There is one sure way every year to know that spring has arrived in Boston. You don't have to look at the calendar, although the Imagine 2001 Calendar Poster is most pleasing to look at. It surely won't be the weather or the appearance of crocuses nudging their heads through the snow that will tip you off. One must simply look to the Charles River and wait for the big splash, a parade of "Ducks" on April Fools Day! Then you know it's here. The Boston Duck Tours fleet is made up of seventeen motorized, brightly painted, amphibious veterans that are among the last surviving out of thousands that served the U.S. Army on both European and Pacific fronts during World War II. Celebrate the beginning of spring by taking a tour, it's the ride of your life and piles-on story telling, fun, and adventure in your life.

I am an adventurer at heart. I like being close to the edge, not on the edge or over it, but close to it. I'm a Libra after all, and have to stay somewhat in balance. In broadcast though, I was always good at start-ups and turn-arounds. those places the faint-of-heart would never go. I'm not disappointed with this year so far, as there has been plenty of action qualifying activity. Locations Global Expo 2001, Providence Night in LA, and a grueling American Film Market are just a few events that were away from home.

Again this year, Imagine traveled to Los Angeles for Locations Global Expo 2001 at the massive LA Convention Center. It's the only place on the planet to view the whole wide world under one roof. Producers, directors, and location scouts browsed locations from all corners of the earth. And now, more and more countries, states, regions (notice, I said regions) are offering financial support to independent films, in addition to tax breaks and other special considerations. This year you could find out about the many financial options worldwide for film financing at the AFCI seminar "Film Friendly Financing Support & Locations Around the World." More than 300 film offices and companies representing more than 30 countries exhibited.

One company, Air Hollywood, is building an airport to be used exclusively as a set, complete with airplanes, terminals, gates, control tower, the airport location works. I know several directors who like that idea. And if they are true to their word, Air Hollywood will be picking up an Ivywood contingent for their grand opening party coming up soon! Imagine supported New England, gave away thousands of our February Issues dedicated to our region's unique locations, and assigned reporters and a photographer to capture the event. Carl Hansen begins our coverage in this issue's Film Office Report. There was so much going on, Carl will finish his report in the next issue. Not that there wasn't enough excitement on the convention floor, Robin Dawson, Mass Film Office Director and I went bull riding.

Back home there is also plenty going on, Soup2Nuts for one. It's the new name for the entertainment division of Tom Snyder Productions. The new name and look of the production company reflects all of the capabilities that the company provides under one roof. Best known for the creation and production of Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist (see Imagine archives on line) Soup2Nuts provides writers, casting, audio, editing, post-production and animation to most of their productions. Why the name change, why Soup2Nuts? The company got tired of answering late night talk show host Tom Snyder's mail and as one employee suggested, that's what we do for our productions, everything from soup to nuts. I liked the t-shirt and Soup2Nuts lunch box announcing the clever name change.

I believe it is important to be wherever there is "honoring" going on in a castle. This one is The Castle at the Boston Park Plaza where the Boston Film/Video Foundation's 5th Annual Vision Awards Gala Dinner and Ceremonies honored artist/director Jan Egleson, founder/catalyst Robert O. Doyle, and the founding Board of Directors of the Boston Film/Video Foundation, on the occasion of their 25th anniversary year. The founders, Steve Anker, John Casey, Betsy Connors, Randall Conrad, Bestor Cram, Austin Lamont, Jon Rubin and Susan Woll, then and now, have remained committed to the vision of those early years, continuing to make work and inspire new generations of media artists.

Anne Marie Stein, who is now BF/VF's former executive director, expressed how very hard it is for her to leave after being involved in the development of BF/VF for the past fourteen years. She piloted the organization into the 21st Century and it was a wonderful experience. Melancholy and bittersweet, she reveled in the community that came together for this celebration (over 300) and told Imagine that she has gone back to school to earn an MBA from Simmons and has taken the Director of Development position at Northern Light Productions.

With this issue, Imagine begins its fourth year of publishing, time to take stock. Is Imagine filling a need for the industry in New England? Clearly the answer is yes. Imagine informs, inspires, connects and entertains its readers. It serves the region by being its messenger through its distribution to film centers and special industry events across North America. It provides industry businesses and individual participants an opportunity to speak to each other through its advertising space both display and classified. It supports and sponsors events that are critical to the continued well being of the community. Imagine on line is accessed from all over the world. I'm always fascinated by the interest in our archives indicated by the hits we get from Moscow, Sydney, Hong Kong, Mexico City, South Africa and other places too numerous to mention.

So yes, I believe Imagine is a valuable and known quantity and should continue its efforts. We continue to stretch and grow a little bit every time we plan, every time we go to press. It's a constant! But, when you start your fourth year, I believe it's a stage for the next big stretch. I know the next phase will produce special challenges. It seems that every aspect of publishing is such a vital portion of the whole that the slightest inattention to any segment would be disastrous. What gets priority? Is it content, presentation & design, distribution, sales & marketing, events, customer service, operations, anything else? I always like to throw questions like these open to you our readers and advertisers. When you respond, I promise to review your input and value it highly. That's how we grow best. Email your comments to publisher@imaginenews.com. And watch for our next growth spurt.

Happy Spring Everyone!