The Council Chair called the Florida Film & Entertainment Advisory Council Executive Board Teleconference meeting to order at 3:05 pm

ATTENDANCE:
Chair: J. Ronald Castell
Vice Chair: Paul Meena

Members present: Hollis Bachelor/Jay Ballance/Rebecca D. Mattingly/Bob Allen/Dr. Lew Klechak/Jeff Peel

Members absent: Don Ungarit, Ph.D (Excused due to medical)

Staff: Audrey L. Anderson/Robert Grimm/Ally Hugg-Fields

Meeting Discussion:

R. Mattingly gave a brief overview of the agenda items and asked for additional items to the agenda.

Legislative:
B. Allen gave an overview of Senator McKay's tax plan. He stated that it is a 30% tax rollback and in this bill services will not be exempt anymore. It is a revenue neutral plan and that it will affect the entertainment sales tax rebate and the tax exemption.

H. Batchelor stated that the Florida Film & Entertainment Advisory Board (FFEAC) should take a strong stand against this and they should also get the Hotel Association to come out and help fight this legislation.

B. Allen mentioned that on January 10, 2001 the Florida Association of Broadcasters (FAB) would conduct a meeting in Tallahassee to discuss this legislation and how they plan to handle it. A major advertising campaign against tax reform is anticipated.

R. Mattingly reminded the members of the Executive Committee that they have the right to take any position they wish on this issue, and can best represent the industry's position in their role as the Advisory Council to the Florida Legislature and the Governor.

Everyone was asked to keep calendars open for a possible meeting or conference call to revisit this issue in January (possibly prior to the next full Council meeting).

Labor Relations:
J. Ballance stated that he has been talking with the IA and that the Locals want business to stay in Florida, but that New York (IA International) is the problem. He would like to draw up an agreement that would give commercial producers a local a flat rate of $450-$550 day, with each member paying his/her own benefits. . J. Balance suggested that we might get more work with a flat rate. He further stated that he would be agreeable to discussing this concept with the local IA business agents in lieu of their discussions with commercial producers, specifically those with the Miami-based Lunch Club group. He stated that it would be a one-page agreement between IA and Producers shooting commercials in the state - producers/labor can sign it or not; it will be up to them.

R. Mattingly & R. Grimm questioned the legality of a state advisory board writing or negotiating a labor contract. Follow up w/our internal legal dept. is needed.

H. Batchelor stated that we need to find out the status of the negotiations between the IA and the "Lunch Club." H. Batchelor also stated that he did not think it appropriate for a state advisory board to write or negotiate a labor contract, and the Local 600 Camera local would not accept that he thought that the flat-rate concept proposed by J. Balance.

J. Ballance said that he has been in talks with various IA business agents in Florida about this concept and that he would be willing to continue talking this idea once he knew the status of the IA/Lunch Club negotiations.

R. Mattingly stated that she would follow up on the status of the IA/Lunch Club negotiations and provide this information to the Executive Committee.

R. Mattingly asked Mr. Balance and the Executive Committee if there was a role for the Governor at this point and Mr. Balance and the Committee said no, not at this point and that the Governor should stay neutral.

Update of Current Programs & Marketing Initiatives:
Robert Grimm stated that Production Partners Program with the Advertising Federation was launched yesterday, December 18, 2001 in Orlando and the meeting went really well.

The In Theater Promo Trailer would start running December 25, 2001 in conjunction with the movie "Ali" which features Will Smith as Muhammad Ali. Spot will run in eight theater chains in Florida on over 100 screens through the end of January.

The 1st Annual Florida Film Educators Even Exchange event will take place January 18-19 in Orlando at the University of Central Florida. All of the planning is on track and going well.

The November 19 issue of "Variety" The Florida issue was not what we expected. All of Florida did not get coverage. It looked more like just one area was in the spotlight. A letter is being drafted to the publisher on our disappointment with the issue. This letter will also convey ideas on how this issue can be a statewide Florida focus, rather than just Miami.

Florida Film Commission Essentials Guidebook:
Draft language for an official handbook on the standard operating procedures of Florida Film Commissions was presented to the Film Florida Commissioners Council in November by the OFE. Jeff Peel agreed to chair a committee of urban/rural film officers to review and provide feedback on the handbook. J. Peel stated that by using the feedback from the focus groups that were conducted in Los Angeles and New York, and the annual (June 2001) Florida Film Commissioners professional development workshops, the state and local film offices identified ways to improve the service and delivery of services to our customers. Thus, the Florida Film Commission Essentials Guidebook was created.

J. Peel stated that written feedback from the review committee is being gathered. Final draft will be returned to the OFE for publication in January 2002.

Citrus Commission Protest:
R. Mattingly recapped the recent protest of the Florida Citrus Commission (An out-of-state ad agency hired a California Production company to shoot a spot about orange juice). About 50 or more people protested for about 2 hours and letters and emails went out to discuss what to do in the future. R. Mattingly stated that she has been in conversations with Bob Morrissey, head of Citrus Marketing, who stated that he would work with the OFE in the future on their production bids.

New Membership:
R. Castell stated that a new level of membership on the Florida Film & Entertainment Advisory Council would be created. This Honorary Membership would be to expand the Council with more recognized industry leaders and professionals. This Honorary Membership would require that a person be Florida-born or a Florida-based professional that the Council could call on a consulting bases. New language for this membership will be drafted and provided to the full Council for a vote and amendment to the By-Laws.

R. Mattingly stated that the Council discussed this idea in 2000, when Mr. Reynolds had missed the first three meetings. A letter from the Governor to Mr. Reynolds, requesting him to serve as the first Honorary Member, will be drafted and sent in January 2002.

R. Castell stated that he is for the new level of membership (Honorary Member) and that the full Council should move ahead with approval. In January, or during the next full Council meeting, he will urge members to make recommendations on an appropriate replacement to fill Mr. Reynolds general membership seat.

R. Grimm will review and revise the By-Laws accordingly to this membership and add membership criteria, which will be discussed at the next full board meeting.

2002 Legislative Session:
R. Grimm stated that the Advertising Federation is against Senator McKay's Tax overhaul, and that the OFE's focus will be on our budget continuation, preserving the tax exemption and seeking additional incentives.

Next Steps/Action Items:
Labor Relations: R. Mattingly will follow up on IA/Lunch Club negotiations and the legality of a state advisory board getting involved in a labor negotiation. The Council will then decide at the next meeting to move forward with the concept presented by J. Balance.

Sales Tax: Gather information for an update conference call in early January, if necessary.

Membership: R. Grimm will draft language for Honorary Membership.

The next meeting will be the week of February 4-8, 2002. This is tentative. There will also be a legislative reception, which the Metro Orlando Film Office is planning.

A motion was made by the Chair to adjourn

Seconded by Dr. Lew Klechak

Meeting Adjourned @ 4:20pm

Respectfully Submitted-Audrey L. Anderson