBATE IN THE 2011 SESSION.


If you plan to attend, please follow these steps:
Step 1 – RSVP to: filmMOMMA@gmail.com
Step 2 – When you RSVP, it is very important to include the name of your state representative & state senator in your email. You can find this information at http://www.mo.gov, click “My Government,” then “Elected Officials.” You will need to know your zip+4 to use the mo.gov site.
(Don’t know your zip+4? Go to: http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/ to find it.)

If you can provide a demonstration (show animation/show CGI, etc), please contact Joni Tackette (jtackette@aol.com). We are also interested in all other jobs in the industry. (Space is limited, please reply asap to request a table.) It’s important to get to the Capitol building early to set up as you will need to unload near the garage entrance and it gets very crowded later in the day. Those with tables should arrive around 8:30am. Below is a tentative agenda.

Schedule:
8:30 a.m. – Exhibitors arrive to set-up. We will provide a diagram. We’re asking everyone who can, to come and have a table to showcase what they do. Very interested in those who do: sound editing, digital editing, animation, 3-D, CGI/fx as these fit in with the new media tie to film.

10:00 – Legislative attendees should assemble in House Hearing Room 4 (basement level). Briefing by MOMMA lobbyist Jeff Brooks. Overview of day & instructions. …. .. Donuts, juice and coffee available.

11:00 – Noon – Visits with legislators. Exhibitors should be at their tables during this time.

Noon – 1:00 – Legislators view exhibits and eat lunch in our exhibit area. MOMMA members should be there to mingle (3rd Floor Rotunda and Senate Alcove). Important for exhibitors to be at their tables during this time. Lunch provided by MOMMA.

1:00 – 2:00 – Continue visits with legislators – Exhibitors stay at tables – other members make calls.

2:00 – 3:00 – Thomas Hart Benton room (3rd Floor-House side) – Update from legislative leaders.

If you plan to drive to the event, here is a link to a map for the capitol: http://ht.ly/3CMHo

Andrea Sporcic
Assistant Director
Missouri Film Office

*NOTE NEW CONTACT INFO*
573-751-6573
301 W. High Street, Suite 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102