Christy Scott Cashman on the set of KETTLE OF FISH takes direction from director and writer Claudia Myers.The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival to packed crowds for all five screenings. Photo courtesy of Michael Mailer Productions.

Jay Craven, director of DISAPPEARANCES, the first IMAGINE Night at the Movies offering, May 16th, at Jimmy Tingles Off Broadway Theatre in Davis Square. The evening features a Red Bones Bar-B-Q buffet, a meet and greet and Q & A with the filmmaker.The evening is a benefit for the film and gives the film community a chance to see a film they most likely haven’t seen yet. Photo by Alyson Caver.

Eran Lobel, Element Producer and Clint Conley, Mission of Burma attend IFFB Premiere. NOT A PHOTOGRAPH:THE MISSION OF BURMA world premiered on April 22nd at the Independent Film Festival of Boston to a sold-out crowd at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square.The film was Produced by Element Productions Producer Eran Lobel. Co-Directors, David Kleiler, Jr. and Jeff Iwanicki. Photo courtesy of Element Productions.

This is IMAGINE’s ninth year of publishing and supporting the Business of Film, Television, and now the New Media Production Industry in New England. Our efforts to grow and nourish the industry weren’t scoffed at, but many believed we were merely cheerleaders for a region the industry had passed by finding New England too film unfriendly and too expensive to be reasonably considered by Hollywood studios and major producers.

We’ve stuck to it though, through thick and thin, taking every tack to create an environment for filmmaking in the region.

In the beginning we were just cheerleaders, but we had marginal successes along the way. Four years ago, IMAGINE became a politically interested entity mainly to have somebody to talk to in the seats of power. We helped elect and systematically met with public officials who would have interest in our industry as an engine of economic development. We were on to something.

And now we have a great deal of satisfaction as we review just how much change we’ve fostered and shepherded over this time. I was excited to get some reference for measurement in Santa Monica where as I always do in April, I attended the Association of Film Commissions International Locations Tradeshow 2006.

At an AFCI seminar on film tax incentives with a panel of four top incentive and soft money specialists for the industry, the April issue of IMAGINE was in big demand and the New England states new tax incentive legislation the subject of most of the discussion.

As we were going to press, Connecticut joined Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine passing aggressive new Tax Incentive Legislation. In early May, The Connecticut General Assembly passed An Act Concerning Jobs in the 21st Century which has been signed by the Governor M. Jodi Rell and takes effect July 1, 2006. Connecticut now offers the industry a 30% transferable tax credit after a threshold of $50,000. There are no caps and no percentage of the production or its budget is required to be placed in the state.

Straight forward and easy to administer, the bill also provides for a new office, the Office of Digital Media and Motion Pictures (now the Film Division of the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism), which will receive additional support to administer the rebate process from processing applications, to approving productions, to issuing the tax credit vouchers.

There was wide approval for Speaker Amman’s (D) film incentive sections in the Act as Governor Rell (R) signed and many others supported the measures.

Connecticut’s bold incentive step compounds the interest of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine thereby super strengthening the hand of the region.

Meanwhile, Rhode Island has revised its legislation mainly to simplify and streamline the tax incentive process and remove the Tax Investment credit for Rhode Island investors. In the month of May, three feature films will be shooting simultaneously in the Ocean State: Walt Disney Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment’s UNDER DOG; Iridium Entertainment’s THE EDUCATION OF CHARLEY BANKS directed by Fred Durst and produced by Michael Corrente; and NORMAL ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR writer/director Beth Schacter starring Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia), If you are interested in working on any of these films call the Rhode Island Film Office hotline at 401 222-6666.

In Massachusetts, the Mass Sport, Film & Entertainment Commission (MSEC) has had tremendous positive movement thanks to the legislature, with exclusive and expanded official responsibility. The structure, leadership and management of this key effort are moving forward with the resources for a viable entity to oversee film under MSEC’s umbrella.

The MSEC also has a great working relationship with the City in Boston where Ben Affleck will direct his first major motion picture GONE, BABY GONE. Affleck adapted this himself from Dennis LeHane’s novel of the same name.  Production is scheduled to begin May 22, 2006. Walt Disney’s DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL is prepping in and around Boston now and is scheduled to begin production June 19, 2006. Andy Flickman is the director. Dave McLaughlin’s independent feature film, ON BROADWAY, is in production as of May 1, 2006, all of which means there is work!

Maine Governor John Baldacci signed The Maine Attraction Film Incentive Plan in April just I was jetting off to AFCI.  The plan will provide state tax rebates (not tax credits) to certified media productions equal to 10% of the wages paid to out-of-state workers and 12% of the wages paid to Maine residents. The new plan also includes an income tax incentive for Maine companies that invest in media productions.

IMAGINE Night at the Movies is a new IMAGINE effort I have been contemplating for some time. Yes, the industry is important to us, but so are the filmmakers, especially the independent filmmakers who contribute so much to the overall industry, but particularly to the fabric of our community in New England. The whole idea of IMAGINE Night at the Movies is for it to be part fundraiser for the filmmaker.  To that end IMAGINE has joined forces with Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theater (the venue) to present a film to our filmmaking community that was made in New England by members of our community. 

Our first offering is scheduled for May 16, 2006 and our first film is Jay Craven’s DISAPPEARANCES starring Kris Kristofferson and Genevieve Bujold, with a special cameo performance by Christy Scott Cashman. The film was co-produced by Moody Street Pictures.

The evening will consist of a Red Bones Bar-B-Q (internationally famous) buffet at 6 PM (cash wine & beer bar), and screening of DISAPPEARANCES at 7:30 PM with a Q & A to follow immediately with the filmmakers. Director Jay Craven, Producer Mary Beth Hathalee, and Christy Scott Cashman will be present. My hope is that these events will have an intimate salon feel and become an important part of our film production culture and community and that you, our readers will look forward to all of them.

DISAPPEARANCES tells the story of Quebec Bill Bonhomme (Kristofferson), an impossible dreamer and schemer who needs fast cash after a freak lightning storm destroys his barn. Bill hatches a plan — to steal twenty cases of whiskey from Canada’s most notorious bootlegger and smuggle it back across the Vermont Canadian border. He takes along his 15 year-old son, Wild Bill, his inscrutable brother-in-law, and his cranky hired man. Together, they cross the border into vast reaches of Canadian wilderness for three magical, mysterious, and unforgettable days "full of terror, full of wonder."

The price of admission is a little more than what you would expect to pay for a screening at $30, but remember this is a fund raiser for the filmmaker, it is a social and networking event from which we all should surely profit, IMAGINE is buying your Red Bones Buffet and the whole effort is dedicated to honoring and supporting our New England Filmmakers with an eye toward the belief that they should get paid when their films are screened. See our ad on page 19 of this issue and RSVP ASAP.

Jimmy Tingle's OFF BROADWAY Theater is located at 255 Elm Street, Davis Square, Somerville MA  02144 (Near the Red Line Davis T, & next to The Burren.) To purchase tickets:  Call TheaterMania: 1-866-811-4111 or you may buy tickets 24 hrs a day online at jtoffbroadway.com. We want to sell out the house. Thanks!

And speaking of selling out, we have a couple of “sold out” success stories. Christy Scott Cashman and her entourage was in New York for the Tribeca Film Festival and the premiere of KETTLE OF FISH the Michael Mailer film featuring Cashman. An audience favorite, five screenings of the film sold out! The premiere screened to a packed house of 950 festival goers! If you missed it, you will be able to catch Christy in KETTLE OF FISH at both the Provincetown International Film Festival and the Woods Hole Film Festival.

NOT A PHOTOGRAPH: THE MISSION OF BURMA produced by Eran Lobel of Element Productions also played to a sold out house of over 900 at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square on April 22nd at the Independent Film Festival of Boston. The film was co-directed by David Kleiler, Jr. and Jeff Iwanicki.

Next up, the summer film festivals in New England. Our next issue will bring you all the information. I’m working on our IMAGINE House and our IMAGINE Champagne Brunch honoring New England Filmmakers right now. If you wish to help sponsor these events or attend, please let me know. The Nantucket Film Festival Screenwriters Tribute honorees are Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (SIDEWAYS and JURASSIC PARK III, amongst many others).

I hope you enjoy this issue’s look at three great cinematographers, the latest camera trends, and other important industry news.

Happy Mother’s Day to all our IMAGINE Mothers!

Carol Patton