The Florida Film & Entertainment Advisory Council, Executive Board Teleconference meeting was called to order @ 2:05pm.
ATTENDANCE:
Chair: J. Ronald Castell
Members present:
Hollis Batchelor/Dr. Lew Klechak/Jeff Peel/Rebecca D. Mattingly/Paul Meena/Dr. Don Ungurait
Members absent:
Robert "Bob" Allen
Staff:
Audrey L. Anderson/Robert Grimm
Membership Update:
R. Grimm stated that a request for Lucia Fishburne to be appointed to the Council as a representative from Workforce Florida, Inc. was sent to the Executive Director of Workforce FL in mid-July. Council Member Ellen Jacoby's term expired August 20, 2001 and a letter was sent notifying the Governor to re-appoint her or name a new appointment for her position. Council Member Robin Cowie's term expired August 20, 2001 and a letter was sent to the Governor regarding this appointment. Council Member Thomas Hall's term expired July 26, 2001 and he has requested not to be re-appointed. Senate President John McKay has replaced Mr. Hall with Ms. Daphne Boyd. We have not received her credentials. Council Member Pam Cotton's term expires October 19, 2001 and a letter has been sent to the Speaker of the House, Tom Feeney.
R. Mattingly stated that the Governor has two seats to fill, the Speaker has one seat to fill, and we are waiting for Workforce Florida to appoint someone. Ms. Mattingly added that she personally supports the appointment of Mr. Jay Balance, former Warner Brothers Labor Relations Executive, who has relocated to Florida for retirement, as one of the Governor's appointments. All new appointments are for four (4) years.
Talent Agency Issue:
Require Talent Agencies in the state to no longer be licensed but registered. This may come up again this 2002 Legislative session.
H. Batchelor- I will have a meeting with the Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and bring up the idea of moving the regulation of talent agencies out of the Department of the Business and Professional Regulations and into the Department of Agriculture where it can be under their Consumer Affairs Division. This is an issue where the public is affected the most.
The DBPR is complaining that this is costing them a lot of money and they are going to try and get rid of it. Hollis Bachelor stated that DBPR wants to go to the talent agents to make up the deficit by charging them $2000.00 a piece. The question, how fast will it take to change the process of certification from being licensed to being a registration?
R. Grimm indicated, as this was a reapportionment year, the idea of moving responsibility for talent agencies from one agency to another was not a good idea. He suggested indicating to the DBPR Secretary that the film & entertainment industry consensus of opinion was to strengthen or maintain licensure within the Agency, and this would probably a more prudent course of action. This is based on industry feedback resulted from the Office of Film & Entertainment request for responses via e-mail on this issue.
R. Mattingly stated that the legislature could ask for opinions on both sides of this issue. In order to best represent this issue from the Council's perspective, a meeting with the Secretary and key committees on what the Council's recommendations are may be in order.
R. Mattingly stated that this year's session will be somewhat challenging due to the elections and re-districting. Session scheduled to start Jan. 2002 and end March 2002 (could extend to possibly May).
National Legislation:
R. Mattingly provided information on two national issues for informational purposes only to the Executive Committee:
SB 1278 The Wage Based Credit is legislation that addresses Runaway Productions. It is officially called the US Independent Film and Television Production Incentive Act of 2001. It is structured as a general business credit in the tax code and will be a dollar for dollar offsetting in federal tax liability, 25% of the cost of qualified wages and salaries would be exempted (wages paid or occurred by the employer) to qualified employees etc. The amount of the wage tax credit, in most cases would be 25% of the first $25,000 in qualified wages per worker. It has been introduced by Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D-LA) and co-sponsors Senators John Breaux (D-LA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), May Landrieu (D-LA), Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME).
Countervailing Tariff which is a tariff (import duty) on film and television productions made somewhere else, but brought back to the United States for broadcasting or theatrical release. The tariff will be equal to the amount of foreign government subsidy received by the producer canceling out the advantage of shooting abroad. Currently, this issue is supported by a few IATSE Locals, a grassroots group in LA - the Film and Television Action committee - and the Screen Actor's Guild. It does not require legislation. Any public entertainment or educational motion picture film (whether released theatrically or directly to video cassette or other format), television or cable programming, mini series, episodic television, pilots, or movies of the week (MOW) that were "substantially produced" outside of the United States.
"Substantially produced" outside the U.S. would be determined by measuring the number of days of domestic principal photography to the total number of days of principal photography.
Film Educators Exchange Update:
R. Mattingly provided an overview of the first of what will be an annual forum for film educators around the state at the secondary and post secondary levels. The purpose is for film and media arts educators and industry to discuss issues. This initiative replaces the FIFE initiative, which educators, workforce, and industry representatives in Florida believed was so very valuable (in the wake of FIFE's dissolution).
University of Central Florida (UCF) has signed on to be the host site as well as Universal Studios, Dr. Phillips High, and the Metro Orlando Film & Television Commission. UCF has agreed to take to lead and help to plan and put this event together. The dates for the Exchange are January 18th & 19th, 2002. There will be panels and a keynote speaker that will talk about the theme, which will be "The Evolution of the Film School, What Now, What Next." It will be good to bring these educators together to see where our workforce resources are going to come from next year. Sterling Van Wagnan, Director of the UCF Film School, is taking on the lead for the Post Secondary section of the program and will put together a panel to address post secondary issues. Peggi McKinley and Darlene Wolf will do the Secondary educators panel. The keynote speaker will be someone who is an industry leader who has works with education issues. There will be monthly conference calls to with Mr. VanWagenen and the Steering Committee for this initiative. Steering Committee includes: Sterling Van Wagnan, Kathy Ramsberger, Peggy McKinley, Darlene Wolf, Charlie Krestul (Universal Studios), Governor's Office of Film & Entertainment, and the Education Committee of the Film & Entertainment Advisory Council.
Future Florida Film & Entertainment Advisory Board (Full Council) Meeting Dates:
November 8th and 9th, 2001 in Miami - location TBD.
February 6th and 7th, 2002 in Tallahassee so that the council can use this time to meet with Legislatures - location TBD. This meeting is to coincide with a film industry reception for legislators, conducted by Film Florida Association.
May 9th and 10th, 2002 in Tampa - location TBD.
General Discussion:
The New York Trade Mission is to target ad agency clients, production companies, network television and cable programming clients. Jet Blue Airlines has indicated an interest in sponsoring the trade mission. The tentative dates are October 24 thru 26, 2001. R. Mattingly will keep the FFAC abreast of this event.
The Office. Exploring a partnership with the AICP, and SHOOT Magazine. "Shoot" wants to do an invitation only lunch or something with Florida and the tentative dates are November 14 & 15, 2001. R. Mattingly will keep the FFAC abreast of this event.
Motion was made & seconded for adjournment.
Meeting Adjourned at 3pm.
Respectfully Submitted-Audrey L. Anderson