It’s logical to me that this year’s Democratic National Convention was held in Boston. Especially given the historical considerations the city enjoys, its population of registered Democrats, and the city’s appeal as a place to visit. Boston is ideal for the DNC. I believe Boston can be very proud of its hospitality extended to the Convention and its participants. It appears to all the world that except for the balloons falling from the rafters of the Fleet Center a couple of minutes late, the long awaited event went off without a hitch. Mayor Thomas Menino is seen as a national hero for his efforts on Boston’s behalf to be selected the host city and for the myriads of work entailed in the planning, strategizing, and coordinating of all the details including what must have been nightmare considerations for the safety and security of citizens and guests. He is to be commended. Senator Ted Kennedy’s influence also cannot be underestimated, especially in the “wooing” and “securing” part.
I am also extremely proud of the members of our industry who provided professional creative and technical support throughout the DNC both at the venues and for every media mogul in the country. The industry is grateful for the business. I am expressing appreciation for many, like Rule Broadcast Systems, Pulse Media (read the story of their experiences next month), Finish Editorial, as companies and scores of individuals working on TV crews. As a community, city and state, we need to do more to bring bona fide work to the region.
It was also a time of opportunity for one of our filmmakers who organized a “big” score during the DNC. AMERICAN WAKE (see the cover photo), the newest film from Maureen Foley, premiered Wednesday night amidst much excitement and in a packed house at the Loews Boston Common 650-seat theater. The film also has a “big” score, wistfully beautiful music with two new songs created for WAKE by Seamus Egan. The screening galvanized the production community. Countless individuals who were involved in the film and others who wanted to support and see it attended the premiere. AMERICAN WAKE stars Billy Smith (the film’s co-writer) and Sam Amidon; it is produced by Lucia Small and Bill Haney.
Alec Baldwin hosted a reception for the film along with an exceptional host committee including Sally Fay Cottingham (a frequent IMAGINE contributor), Jennifer Donaldson Janes, Lila Dupree, City Council President Michael Flaherty, Davis Guggenheim, Bill Haney, The Honorable Thomas P. O’Neill, Alexandra Pelosi, James Rosenfield, Eve Stern and Michael Williams (the subject of one of our feature stories in our “big” TV issue coming next month). The Honorable Kathleen Kennedy Townsend was a special guest and speaker. Also attending were the Chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, Philip W. Johnston, Congress Ed Markey, Representative and Mrs. Brian Wallace, Representative Harold P. Naughton, City Director of Arts, Tourism & Special Events Susan Harnett, Chris Cooper and Marianne Leone, The LEF Foundation’s Lyda Kuth (see important story this issue) and Ben Dewey. We enjoyed seeing Alec Baldwin again. You may remember he was on the very first cover of IMAGINE.
Alec was in Boston as a Democratic activist and supporter of environmental preservation, government support for the arts, campaign finance reform and gun control, and to celebrate John Kerry and to introduce Maureen’s wonderful new film. Alec is also a great champion of independent filmmakers. Can you believe we had two Academy Award winners in the room and Alec, although nominated for THE COOLER and winner of a number of other awards, wasn’t one of them (Chris Cooper and Michael Williams)!
AMERICAN WAKE is Maureen’s second feature film coming after HOME BEFORE DARK (1997), which was named Best American Independent Film at the 1997 Hamptons International Film Festival, winning the Grand Jury Prize. She is set to direct the film “Criminals,” which she adapted for the screen from the novel of the same name by Margot Livesey. The move will be produced by London’s Arcane Pictures, and is scheduled for a late 2004 start date on location in Scotland.
The DNC permeated much of the region. I noticed that Mary-Catherine Deibel and Deborah Hughes at UpStairs On the Square were in the spirit offering a special DNC menu like John and John Burger with Heinz Ketchup: A Sirloin Cheeseburger on Hand-made Potato Roll with Vermont Cheddar and Niman Ranch Bacon, Day-Boat Lobster Roll on Toasted Brioche Roll with “Unapologetically Liberal” Amounts of Butter, served with House-Made Potato Chips, Front Porch Tour Skewer with No Pork, and Very Kerry Berry Cobbler with a Sprig of Democratic Govern“mint.” Star bartender Lolly Mason mixed up some special DNC cocktails: Straight-Up Donkey’s Delight and The Elephant Smash.
After three years of sluggish momentum because of economic and
terrorism woes, the global media and entertainment industry is picking up
speed and is set to grow at a compound annual rate of 6.3% over the 2004-08
time frame to hit $1.67 trillion in 2008, according to the fifth annual
edition of PricewaterhouseCoopers' "Global Entertainment and Media Outlook."
The latest version of the big industry study, released last month projects the strongest revenue gains over the five-year period to come in the Asia-Pacific region with 9.8%, with the U.S. market set to expand at a 5.4% compound annual rate.
The US declining rate of growth of the film production industry due to an “outsourcing of the work” incentivized by countries like Canada and enabled or ignored by our cities, states and federal governments can and must be shored up. During the DNC, Ben Affleck spoke of the trade benefit the entertainment industry brings. "It's our single-biggest export and our last great industry that's still here," Affleck said. "Runaway production is a huge deal."
"It's criminal," Affleck said of the studios' decisions to make more and
more movies and TV shows in Canada and other countries. "It makes me sick. I
can't stand it."
Affleck said he took a pay cut to make three of his films in the United
States and called the studio decisions to avoid filming in Los Angeles a
"slap in the face" to the skilled motion picture production work force that
has grown up in California.
"It's still a trade where, as a crew member, you can make a living wage," he
said. "That's the kind of high-paying job Sen. Kerry wants to keep in the
United States."
Like soon-to-retire MPAA president and CEO Jack Valenti, who emceed the
"Salute to Veterans" event, and Dan Glickman, former congressman and
agriculture secretary who will succeed Valenti at the MPAA, Affleck spoke of
the trade benefit the entertainment industry brings to the nation. And like Affleck, Alec Baldwin told me that he would return to Boston to assist our independent filmmaking community in our continuing efforts to encourage our Administration and Legislature to enact HB 303 and accompanying legislation.
Film and video production are key components of the creative economy in New
England, a sector that employs 3.5% of the region’s workforce, supports a
payroll of $4.3 billion, and generates $6.6 billion per year in cultural
tourism revenues. The LEF FOUNDATION and its Director Lyda Kuth is an important IMAGINE story this month. She is a member of the Creative Economy Council and organizer of a working group within the Council that is evaluating the film business in New England. I encourage you to read of her great work and assistance to our community.
In this issue and next, IMAGINE presents coverage of the summer’s film festivals. We begin some of the Nantucket Film Festival here. NNF9 on the picturesque island of Nantucket will not soon be forgotten. From the kick-off event of Showtime’s Tony Cox Awards (read Robert Pushkar’s coverage this issue) at the beautiful Wauwinet and the Opening Night Party through more than fifty screenings, two inspiring panels a day, a screenplay competition, an emerging screenwriter's mentorship program, an educational program for teens, late night storytelling in addition to beach screenings, NBC Universal’s Screenwriting Tribute, IMAGINE’s Celebratory Champagne Brunch, we were all captivated. The tireless work and vision of Executive Director Jill Burkhart, Creative Director Mystelle Brabee (see June/July cover story), their staff, and volunteers are to be commended. By the time we got to the closing night party, many were wondering how Burkhart and Brabee would top this year as they begin their planning for their 10th Anniversary in 2005. We’ll let you know.
And finally, I know you have always wanted to know what our very own (Maine) Stephen King does in his non-horror writing hours. He moonlights as an Entertainment Weekly columnist. Recently King polled EW readers to find out what they think are the best movie lines ever. Here is the top four; I believe you’ll be surprised.
1. “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) in THE PRINCESS BRIDE.
2. “Inconceivable!” “You keep using the word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) in THE PRINCESS BRIDE.
3. “Have fun storming the castle.” Miracle Max (Bill Crystal) in THE PRINCESS BRIDE.
4. “As you wish.” Westley (Cary Elwes) in THE PRINCESS BRIDE.
Having a political convention in town livens us all up, perhaps not all of us for the same reasons. While thinking of our nation and what we stand for, I am reminded of this quote from Benjamin Franklin. He said, “The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.”
Carol Patton