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Wisconsin Film Makers

Senator Jeff Plale (D-Milwaukee) and Representative Pat Strachota (R-West Bend) are circulating a bill (LRB 4091/1) to improve Wisconsin's Film Production Tax Credit Services Program for co-sponsorship. Your action is required TODAY as the deadline for co-sponsorship is TOMORROW, 2/28/08, by Noon.

The bipartisan bill would allow film production companies to transfer unused, non-refundable credits to other taxpayers, such as other film production companies. It would also phase in residency requirements for eligibility of film production employees for tax credits as the talent infrastructure needed for productions fully develops in our state.

Currently, Wisconsin's incentives are a hybrid of refundable and non-refundable, non-transferable tax credits. States experiencing the greatest success in the industry enhance the value of their credits by making non-refundable credits transferable. The language of the bill allows for limited transfers and includes important safeguards to prevent fraud in transfers. Administration of the program will be funded by a fee paid by both parties in the transaction to the Departments of Revenue and Commerce.


ACTION REQUIRED:

 Encourage your legislator to become a co-sponsor of the bill.

 Thank Senator Plale (Sen.Plale@legis.wisconsin.gov) and Representative Strachota (Rep.Strachota@legis.wisconsin.gov) for their sponsorship of this important measure.

 Thank Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton (ltgov@ltgov.wisconsin.gov) for her continued leadership on this issue.

# # #

TALKING POINTS

 Tell the legisaltor(s) why this bill is important to you as a member of the creative class or to your business.

 The purpose of these incentives has always been to grow the film industry in Wisconsin. The incentives have already increased the film industry activity here and therefore the opportunity for existing Wisconsin businesses and the small, talented Wisconsin film industry workforce. Already at work on the new film PUBLIC ENEMIES are Wisconsin Set Designers, Location Managers, Art Department construction crew members, Art Department coordinators and Location Scouts. New films including DUST and THE VIOLINIST are in pre-production or in the process of scouting locations. New studio facilities and sound record facilities are either completed or in progress. Major studios and television networks continue to scout Wisconsin using Wisconsin scouts.

 Fact: Wisconsin businesses and workers have already been recommended to projects that have come from outside of the state. They have also been featured on high profile panels to discuss the incentives, the industry and its growth. Leading Line Producers in Wisconsin are currently using Film Wisconsin as a resource to put Wisconsin crew members to work on productions ranging from commercials, to television and feature films. Wisconsin companies have been doing panel discussions and networking with both in and out of state producers at such venues as the Milwaukee International Film Festival and Beloit Film Festival.

 Given: as we expand the industry, we must also expand the infrastructure to service the industry. New businesses will open and creative class individuals will move to the state. Until we grow our own talent we will need assistance from our colleagues in Illinois, Minnesota, etc. The average production needs 80-120 qualified crew members, a number that Wisconsin alone at present can not supply at present.

 Fact: The movement to expand the current worker tax credit to include those from outside of the state has been undertaken for two reasons: First, so that we may service the increased demand. If we are unable to service these productions in a seamless and professional way, they will choose shoot elsewhere. Second, if out of state crew members are not counted, producers will not view our incentives as competitive.

 Fact: The proposed change to the incentives has a sunset provision. In five years, a suitable-sized workforce will be in place and the inclusion of out-of-state workers will no longer be necessary.

 Fact: Film Wisconsin has always been about both small, home grown, independent films as well as Hollywood blockbusters. There is a difference in scale of support needed for different sized productions. Film Wisconsin, in collaboration with Marcus Theaters also made it possible for Wisconsin independent filmmakers to have access to over 600 screens for exhibition.

Public Enemies

The Film Public Enemies will be filmed in Wisconsin!
Yes the years of effort of the group that is now Film Wisconsin has paid off.
Public Enemies will be film in central Wisconsin around the Baraboo area (source tells me)
There have been casting call held in Madison.
My understanding is that the buget for Public Enemies is 50 to 100 Million.
This should have a huge impact for this area bring both short term and long term benefits.
Please remeber that .50 of every dollor spend on film stays in the local area.
This area of Wisconsin (My home town) could use an influx of money.
I am very proud to have been part of Film Wisconsin since day one. In fact I was the man who called the first meeting that day in Madison.
Bounis Points to everyone who helped make this happen
Bonus bonis points to Scott Robbie and George Tzougros without their help it never would have happened.

This weekend!

http://www.animemilwaukee.com/

Yes Milwaukee's Anime con! this weekend! For more information please go to the Web page!
A great line up of films and workshops!

Haunted Fundraiser Kenosha WI 2/29/08

'Haunted" Fundraiser/Get-to-gether Event!
Houston's Corner Bar in Kenosha, WI will host this event!


Friday February 29th, 2008--Kenosha, WI

PLEASE PASS THIS ONTO OTHERS



We are having our first Fundraiser for "Haunted" at Houston's Corner bar. For address and location use the link here:


Houstons Corner Bar


We are collecting $5.00per person at the door as a free-will donation towards production and there will be two t-shirts from the film haunted for raffle and a few other prizes.

This is a small place but the fundraising will be from 7pm until at the very least 11pm.

If you want to donate more than the $5.00 that is all up to you at the door.



The free-will donations will go towards production to film the rest of "Haunted" short film due for release Fall of this year (2008)

Please visit: www.hauntedthefilm.com for full details on the film and view the "Fundraiser Event" TAB on that same website, thanks!

Forward!

I had a talk with a friend of mine last week. Seams that there is an issue with the Film Workshops I do under Indy Film Wisconsin tag. My guy was unhappy that some of the presenters (who are giving up there time to present) are not to his level of professionalism. He also believes that this reflects badly on myself for if Mr X makes a fool of himself at a workshop makes me look bad too.
I am willing to take that risk, one would think with both the UW Milwaukee and MATC having film courses one of those two schools would be doing something they are not.
Or perhaps one of the "pro's" in Milwaukee would be doing something sorry no.
Guess that leaves me.
I plan to continue to present these workshops as long as I can keep folks to present and why not?
If the goal is to allow everyday Film Makers of all types to share what they know then that is the way I will do it. These workshops will allow film makers of all types too to network to see how they can help each other
If pro's like my friend do not want to come to the workshops than they will not, and we will see them at Sundance right?

So take this as an open invitation to contact me at wclingman@wi.rr.com if you wish to present at the Indy Film Wisconsin workshop.

Disembodied

Ross Bigly has made a My Space site for his film Disembodied.

Please check it out at:

http://www.myspace.com/disembodiedfilm

We saw a bit of this film at the 1/08 Indy Film Wisconsin Workshop. Great film by a great man.
Also I hope you have all contacted him to see how you can help at the upcoming Milwaukee Short Film Fest.

Wayne