It was great to be a guest on October 26th of the Rhode Island Film and Television Office in the State House Rotunda for a special event at which Steven Feinberg announced that “Something magical is coming to Rhode Island!” The Walt Disney Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment live action, family film, UNDERDOG will be produced in the Ocean State.

Representatives present for the Rhode Island Film and Television Office UNDERDOG Press Conference: First row: UNDERDOG Executive Producer Todd Arnow, Disney Sr.VP Finance Paul Steinke, Disney Sr.VP Production Jerry Ketcham, UNDERDOG Director Frederik DuChau. Second row: UNDERDOG Cinematographer David Eggby, and special guests John Tremonti, an early animator for Disney now retired attorney in Rhode Island and his Daughter. Photo by Lew Place.

In August I wrote in “Rhode Island Incentivized,” “It’s the first New England state to mount and to successfully pass legislation that will allow the state to offer seductive incentives to the film and television industry. Motion picture studios, production companies, and major producers are already taking notice. This big legislation will impact the tiny State of Rhode Island with a tidal wave of production business sweeping its shores bathing it with an economic boom the likes of which it has never seen before. We will watch it happen, I predict; and we will report it regularly in IMAGINE.” And we are.

I found it moving to be at this special event in the State House Rotunda along with Rhode Island elected officials and Disney executives. It was a “Who’s Who” of RI Public Officials and Disney’s top echelon including Disney Pictures Sr. Vice-president of Production Jerry Ketcham, Disney Pictures Sr. VP of Finance Paul Steinke, Disney Pictures VP for Finance Mary Ann Hughes, UNDERDOG Executive Producer Todd Arnow, UNDERDOG Director Frederick DuChau, and Cinematographer David Eggby. The space literally crackled with electricity as the industry interested pressed forward to hear the official proclamation.

Disney Sr.VP Finance Paul Steinke, Disney VP Finance Mary Ann Hughes, Rhode Island Film & Televion Office Director Steven Feinberg, and Carol Patton at the UNDERDOG press conference in the Rotunda of the RI State House. An IMAGINE Photo	Steven Feinberg, Director of the Rhode Island Film & Television Office warmly thanking everyone for coming for the formal announcement that UNDERDOG will arrive with preproduction in November in Rhode Island and that 97% of the blockbuster film will be shoot in the state. Photo by Lew Place.

“Underdog” was unveiled on a flying banner from an upper State House balcony as episodes of Underdog, a popular animated children's TV series of the '60s and early '70s, played on a big-screen TV monitor in the rotunda. Steven Feinberg graciously announced the official news and then proceeded to warmly thank everyone who helped make it possible for UNDERDOG to come to Rhode Island, including me. I was genuinely touched and caught by the surprise of it. It is a trait Steven Feinberg is becoming well known and appreciated for; it’s his never ending appreciation and thankfulness for the cooperation and support he receives that increases the odds of establishing Rhode Island as a key production friendly state that can compete. And for emphasis, Steven has just called to schedule yet another news conference, as IMAGINE goes to press, about more positive results for the Ocean State.

I remember the day in Santa Monica, CA in April 2004 when Feinberg, then the brand new director of the Rhode Island Film and Television Office, left an industry conference we were attending to call on Disney to pitch his state for this very film project. This is a success story of epic proportions richly infused with bipartisan and community support and enthusiasm. The Hollywood blockbuster film is set to begin Pre-Production in November, 2005 and Principal Photography in March, 2006 with 97% of the film to be shot in the state. The payday for Rhode Island is in excess of $50 million dollars. Good Work! Credit goes to all who participated.

A snap of the UNDERDOG press conference in progress in the Rotunda of the Rhode Island State Film Office. Photo by Lew Place.

Rhode Island successfully passed its film tax incentive legislation in July, 2005. The legislation, spearheaded by Speaker Murphy and Senate President Montalbano provides an aggressive 25% Motion Picture Transferable Tax Credit for all Rhode Island spending. There are no caps. It also includes salaries for people working on the ground, in RI. The film/TV/commercial/video game production must be filmed primarily in the state of Rhode Island and have a minimum budget of $300,000.

There is also a Non-Transferable Investor Tax Credit for Rhode Island residents who invest in film/TV/commercial or video games filmed primarily in Rhode Island. The investor will receive a 15% tax credit (3 year rollover) for a production with a budget of $300,000-$5 million. The investor, who invests in a production with a budget over $5 million, receives a 25% tax credit (with a 3 year rollover). It is interesting to note a Federal Investor Tax Credit similar to this one existed until the 1980’s when the U.S. Congress did a wholesale closing of tax loopholes including this one. Domestic production immediately began to leave the country to find tax incentives, first to Canada and then the rest of the world. Has it really taken us 25 years to figure out that we must have tax incentives?

Two years ago, the Rhode Island General Assembly provided movie companies with a 25-percent tax credit on their business corporate taxes. That credit remains. All in all, it’s a highly competitive group of laws that will work well to lure the production industry to Rhode Island and our region. When Rhode Island works, many New Englanders (cast, crew, equipment rental companies and others) benefit directly.  

Our goal for an incentivized New England is ever moving forward and we’re getting close in Massachusetts. It’s been a long haul for those of us here at IMAGINE who have been working on getting a state sanctioned and underpinned, professionally staffed film office and accompanying film tax incentive legislation for almost four years. We’ve been covering this closely as well. Ed Rae, our government relations director, spends many days every week at the State House briefing elected officials and their staffs about the needs and benefits of tax incentives for our industry. It’s important that our industry be viewed as an economic development engine and a positive workforce development model opportunity for the region. We continue to do as much as we can to keep our talented, creative, and savvy cast and crew working here and paying taxes here, not in California or New York.

A Massachusetts Film Office is now in the law and, as I said, we are getting very close to our much needed film tax legislation. Last month I reported a little bump in the road in that when the Senate passed S. 2187, we were left with two competing bills and a Conference Committee was established.

The very positive news is this: a compromise bill, which substantially contains the language we have asked for, came out of conference with a 5-0 (one abstention) recommendation. It went immediately to the floor of the House for a vote on November 1st.  It passed with flying colors (145-3) and was sent to the Senate for consideration, thanks in large part to the solid leadership and bipartisan support in the House.

So, we’re on the right track, but as Will Rogers put it, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”  As we go to press there has been no movement in the Senate as yet. We have reported opposition in the Senate before and it is still there. It is small, but there nonetheless.

Knowing that most Senators support the new compromise bill, I expect that the Senate will have the chance to pass it in the very near future. And with good luck we will get this bill on the Governor’s desk before the end of this legislative season!

Meanwhile there is activity to report in New Hampshire, in Peterborough exactly, one of New England’s most picturesque towns. The independent feature film THE SENSATION OF SIGHT began principal photography October 24th. I visited with producer Markus Constance and Commissioner Van McLeod in Portsmouth during the New Hampshire Film Expo about the film, an off-beat drama about a man’s search for meaning amidst the ache of despair. Both are excited about the film’s star David Strathairn, who has appeared in over 70 films including most recently GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, directed by George Clooney. Strathairn recently won the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival for his portrayal of Edward R. Murrow in that film.

Van McLeod, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Resources, has been very busy assisting Either/Or Films from the beginning. Part of his responsibility is to market his state for their natural tax incentives, such as no sales tax and no personal income tax. McLeod says, “This production is exciting and important to the State of New Hampshire and is exactly the type of production we are trying to attract here: creative people with a good script who are coming to New Hampshire for who we are and what we represent.”

THE SENSATION OF LIGHT will also feature Ian Somerhalder from ABC’s “Lost,” Daniel Gillies from the Steven Spielberg –produced mini series, “Into the West,” as well as Scott Wilson (THE LAST SAMURAI), Jane Adams (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND), and Ann Cusack (MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL).

The film is directed by Aaron Wiederspahn from his original script. Buzz McLaughlin is the Executive Producer and Weiderspahn’s partner under the banner of Either/Or Films. The film’s producers include New Hampshire-based Markus Constance, Strathairn and Los Angeles-based Darren Moorman and Madelaine Ryan.

Carol Conley, seen here with Carol Patton, has become a permanent member of the staff of the Rhode Island Film & Television Office where she frequently volunteered her services over the last year.An IMAGINE photo.

“We are indeed fortunate to have the excitement of a film production here in Peterborough,” says Pamela Brenner, Peterborough’s Town Administrator. “It isn’t every town that can say that they’ve had a movie filmed entirely in their community.”

Matthew Newton, Film Specialist managing the New Hampshire Film Office (see IMAGINE October) agrees, “Buzz (the writer/director) and Aaron (the executive producer) have always said that it was New Hampshire’s quality of life that made them decide to not only shoot their film here, but set up shop, as well. It’s becoming a significant selling point for independent filmmakers.”

The production anticipates a shooting schedule of three weeks leaving a net gain of over $800,000 in New Hampshire for which The New Hampshire Film and Television Office can be mighty proud. As part of the New Hampshire Department of Cultural Resources, it works to expand business activity and employment throughout the state by acting as a liaison between the film industry and an established network of government agencies, the state’s film industry workforce, and local property owners. The office is responsible for location assistance, public relations, and general production support in an effort to broaden the cultural and economic impact of film and television production in the Granite State.

The New Hampshire Film Expo conducted another successful event in Portsmouth, NH, which I enjoy visiting every year. NHFX celebrated its 5th birthday at the Trade Wings Building, where some of the workshops were held. This year, of the over 50 films screened, 4 of their 7 awards were given to NH filmmakers including the screenplay finalist. The awards were presented on Sunday, October 16th:

Best Feature went to HEART OF THE BEHOLDER – Written and Directed by Ken Tipton, Produced by Darlene Lieblich, Ken Tipton, Jeanette Volturno & Aaron Manor; Best Documentary: TUNDE - Produced by Ron Wyman; Best Short Drama THE LISTENERS – Written by Lars Trodson, Directed by Michael Gillis, Produced by Michael Gillis, Lars Trodson & Jonathon Millman; Best Short Comedy DAY SHIFT – Written and Directed by Diego Velasco; Best Animation JOYRIDE – Written and Directed by John Cernak, Produced by Out of Our Minds Animation Studios; Best Student Work S. KATZ, VP – Written, Produced and Directed by Stefan Glidden; Screenplay Competition Finalist was

WINTER'S EDGE – Written by Rock Shaink Jr. and Tim Anderson

Each award winner received an NHFX “Granny” a slab of genuine NH Granite engraved with the name of the award and a plaque with their project name on it. The screenplay finalists also received a $500 cash prize.

There’s good news for Gabrielle Savage Dockerman’s film MISSING IN AMERICA. It will be the opening film at the Monaco International Film Festival in Monte Carlo in December! Of course, she’s attending. Gabrielle is in LA to attend a party put on by MIA’s foreign distributor for their new films (including hers) at AFM, and then to record the director’s commentary for the MISSING IN AMERICA DVD, which debuts on January 10, 2006, the same day as IMAGINE’s Hot Shot Industry New Year’s Celebration (Save the Date-details inside back cover)!  (See Gabrielle’s award presentation at last New Year’s party in IMAGINE February 05)

MISSING IN AMERICA will screen on November 13th at the Northampton Independent Film Festival. The film stars Danny Glover, Ron Perlman, Linda Hamilton and David Strathairn (featured prominently in this Take Two), and introduces Zoë Weizenbaum to film audiences in her hometown area. Fourteen year-old Zoë will be present at the screening and there will be a Q&A to follow with her and the filmmakers. Since MISSING IN AMERICA, Weizenbaum has played principle roles in TWELVE AND HOLDING, directed by Michael Cuesta, and MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, directed by Rob Marshall and produced by Steven Spielberg. In MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, based on the best-selling novel of the same name, Weizenbaum plays the role of “Young Pumpkin.” 

Zoë is being awarded the 2005 Emerging Actor Award at the 14th Annual St. Louis International Film Festival, which is taking place at the same time as the Northampton Festival. The St. Louis screening and subsequent award presentation is scheduled for Saturday November 12th. Gabrielle, who along with Peter Berkrot discovered Zoë, is accepting the award after the screening in St. Louis on Zoë's behalf.

All in all, it’s been a good month and a good year. I’m getting ready for Turkey Day now and being thankful and grateful for all that we have. I am especially appreciative of all the elected officials in New England who have the insight and foresight to support industry legislation. And a big thank you to all who support IMAGINE especially our advertisers and our readers. From the beginning of my concept of IMAGINE, I have been imagining a substantial and sustained Film, Television, and New Media production industry in New England, perhaps the third largest in the country. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!