As the globalization of the world continues, the film community has become smaller and smaller. Representatives from the foreign countries included many European Nations, the Caribbean, the Land Down Under, South Africa, and Brazil. Although more than two-thirds of the participants were from North America; domestically, not every state was represented at the Locations Trade Show this year. Due to domestic cuts in film commissions throughout the country, many states were not present. Fortunately New England’s states were out in full force.
Very booth at the Locations Trade Show has some kind of gimmick, be it its design or the swag located at the table. Of the more decorative booths, Sweden was represented with the distinct coloring of Ikea’s blue and yellow, complete with yellow fur wall coverings. Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and Idaho all shared an expansive booth that was constructed to look like the exterior of a western movie. The Vermont Film Commission, tempted people to her booth with Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Popsicles. Connecticut was raffling off a guitar made by Ovation.
“We came to show our face,” states Danis Regal, executive director for the Vermont Film Commission. “That’s why a lot of people came.” This year Vermont is attempting to push their cityscapes harder than before. “Everyone knows that Vermont represents quintessential New England with the leaves and other traditional landscape.” Vermont, which is for the most part permit free. It has the ability, opposite of most places in the United States these days, to allow filmmakers to shoot in the Burlington Airport. “People may think of Vermont as isolated, but its remoteness allows for things to come easier than those of a more congested state.”
Vermont states that this summer it has some low-budget feature films to look forward to, along with a good amount of commercials and catalogue shoots. “The Food Network is always in our state,” remarks Regal, “along with such other notables as the Martha Stewart Show, Oprah, Home and Gardens, and the BBC.”
But, with the threat of our friendly neighbor to the north, Canada, the New England states must fight a little, actually more than a little, harder to keep films in area. “We’re all competing with Canada. As Regal states, “New England has a good crew basis but we on a whole don’t get enough production. Most people have to go to New York to find work, and then come back here for the weekends.” It would be great if we could get more interstate film projects happening so we could keep people in the area.”
In the state of Massachusetts things seem to be at least a little brighter these days. After the low point of having the state close the Massachusetts film office, the state has bounced back with the creation of the Massachusetts Film Bureau. The office is now a non-profit private office versus one that was supported by the public, but as Robin Dawson, the executive director states, “basically we have the same mission: to impact tourism from funding by the corporate sector.” Support from the Film Bureau has primarily come from the Restaurant and Hotel Industry. As Dawson remarks, “its a credit to the business industry to understand that film and television supports the economic infrastructure in the fifth largest industry in the state, tourism.”
Almost as proof of Massachusetts’ ability to compete with the likes of Los Angles and New York, it is noted in the 2003 producer’s guide to filming that Boston has three times more Starbucks locations per capita than LA. After a slow period following September 11 Massachusetts seems to be on the upswing with such films as the Farrely Brothers STUCK ON YOU starring Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear and MONA LISA EYES starring Julia Roberts, Kristen Dunst, and Maggie Gyllenhal.
The Massachusetts Film Commission was quick to note the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, the newest edition to the Boston skyline, along with promoting the new home of High Output. The Charles River Studios is the largest production facility to open its doors in New England in ten years. Three sound stages, with a large studio 7,600 square feet, 50,000 pieces of studio and location lighting gear on site this addition to Boston is quite marketable.
Technology had become an integral part of the show. When one registered they received a badge with a scan code at the bottom. This allowed the film commission occupied booths to merely just ask to scan the badge to record all the information of the director, producer, or other film related personality with a flip of the wrist.
When inquiring whether it was worth it to travel 3,000 miles to the event everyone unanimously agreed it was. The New England area strives to make its region the best possible place for filming, and naturally let everyone know about it in the process.