Florida Film & Entertainment Advisory Council

Membership Committee Conference Call

July 22, 2005

 

 

Members Present                                                                  Members Not Present

Katie Waters, Chairman                                                           John Welch

Lorraine Wood, Co-Chair                                                        Raul Mateu                                          
Lew Klechak                                                                          
Charleene Closshey                                                                  Non-Members Present
Arlene Herson                                                                          Paul Meena

                                                                                                Todd Roobin
Office of Film & Entertainment                                                       

Niki Welge                                                                              

                                                                       

The Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council’s Membership Committee conference call was called to order on July 22, 2005, at 10:02 a.m.

 

Katie Waters began by discussing the purpose of the meeting, to go over letters that she has drafted to send to the Governor, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House reminding them that they have appointments to make, including a list of candidates that the committee feels would make a good addition to the council. 

 

Katie read the draft letter to the Governor requesting appointments be made to the council, and then asked for comments.

 

Discussion regarding the possible lack of effectiveness a letter of this nature may have. Also question the timeliness of the letter.  It is decided upon that in the future a letter of this kind will go out several months before a member’s term ends.

 

Discussion regarding which entity presently needs to appoint council members. Speaker of the House has one appointment available, and the Governor has two.

 

Katie reads and opens discussion about the letter she drafted to new council members.  Committee agrees the letter is great.  The rest of information for new members needs to come to them directly from the Office of Film & Entertainment (OFE).

 

Discussion regarding suggestions for future council membership:

 

Paul Meena suggests that the individuals who interviewed for the State Film Commissioner position be considered for council membership.  He suggested inquiring about their interest and possibly including them in future letters. 

 

 

Arlene Herson suggests Howard Schwartz for membership.  She states that he is a tax attorney who has represented people in the industry.

 

Katie suggests three individuals for membership:

1.      Nicole Weaver - Entertainment attorney from Orlando

2.      Suzy Allen – Managing Director, Metro Orlando Film Office

3.      John Peros – Casting Director

 

Lew Klechak suggests Alan Randolph with the Mellon Bank in Miami.  He does film lending and is on the film financing panel for the Jacksonville Film Festival.  

 

Todd Roobin suggests Howard Butler who is John Travolta’s entertainment attorney.

 

Arlene withdrew her attorney from the list of potential candidates.

 

Charlene Closshey suggests Suzy Holley who used to work at the Tampa Bay CVB and was imperative in bringing several films to the area.

 

Discussion regarding the “three strikes letter” that will be sent to members who have excessive absences. The decision was made that future letters will come from the OFE.

 

Discuss honorary members of the council and their duties. The committee decides that honorary members are important to the council and agree to make it an agenda item for the next meeting. Katie says she will ask members to bring suggestions.

 

Meeting adjourned at 10:41 am.