Panelists Warn Against Cutting Film Incentives

From the Santa Fe New Mexican

Oct. 7--If New Mexico did away with or substantially reduced its tax incentive program for movies, productions in the state would dry up, according to a veteran production executive speaking Tuesday.

"In 18 to 24 months, you would feel it," said John Hadity -- president and CEO of a self-named company that specializes in production finance and risk management for film and television. He spoke at a panel discussion at a conference for Western state legislators.

Hadity was asked the question by Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, a supporter of the film incentives. Egolf asked Hadity whether he'd send productions to this state if there were no incentives. "No," he said. "Finances drive decision making." Earlier he said that people who make decisions on where to shoot films don't even consider states that don't offer incentives. Only seven states do not offer incentives for film productions.

"If you don't have an incentives program, you're dead," Hadity said.

But because of the ever-increasing state revenue crisis, there might be a move in the Legislature to reduce or eliminate those incentives to help balance the budget.

Gov. Bill Richardson, a champion of the film program, has said while some tax incentives for other industries should be looked at, the movie incentives should be kept in place. But skeptics have questioned whether the benefits of the program, the cost of which could reach about $80 million this year.

The panel discussion was part of the program at the Council of State Governments-West annual meeting, taking place in Santa Fe this week.

Another panelist, Ned Richtor, president of a Massachusetts company that has studied economic development program, noted there is a "pushback" against film programs in several states. "This is a business deal you're bankrolling with taxpayer dollars," he said. "Competition is fierce because so many states (have programs) and accounting is murky."

Another panelist, Eric Witt, who has served as Richardson's liaison with the film industry, was asked how other businesses in the state feel about the film program.

To see the full article, click here.

Indiefest Call for Entries!

Deadline: October 30, 2009
The Indie Fest is an independent, top-tier international film awards competition. Our goal is to help independent filmmakers gain publicity and, when appropriate, exposure to distributors.

The Indie Fest is unique; it's an awards competition, not a traditional film festival. Winners receive publicity as we broadcast the list of winners via press releases and to our email database of more than 27,000 filmmakers and industry insiders. Winning an Indie will help you get noticed.

Entries are judged against high standards of excellence and against each other. The Indie Fest provides an equal chance of winning for all entrants, regardless of size and budget. Entries are judged on quality of craft and creativity. The Indie Fest is a showcase for cinematic gems and unique voices.

There are three levels of awards: Best of Show, Award of Excellence and Award of Merit. No more than 15% of entries will be granted Awards of Excellence. Best of Show will only be granted if unique films are discovered. In fact, there is no requirement that any Best of Show awards be given. Notable artistic and technical productions that exceed industry standards are recognized at the Award of Merit level.

Judging is a three phase process. Like most traditional festivals, the first round of judging takes place internally and is a screening to find those productions that have outstanding craft, i.e., cinematography/videography, sound, editing, etc. Many films wash-out during phase. Those productions that survive are evaluated to find the films that excel at storytelling, entertainment and communication. Entries judged to be potential Best of Show winners may be sent to outside judges for additional review. Judging standards are high and selective.

Please take a look at the Indie Fest website, www.TheIndieFest.com, so you'll better understand the Competition. On the website you'll find lots of original content of interest to independent filmmakers including articles about indie-friendly distributors.

Go to www.TheIndieFest.com for rules and entry form.

Production Support for NM Film

We'd like to give a special shout out to NM Fleet Design - providing support services to props and transpo crews in the New Mexico film industry, and film-supporting businesses. They do amazing vehicle wraps, magnetics, vehicle lettering, wall murals, reflective banners, architectural signage, pole banners, trade-show graphics, and more. Locally owned, 12,000sqft facility right in Albuquerque. http://www.crewnewmexico.com/nmfleetdesign

I Was a 7th Grade Dragonslayer

I was a 7th Grade Dragonslayer - filmed this year in Albuquerque. The trailer is now live on You Tube!

A Great Cause. . . Festival of the Soul, in Silver City.

"Festival of the Soul" proceeds will help Penny Park in Silver City

Organizers of the Nov. 14-15 "Festival of the Soul" in Silver City plan to donate 50 percent of their proceeds to benefit Penny Park, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

"Festival of the Soul" is a two-day family-oriented musicfest which features inspirational, uplifting and exciting "World" music performed by well-known professional bands from across the country as well as the local area. This is the first of what is hoped to be a yearly event and it is the first of its kind to be held in Silver City and all of southern New Mexico, organizers say. It will be held at Penny Park, 1305 N. Grant, in Silver City.

The park in downtown Silver City is a community project built by hundreds of volunteers. The park's first phase, the Penny Playground, was completed in the spring of 1999. The playground is filled with a variety of imaginative climbing structures, castle playhouses, slides, swings, balance beams, bridges, and picnic grounds. Donations of volunteer labor, and materials cut construction costs in half.

In the fall of 1999, volunteers constructed above-ground ramps and other structures for a temporary skate park, which has been used for many years while funds were being raised for the construction of a 20,000 square foot in-ground extreme sports park. In April 2000 volunteers gathered again to build a 310-seat amphitheater and dance floor. Silver City is proud of its community park which helped promote similar, though less elaborate projects in Carlsbad, Las Cruces, and Ruidoso.

In April 2009 the park was damaged when an arson-caused fire burned a large portion of the park. The community was committed to rebuilding the park. Festival of the Soul's donation will help to rebuild.

It takes a lot of volunteers to put on a two-day music festival and more are needed. To volunteer send an email to info@festivalofthesoul.org. For more info go to: www.festivalofthesoul.org.

The World musicfest is a non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.